Apply for a birth certificate
Description
After birth, every child in Germany must be registered in the birth register. After this registration, you can additionally apply for the issuance of a birth certificate. This proves the birth of the person and contains information on the place and time of birth as well as the first and last name. As a rule, it also contains information on the sex and parents of the person.
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 these in many countries without translation.
You can have an (international) birth certificate issued at the registry office that certified your birth. In federal states where there is a central register network, you can also obtain the birth certificate from any other registry office in the local register network.
The personal data of the civil status registers are subject to data protection. Birth certificates can therefore only be issued
- for persons to whom the entry relates
as well as their
- Spouses
- civil partners (within the meaning of the Civil Partnership Act),
- ancestors and descendants (e.g. parents or grandparents as well as children and grandchildren),
- Siblings, if they can prove a legitimate interest.
Other persons, including close relatives such as aunts and uncles, 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.
When applying, you must submit:
- Your identity card, passport or eID (in case of written application: certified copy)
- in the case of application or collection by 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 identity card, passport or eID of the representative
- for other people:
- where applicable, proof of their legal interest
Storage Period: 110 YearsThe birth certificate can be issued for 110 years from the date of registration.
In-person application
- Go to the registry office that certified the birth.
- For legitimation, present your identity card or passport.
- As a rule, you pay the fee in advance when applying at the registry office.
- A person you trust can order and pick up the certificate for you, and your representative will present your own identity card or passport in addition to a written power of attorney.
Application by post or fax
- Send an informal letter to the responsible registry office asking them to provide you with a birth certificate from the birth register. Depending on the offer of the city or municipality, you will also find application forms on the Internet.
- Your letter must contain the following information:
- Last name, first name
- Date and place of birth
- Surname, first name of parents
- if known: registry office and notarization number
- Attach a certified copy of your identity card or passport to the letter.
- When you send the certificate, you will receive a fee notice, unless you have already paid the fees.
Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI)
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
