Certification of German documents for use abroad

Legalization involves a considerable amount of time and expense. For this reason, international treaties have, in some cases, declared it unnecessary. Among these treaties is the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention). The apostille then replaces legalization as proof of authenticity. It is issued by the competent domestic authority of the country that issued the document. Involvement of that country’s diplomatic mission in Germany is then no longer necessary.

In addition, there are also conventions that provide for the mutual recognition of each other’s document systems, meaning that public documents are automatically considered authentic (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland).

To find out which countries recognize the “Hague Apostille,” please click here:

German public documents and certificates intended for use abroad must be certified in Germany under certain conditions if the foreign country requires it.

The certification verifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory acted, and, if applicable, the authenticity of the seal or stamp affixed to the document.

Depending on the international agreements between the Federal Republic of Germany and the foreign country, the authenticity of this document is confirmed either by legalization or by an apostille.

• For countries that have accededto the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (BGBL. II 1965, p. 876), an apostille is required. You can find a detailed list of these countries on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

• Documents intended for other (non-signatory) countries are certified. Legalization is then carried out by a consular official at the diplomatic mission of the country where the document is required.

If possible, find out the exact procedure and how to pay the fees from the competent authority before submitting your application.

• Visit the competent authority. Make an appointment for this by telephone.
• Identify yourself with your identity card or passport.
• Tell them in which country you want to use the document.
• Present the original of the document.
• You pay the fee at the competent office.

For signatures on German public documents intended for use abroad, as well as apostilles on federal documents intended for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Convention:

Mailing address:

Federal Office of Administration / Certifications
Division II B 4
50728 Cologne

Visiting address:

Federal Office of Administration
Cologne-Braunsfeld Office Building (New Technology Center)
Eupener Str. 125
50933 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 228 99358-4100
Fax: +49 228 99358-2893
Email: beglaubigungen@bva.bund.de

Hours (visits and phone):

Mon: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tue: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wed: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thu: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

For documents from the Federal Patent Court and the German Patent Office:

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Mailing Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
80297 Munich

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 Munich

Phone: +49 89 2195-0
Fax: +49 89 2195-2221
Email: info@dpma.de

Berlin Office

Mailing Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visiting Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
Gitschiner Street 97
10969 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
Email: info@dpma.de

Jena Office

Mailing Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Jena Office
07738 Jena

Visiting Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Jena Office
Goethestraße 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
Email: info@dpma.de

Contact the Thuringian Regional Administrative Office.

Documents of judicial authorities, notaries and interpreters are certified exclusively by the Thuringian regional courts for use abroad.

At the Thuringian State Administrative Office, you can have documents issued by Thuringian administrative authorities—such as civil status records—certified with an apostille or pre-certified for legalization. Civil status records should not be older than six months at the time of certification. School and college transcripts must be pre-certified by the school or the legal office of the university or college before they can be certified by the State Administrative Office.

Note: Documents issued by judicial authorities, notaries, and interpreters can be certified for use abroad exclusively by the Thuringian regional courts.
 

• Original certificate
• Passport or other proof of identity (not required for written application)
• if applicable: written power of attorney for the representative

EUR: 10,00 to 100,00

Civil status documents should not be older than six months at the time of certification.

Legal Proceedings Before the Administrative Court

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt

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Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt

25.08.2026;25.07.2012

For signatures on German public documents intended for use abroad, as well as apostilles on federal documents intended for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Convention:

Mailing address:

Federal Office of Administration / Certifications
Division II B 4
50728 Cologne

Visiting address:

Federal Office of Administration
Cologne-Braunsfeld Office Building (New Technology Center)
Eupener Str. 125
50933 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 228 99358-4100
Fax: +49 228 99358-2893
Email: beglaubigungen@bva.bund.de

Hours (visits and phone):

Mon: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tue: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wed: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thu: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

For documents from the Federal Patent Court and the German Patent Office:

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Mailing Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
80297 Munich

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 Munich

Phone: +49 89 2195-0
Fax: +49 89 2195-2221
Email: info@dpma.de

Berlin Office

Mailing Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visiting Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
Gitschiner Street 97
10969 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
Email: info@dpma.de

Jena Office

Mailing Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Jena Office
07738 Jena

Visiting Address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Jena Office
Goethestraße 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
Email: info@dpma.de