Birth abroad: Apply for subsequent certification

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 notarised in the register of births (formerly the register of births) at the registry office in Germany.

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

You are not obliged to have the birth subsequently notarised. Birth certificates from abroad are often recognised 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 notarised in the future.

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

• Application form for notarisation of a foreign birth in the register of births
• Foreign birth certificate with translation; legalisation 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 relates
• Naturalisation 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.

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

• 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

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• Birth abroad Notarisation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

  Display of performance in the source portal

• Registry office at the German place of residence or domicile of the person born abroad or the person entitled to file an application