Leistungen A-Z

If you or a close family member in an ascending or descending line of descent was born abroad, you can apply for subsequent certification of the birth in the register of births (formerly the register of births) at the registry office in Germany.

You apply for the certification at the registry office that is responsible for your German place of residence or the German place of residence of the person entitled to apply. If neither a current nor a former German place of residence can be determined, you can apply for the certification at your competent German mission abroad or at the registry office Berlin I.

You are not obliged to have the birth subsequently certified. Birth certificates from abroad are often recognized in Germany as long as their authenticity is beyond question.

However, the subsequent entry in the birth register can be advantageous because the local registry office can then issue you a German birth certificate. This means that you no longer have to have the foreign certificate translated and certified for future requests.

• You have German citizenship, are stateless or a recognized refugee whose habitual residence is in Germany.
• You apply for certification for
  • yourself,
  • your child
  • a parent or
  • your spouse or partner.

• Application form for certification of a foreign birth in the birth register
• foreign birth certificate with translation; legalization or apostille if necessary
• valid identity card, passport or travel document
• marriage and birth certificates of the parents of the person to whom the entry refers
• naturalization certificate or citizenship certificate, if applicable
• If applicable, other documents with proof of authenticity and, if applicable, translation, depending on the individual case.

You must submit all documents in original.

State of Brandenburg:

Costs are charged for certification in accordance with subheadings 12.3.2.4 – 12.3.2.4.4 of the Annex to the Ordinance on Fees for Public Services in the Field of the Ministry of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs (Schedule of Fees of the Ministry of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs - GebOMIK)

• Https://bravors.brandenburg.de/verordnungen/gebomik

There is no deadline.

Registry office of the place of residence for current or former German residents

If there is no current or former German place of residence, the registry office I in Berlin or the relevant German diplomatic mission abroad is responsible.

• §§ Sections 9, 10 and 36 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• Nationality Act (StAG)

• Information on the birth of a child abroad on the website of the registry office I in Berlin
• Information on the birth of a child abroad on the website of the Federal Foreign Office

Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI)