Birth Register - Birth abroad

Was your child born abroad or were you yourself not born in Germany and you would like German birth certificates? Then you will find all the relevant information regarding the later certification of a foreign birth here.

The later certification of a birth abroad is a voluntary application procedure subject to a fee. You are not obliged to have a birth that took place abroad re-certified in Germany. Properly issued certificates from abroad are generally recognised in Germany. If you live in Germany and do not wish to apply for entry in the German register of births, you must have the birth of the child entered in the register of residents at the citizens’ registration office.

However, the later entry in the birth register can be advantageous because the German registry office will issue you with German birth certificates once the procedure, which takes several months, has been completed. Any translations and certifications of the foreign certificate will, therefore, no longer be necessary.

To apply, please use the application form for later certification of a birth abroad. You will find this further down on this page. Please complete the application form, sign it and send it by post to your local registry office together with all the necessary documents.

Conditions & Required documents

Conditions:

• If the child was born abroad:
  The child is a German citizen at the time of application. Or the child is stateless, a displaced person or a recognised foreign refugee with habitual residence in Germany.

• Eligibility:
  The child itself, its parents, its spouse or partner or its children are eligible to apply.

• Domestic residence is or was available:
  The child’s domestic residence at the time of application is decisive, alternatively the domestic residence of the person making the application. If there is currently no domestic residence, the last German residence is relevant.

Please note: If neither the child nor the person making the application has ever had a residence in Germany (not even as a child), the registry office I in Berlin is responsible.

• Evidence in the original or as a certified copy:
  Evidence must be attached to the application in the original or as a certified copy. Unfortunately, copies or electronically transmitted documents are not sufficient. The registry office may require the originals to be submitted for verification.

Required documents:

1. Application for later certification of the birth
2. Birth certificate of the child
3. Birth certificates of both parents
4. Marriage certificate of the child’s parents, if applicable
   The marriage certificate is required if the child’s mother is married at the time of the child’s birth or if the parents were married before the application was submitted.
   The marriage certificate with proof of dissolution is also required if the child’s mother’s marriage is dissolved at the time of the child’s birth.
5. Proof of paternity recognition or paternity establishment and declaration of custody, if applicable
   These documents are required if the parents are not married and paternity has been established by recognition or court decision. In certain cases, the mother’s consent to the recognition of paternity is also required. In some foreign countries and in Germany, a declaration of custody is also required to establish joint parental custody.
6. Identity cards or passports of the child’s parents, if applicable also of the applicant
7. Certified translation or legalisation
   Foreign-language documents generally require a certified German translation and, if necessary, legalisation (apostille or legalisation).
8. The need for further documents depends on the individual case
   If the submission of further documents or evidence is required, you will be notified accordingly after the registration process has commenced.

Note on the fees

• EUR 80.00: entry in the German birth register
• EUR 160.00: entry in the German birth register – if foreign law is to be observed
• EUR 8.00 to EUR 80.00: if the application is withdrawn or rejected

Certificates:

• EUR 12.00: issue of birth certificate
• EUR 6.00: each additional birth certificate issued at the same time
• EUR 12.00: issue of international birth certificate
• EUR 6.00: each additional international birth certificate issued at the same time
• EUR 12.00: certified printout from the register of births
• EUR 6.00: each additional certified printout from the register of births issued at the same time