Apply for a birth certificate

After birth, every child in Germany must be registered in the register of births. After this registration, you can also apply for a birth certificate to be issued. This proves the birth of the person and contains details of the place and time of birth as well as the first name and surname. As a rule, it also contains details of the person's gender and parents.

You will need a birth certificate in various contexts throughout your life. It can also be issued on a multilingual form for use abroad. You can use it in many countries without a translation.

You can have an (international) birth certificate issued at the registry office that notarised your birth. In federal states where there is a centralised register network, you can also obtain a birth certificate from any other registry office in the register network.

• § Section 55 (1) of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• State Personal Status Implementation Act (LPStAG M-V)
• Tariff item 9.1.26 Costs Ordinance of the Ministry of the Interior of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (IMKostVO M-V)
• § Section 59 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• § Section 62 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• § Section 50 Ordinance on Civil Status (PStV)

You must submit your application:

• Your identity card, passport or eID (if applying in writing: certified copy)
• if applied for or collected by a representative:
  • Written authorisation from the authorised 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 persons:
  • proof of their legal interest, if applicable

The personal data in the civil status register is subject to data protection. Birth certificates can therefore only be issued

• for persons to whom the entry refers

and their

• Spouses,
• Life partners (within the meaning of the German Life Partnerships Act),
• Ancestors and descendants (such as 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 judgement or enforceable title).

Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

Personal application

• Go to the registry office that notarised the birth.
• Please present your identity card or passport to prove your identity.
• You usually pay the fee in advance when you apply at the registry office.
• A person you trust can order and collect the certificate on your behalf; your representative must present their own identity card or passport in addition to a written power of attorney.

Application by post or fax

• Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue you with a birth certificate from the register of births. Depending on what the town or municipality offers, you can also find application forms on the Internet.
• Your letter must contain the following information:
  • Surname, first name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Surname, first name of parents
  • if known: Registry office and notarisation number
• Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
• You will receive a notification of fees when the certificate is sent to you, unless you have already paid the fees.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, it is also possible to apply directly via the relevant internet portals, for example the MV-Serviceportal.

When applying via an internet portal, identification via eID may be required.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the registry office responsible for the place of birth of the applicant or a registry office connected to a central register is responsible.

• Request for a certificate according to § 62 PStG from the marriage register / birth register / ...