Have your birth notarized abroad

  • Service description

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

    You apply for notarization 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 notarization at your competent German diplomatic mission abroad or at the Berlin I registry office.

    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 with a German birth certificate. This means that you no longer have to have the foreign certificate translated and notarized in the future.

  • Requirements

    • You have German citizenship, are stateless or are a recognized refugee whose habitual residence is in Germany.
    • You apply for notarization for
      • itself,
      • Your child,
      • one parent or
      • Your spouse or life partner.

  • What documents are needed?

    • Application form for notarization of a foreign birth in the register of births
    • Foreign birth certificate with translation; legalization or apostille if necessary
    • valid identity card, passport or travel permit
    • Marriage and birth certificates of the parents of the person to whom the entry relates
    • Naturalization certificate or citizenship card, if applicable
    • If necessary, further documents with proof of authenticity and, if necessary, translation, depending on the individual case

    You must submit all documents in the original.

  • Legal basis

  • Short text

    • Birth abroad certification
    • Subsequent certification in the birth register possible for births abroad
    • Subsequent certification is not mandatory: birth certificates from abroad are often recognized, especially from EU countries
    • Subsequent notarization necessary for issuing a German birth certificate
    • Application possible for the person themselves or for close family members in ascending or descending line of descent
    • all documents must be originals or notarized
    • Responsible: Registry office at the German place of residence or domicile of the person born abroad or the person entitled to file an application

Responsible departments

Responsible employees