Change of gender entry and first name

Prerequisites

As an adult, you can submit a declaration to change your gender entry and your first names to the registry office.

As a minor aged 14 or over, you can make the necessary declaration yourself. You need the consent of your legal representatives to make the declaration. If your legal representatives do not agree, the consent can be replaced by the family court.

If you are a minor child under 14 years of age, only your legal guardian can submit the change declaration to the registry office. The child's consent is required if the child is at least 5 years old. The minor child must also be present when the legal guardian makes the declaration to the registry office.

In the case of adults who are incapable of entering into legal transactions, only the person responsible for the care can submit the change declaration to the registry office. This requires the approval of the guardianship court.

Documents required

German citizens require:

• ID card or passport
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate if you are or were already married
• Birth certificates of your own children born in Germany

Foreign nationals with habitual residence in Germany also require:

• Proof of permanent residence permit or
• Proof of a renewable residence permit and legal residence in the country or
• a blue EU card

Please note that if your documents are not in German or in international format, you must submit a translation by a sworn translator in Germany.

Please note

• After the declaration date, you will receive proof of the change in gender and first names from the responsible registry office.
• Afterwards, further formalities must be completed so that the changes take effect in the various offices (such as applying for a new ID card, reporting to pension insurance, health insurance, etc.).
• It is not possible to change only the first names.

Deadlines

• There must be at least three months between registration and declaration.


• If the declaration is not submitted within six months of registration, the registration will no longer be valid.


• A new declaration to change the gender entry can only be submitted after at least 12 months have passed since the previous declaration.

Procedure

You must submit the declaration in person at the registry office. You can make an appointment online or directly at the registry office.

The declaration takes place in two steps:

• First, you register the change of gender and first names. This will be possible from August 1, 2024 and can be done verbally (on site) or in writing (signed by hand with a copy of your ID card).
• Three months after registration, you can submit the declaration in person at the same registry office. This will be possible from November 1, 2024.

Processing time

• If the declaration is submitted to your birth registry office, it will be processed immediately.


• Otherwise, the duration of processing depends on the responsible registry office and cannot be given as a general rule.

Fees

Registration is free of charge.


The certificate costs 18 euros.


The cost of issuing a new birth certificate is 18 euros.

Legal remedies

§49, paragraph 1, Civil Status Act

Legal basis

Law on Self-Determination with Respect to Gender Registration (SBGG).


Declaration according to § 2 SBGG, declaration of minors § 3 SBGG

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sbgg/___1_bis_3.html




Registration of the declaration § 4 SBGG

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sbgg/__4.html




Title: German Bundestag Document 20/9049 Draft law of the Federal Government Draft of a law on self-determination with regard to gender registration and amending other provisions

https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/090/2009049.pdf