Leistungen A-Z

• Forms available: No / (Yes: for application from abroad).
• Written form required: Yes
• Informal application possible: No
• Personal appearance required: No
• Online services available: Yes

If you need to prove whether you have a criminal record or not, you can apply for the simple or the extended certificate of good conduct as well as the certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority.

The certificate of good conduct is a document that certifies whether or not you have a criminal record.

If you need the certificate of good conduct for personal purposes - for example, to present to your employer - it is a simple certificate of good conduct.

You will need an extended certificate of good conduct if you work with children and young people - for example, in a school or sports club - or if you want to work with people in need of care or people with disabilities.

The certificate of good conduct for official purposes serves exclusively for presentation to an authority - for example, if a driving license is to be issued. The certificate of good conduct is then sent directly to the authority that requested it from you and, in addition to criminal court decisions, also contains certain decisions by administrative authorities - for example, the revocation of a professional license. If you suspect that the certificate of good conduct contains entries, you can request that it first be sent to a district court named by you so that you can inspect it there.

Do you own- in addition to German- the nationality of one or more other EU member states, you will receive the requested document as a European certificate of good conduct. In addition to the German certificate of good conduct, it contains the notification of entries in the criminal record of the Member State of origin in the language transmitted, if the Member State of origin provides for transmission under its law.

• Completion of the 14th year of life
• Legal capacity

• Application for certificate of good conduct
• ID card, eID card or residence permit
• If necessary, further documents to prove certain information, for example the employer's request to submit an extended certificate of good conduct

Emission: 13 EUR (fix)
Note: In certain cases, the fee for a certificate of good conduct may be waived.
Vorkasse: Ja

All types of certificates of good conduct can be obtained online, in person at the registration office responsible for you and - under certain conditions - in writing to the registration office responsible for you.

If you want to apply for the certificate of good conduct online:

• Go to the website to apply for the certificate of good conduct and follow the instructions.
• As proof of identity, you will then need an electronic ID card, an electronic residence permit or an eID card, each with an activated PIN, a card reader, the AusweisApp2 and, if necessary, a digital capture device, (for example, scanner or digital camera) to upload evidence.
• You will then receive the requested certificate of good conduct by mail to your home.
• If the application is unsuccessful, you will be notified either immediately online or subsequently.
• If you apply for a certificate of good conduct for submission to a public authority, it will be sent directly to the authority. For a certificate of good conduct that contains entries, you can request that it first be sent to a district court that you designate so that you can inspect it there. You can then decide whether it is forwarded to the authority or destroyed.

If you wish to apply for the certificate of good conduct in person or in writing:

• Submit an application for a certificate of good conduct at the registration office or citizens' registration office responsible for you. You must prove your identity there. An official identification document serves this purpose.
• If necessary, you must prove that you are a citizen of another EU member state.
• The authority will then forward the application to the Federal Office of Justice.
• From abroad, the application can be submitted in writing - with officially confirmed personal data and signature - directly to the Federal Office of Justice.
• You will receive the requested certificate of good conduct by mail to your home.
• If you apply for the certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority, it will be sent directly to the authority. If you suspect that the certificate of good conduct contains entries, you can request that it first be sent to a district court named by you so that you can inspect it there. You can then decide whether it is forwarded to the authority or destroyed.

There is no deadline.

• Federal Central Register Act (BZRG)

• Information on how to apply for certificates of good conduct on the website of the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ)
• Leaflet on the levying of fees for the certificate of good conduct

Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ)