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Request birth certificate

Service 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 name and surname. As a rule, it also contains information about 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 it in many countries without translation.

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

Process flow

Personal application

  • Go to the registry office that registered the birth.
  • Present your identity card or passport for legitimation.
  • You usually pay the fee in advance when you apply at the registry office.
  • A person you trust can order and collect the certificate for you. Your representative must present his or her own ID card or passport in addition to a written power of attorney.

Application by mail or fax

  • Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office requesting that a birth certificate be issued to you from the birth register. Depending on what the city 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
    • name, first name of parents
    • if known: Registry office and registration number
  • Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
  • You will receive a fee notice when the certificate is sent, unless you have already paid the fees beforehand.

Requirements

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 refers

and their

  • spouses,
  • civil partners (within the meaning of the Civil Partnership Act),
  • ancestors and descendants (such as parents or grandparents as well as the children and grandchildren),
  • siblings, if they prove a legitimate interest.

Other persons, i.e. also closer relatives such as aunts and uncles, receive a birth certificate only 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.

Which documents are required?

When submitting your application, you must submit:

  • Your ID card, passport or eID (if applying in writing: certified copy).
  • in case of application or collection by a representative:
    • written power of attorney from 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 persons:
    • proof of their legal interest, if applicable

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Storage Period: 110 Years
The issuance of the birth certificate is possible 110 years from the date of creation of the register.

Legal basis

Applications / forms

  • Request for a court decision at the local court responsible for the registry office

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI)

Professionally released on

21.11.2022

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

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