Certification of German documents for use abroad

Legalization involves a considerable amount of time and money. It has therefore been declared partially dispensable by international treaties. These treaties include the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention). Legalization is then replaced by the apostille as proof of authenticity. This is issued by the competent internal authority of the state that issued the document. It is then no longer necessary for the foreign representation in Germany to be involved.

In addition, there are also conventions with the consequence of mutual recognition of the respective documentary system, so that public documents are regarded as authentic without further ado (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy; Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland).

You can find out which countries recognize the "Hague Apostille" here:

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

The authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory has acted and, if applicable, the authenticity of the seal or stamp with which the document is marked are certified.

Depending on the international agreements between the Federal Republic of Germany and the foreign state, the authenticity of this document is confirmed by a certification or apostille.

• For countries that have acceded tothe Hague Convention of 05.10.1961 on the exemption of public documents from legalization (BGBL. II 1965 p. 876), an apostille is required. You can find out which countries these are in detail on the website of the German Foreign Office.
• Documents intended for other (not acceded) countries receive a legalization. Legalization is then carried out by a consular officer at the foreign mission of the country in which the document is required.

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

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

For signatures on German public documents for use abroad and apostilles on federal documents for use in countries acceding to the Hague Convention:

Postal address:

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

Visitor address:

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

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

Opening hours (visit and telephone):

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00
Tue: 09:00 - 16:30
Wed: 09:00 - 13:00
Thu: 09:00 - 13:00
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00

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

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
80297 Munich

Visitor address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 Munich

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

Berlin office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visitor address:

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

Phone: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Jena office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
07738 Jena

Visitor address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
Goethestrasse 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
E-mail: 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.

• Original certificate
• Passport or other proof of identity (not required if application is made in writing)
• 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.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Released by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Co-signature of the Federal Ministry of Justice requested.

;

Thuringian State Administration Office

25.07.2012

For signatures on German public documents for use abroad and apostilles on federal documents for use in countries acceding to the Hague Convention:

Postal address:

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

Visitor address:

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

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

Opening hours (visit and telephone):

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00
Tue: 09:00 - 16:30
Wed: 09:00 - 13:00
Thu: 09:00 - 13:00
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00

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

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
80297 Munich

Visitor address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 Munich

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

Berlin office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visitor address:

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

Phone: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Jena office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
07738 Jena

Visitor address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
Goethestrasse 1
07743 Jena

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