Applying for subsequent registration of a birth abroad by Germans without a domestic residence

Prerequisites

• You or your child have acquired German citizenship through descent from a German parent or through naturalization.
• You are eligible to apply as
  • the person to be registered himself or
  • their parents or
  • their children or
  • the spouse or
  • the life partner

The registry office of your last German place of residence is responsible for the certification. If you or your child have never had a residence in Germany, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible.

Documents required

You need the following documents:

• Complete foreign birth certificate or – if not available –
• Birth certificate of the child, if necessary with translation, legalization or apostille and
• Birth certificates of the parents, if necessary with translation, legalization or apostille,
• Parents’ ID cards,
• if applicable, naturalization certificate or
• Certificate of citizenship

• if the mother is or was married:
  • Marriage certificate, if necessary with translation, legalization or apostille
• and in case of termination of marriage:
  • Proof of dissolution

• if the parents are not married to each other:
  • if applicable, proof of paternity recognition and the mother’s declaration of consent
  • if applicable, proof of joint parental custody

The submission of additional documents may be necessary. This depends on the foreign documentation system and can only be assessed after the application has been examined.

Please note

A subsequent certification can be useful if you need or want to provide binding proof of your name or your ancestry in Germany. Furthermore, the registry office I in Berlin or the registry office where you last lived can issue you new certificates - even in multiple languages - at any time after the certification.
If the German parent was born abroad after December 31, 1999, the child will only acquire German citizenship if they habitually reside abroad if you have the child's birth registered in the German birth register within one year of the birth. An exception exists if the child would otherwise become stateless.

Deadlines

No


In certain cases, there may be consequences under nationality law if you do not apply for a subsequent registration of your birth or the birth of your child within one year.

Procedure

• In principle, you can submit the application via the German diplomatic mission abroad if you have a residence abroad.
• Apply for the registration of your birth or that of your child in person at the foreign mission.
• Please present all original documents and identification papers there.
• If necessary, you can have certified copies made by the foreign representation. Additional fees apply for this.
• The foreign mission will examine your application and, if necessary, request further documents or information from you.
• The foreign representation can usually also determine whether a declaration of name is required. In this case, you can submit a corresponding declaration on site.
• The foreign mission forwards the application for subsequent registration of the birth.
• You can then obtain the relevant birth certificates. Additional fees apply.

Processing time

Processing takes several weeks.

Fees

Registration in the birth register of the Registry Office I in Berlin is subject to a fee. You can find out the amount of the fees by asking the Registry Office I in Berlin.




If the last domestic residence is Hamburg, fees also apply for the certification:

• Application for subsequent certification: from 104.00 EUR, possibly additional costs for registration information, entry of a subsequent certification, additional costs for checking foreign law


• Birth certificate: 18.00 EUR


• each additional certificate issued at the same time: 8.00 EUR


• international birth certificate: 18.00 EUR


• each additional certificate issued at the same time: 8.00 EUR


• Certified printout of birth register: 18.00 EUR


• Each additional certified register printout when issued at the same time: 8.00 EUR

Legal remedies

If the Registry Office I in Berlin is responsible: You can submit an application for instructions to the Schöneberg District Court in Berlin.




If a registry office in Hamburg is responsible: You can submit an application for instructions to the Hamburg District Court, Sievekingplatz 1.

Legal basis

§ 36 Civil Status Act (PStG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__36.html




Nationality Act

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/BJNR005830913.html