apply for a birth certificate
service description
After birth, every child in Germany must be registered in the birth register. After this registration, you can also apply for a birth certificate. This proves the birth of the person and contains information about the place and time of birth as well as the first and last name. It usually also contains information about the person's gender and parents.
You will need a birth certificate in various contexts throughout your life. For use abroad, it can also be issued on a multilingual form. You can use this in many countries without translation.
You can have an (international) birth certificate issued at the registry office that registered your birth. In federal states where there is a central registry network, you can also obtain the birth certificate from any other registry office in the registry network.
procedure
Personal application
- Go to the registry office that registered the birth.
- For legitimation, present your identity card or passport.
- You usually pay the fee in advance when applying at the registry office.
- A person you trust can order and collect the certificate for you. Your representative will present their own identity card or passport as well as a written power of attorney.
Application by post or fax
- Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue you a birth certificate from the birth register. Depending on what the city or municipality offers, you can also find application forms on the Internet.
- Your letter must contain the following information:
- Name first Name
- Date and place of birth
- Surname, first name of parents
- if known: registry office and certification number
- Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
- When the certificate is sent to you, you will receive a fee notice unless you have already paid the fees beforehand.
Competent authority
registry office
requirements
The personal data in the civil registers are subject to data protection. Birth certificates can therefore only be issued
- for persons to whom the entry relates
As well as their
- spouse,
- Life partners (within the meaning of the Life Partnership Act),
- Ancestors and descendants (such as parents or grandparents as well as children and grandchildren),
- Siblings, if they demonstrate a legitimate interest.
Other persons, including close relatives such as aunts and uncles, will only receive a birth certificate if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest (examples: letter from the probate court, court judgment or enforceable title).
Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
What documents are required?
When applying, you must submit:
- Your identity card, passport or eID (if applying in writing: certified copy)
- when applying or collecting through a representative:
- written power of attorney of the authorized person,
- their identity card (original or certified copy or eID) or
- Passport (original or certified copy) and
- the representative’s identity card, passport or eID
- for other people:
- where applicable, proof of their legal interest
What fees apply?
Fee: 15.00 €Payment in advance: NoFee: €7.50Payment in advance: Nofor each copy requested at the same time and issued in the same operationlegal basis
What else should I know?
Birth certificates have not been issued since 2009.
short text
Special information for - Verbandsgemeinde KonzThe birth certificate proves a person's birth, their first and last names and the details of their parents. You can have a birth certificate issued on the basis of the birth register maintained by the responsible registry office.