You must submit the application for an exemption certificate in writing to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt).

• Download the form from the online form management system (FMS) of the Federal Tax Administration (BFINV) and fill it out.
• Print out the completed application form. The application form must then be completed by
  • a legal representative of the investor

or

• his authorized representative

must be signed.

• Send the signed form together with the other required documents by post to the office of the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) in Bonn.
• The BZSt will check your application. You may have to answer further questions or submit additional documents.
• If the BZSt approves your application, it will send you the issued exemption certificate by post.
• Send the original (not a copy) of your exemption certificate to the investment fund by post.
• The investment fund will claim your tax advantage from the tax authorities.

Note:
Postal delivery of the exemption certificate abroad is only possible if this is permitted under international law. For some countries, the BZSt is not permitted under international law to send the status certificates by post (a current list of these countries can be found on the BZSt website under "Questions and answers"). In these cases, it is mandatory to specify a domestic (German) authorized recipient.