Apostilles for abroad

Prerequisites

If a domestic (German) public document is required for use abroad, the foreign state in which the domestic document is to be used can request a separate authentication (Hague Apostille or legalization requirement/pre-authentication) of authenticity.

The Office for Migration of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport is authorized to affix the apostille or pre-authentication to public documents that were issued by an authority of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (FHH).

Necessary information of your document:

• Your original document must bear a signature and an official seal/stamp of an official at the FHH.

• Your document must not have a specific purpose - eg "Only for the application for parental allowance".

• For the purpose of checking responsibility and other requirements, we offer a preliminary check by e-mail. Please send these documents as a pdf or jpeg attachment to our email address.

This includes documents from the FHH, such as:

• civil documents
• Tax authority certificates
• Registration certificate, acknowledgment of paternity, school certificates
• Certificates of naturalization (e.g. assurance of naturalization)
• Certified transcripts/copies from an issuing authority in Hamburg
• Hamburg leaving certificate from schools with state recognition in the FHH (e.g. bachelor’s certificate, high school diploma)
• Copies of German identity documents (e.g. identity card, passport, residence permit) Only in connection with a foreign certification

• Translations by an interpreter sworn in Hamburg

Documents required

In the appointment procedure:

• Appointment Booking Proof
• identification document
• Your original document without earmarking, which you have sent to us by e-mail for a preliminary check.
• EC card or cash

In the procedure by post:

Adress to:

Department of Interior and Sport
Office for migration
M251
Hammer Street 30-34
22041 Hamburg

Necessary information in the cover letter of the postal procedure:

• Destination country of the document (e.g. Russia)
• Your Address
• email and phone number
• We also need the originals of the documents to be certified.

• In order to shorten the processing time, send an e-mail with the attached document(s) as a scan or photo to the local authority for a preliminary check of your documents. Please indicate in your e-mail that you do not want an appointment and that your document is in the mail.

More information:

• If you are resident in Germany, the fee will be charged by means of a fee notice.
• If the fee is more than 100 € or if you live abroad, an advance payment will be required after completion. You will be sent a notification of fees for this. After the value date, your documents will be sent back to you.

Please note

For translations by an interpreter sworn in Hamburg:

• The interpreter must have been sworn in in Hamburg. You can recognize this by the oval seal with the Hammaburg, which states that the translator has been sworn in by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
• Please use the homepage to find a suitable translator for Hamburg!
  www.justiz-dolmetscher.de (Specify the language and state here)
  In the result search you will find possible translators who can be confirmed by the Office for Migration with an apostille / legalization on the translation.

For certification of current registers (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates, registration certificates):

• Your document must not be earmarked, such as a birth certificate (only to apply for parental allowance). Only originals are issued by the issuing authority for these documents. (e.g. registry office for the birth certificate.) Subsequently, an apostille / legalization can be carried out by the Office for Migration on the original.

When certifying copies of German identification documents (identity card, passport) or the residence permit glued into the passport and issued in Hamburg:

• You can have these copies certified at a Hamburg Service location. If you would like to deal with your request at the Office for Migration, please bring the original with you.

For certification of copies of German school or university documents with state recognition from Hamburg:

• Only copies that have been issued by the respective school (with original signature and school seal) or that are made here in the Office for Migration from the original will be processed.
• During the school holidays, it makes sense for certified copies of certificates to be made directly by the Office for Migration, as the school secretariats are often not available during the holidays. If necessary, the apostille/pre-authentication can only be issued after the holidays. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Office for Migration.

In the case of pre-authentication of documents or certificates from schools (except private schools that are not state-recognized in Hamburg):

• An apostille / legalization cannot be issued by the Office for Migration. Please contact a notary and then the district court of Hamburg.

For pre-certification of documents from the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE):

• Please contact the UKE for the signature, name stamp and address stamp of the responsible doctor on your document. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Office for Migration.

For pre-authentication of German-language medical certificates:

• Please contact the Hamburg Chamber of Physicians to confirm that you are a doctor under private law. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Office for Migration.

In the case of pre-authentication of certificates from a tax office in Hamburg:

• An apostille / legalization can be issued by the Office for Migration.

For pre-authentication of certificates from Catholic schools with state recognition in Hamburg:

• An apostille / legalization can be issued by the Office for Migration.

In the case of pre-certification of certificates and documents from chambers, for example the Medical Association, Pharmacists' Association, Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), Bar Association, Architectural Association:

• Please contact the respective chamber in Hamburg. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Office for Migration.

The Office for Migration also offers other services:

• Signature certifications (you will find information in the link)
• Iran stamp (see link for notes)

Other responsibilities outside the Office for Migration

• Hamburg district court for documents from the Hamburg courts (e.g. decision/judgment - divorce from the district court in Wandsbek)
• District Court of Hamburg for documents under private law - e.g. power of attorney (please contact a notary in Hamburg for the purpose of a notarial certification). Then go to the district court of Hamburg.
• Federal Office for Foreign Affairs for federal documents or final certification - e.g. certificates of good conduct
• Translations by interpreters who are not sworn in Hamburg are the responsibility of the federal state where the swearing took place.
• Certificates from other federal states and nations - please contact the issuing country or federal state.

Deadlines

• Local authorities are not aware of the sovereign provisions of the respective country in this regard. Please find out about the validity of the foreign authentication (apostille/legalisation) from the submitting body (embassy, authority abroad).


• Ask whether transcripts or certified copies (apostille/legalisation) are accepted. It often happens that only originals are accepted.

Procedure

Personal consultation only possible with an appointment:

• Please book online!
• Preliminary check necessary!
• Send an e-mail with the e-mail of the document(s) as a scan or photo as a pre-check immediately after booking your appointment. In addition, enter your name, telephone number, date and time of your appointment and the country of destination of the documents (e.g. Spain).
• m2511@amtfuermigration.hamburg.de
• Bring the original documents with you to the appointment.

• EC card or cash payment possible

In writing by post to:

• Department of Interior and Sport
  Office for migration
  M251
  Hammer Street 30-34
  22041 Hamburg

Necessary information in the cover letter:

• Destination country of the document (e.g. Russia)
• Address
• email and phone number
• We also need the originals of the documents to be certified.
• In order to shorten the processing time, send an e-mail with the attached document(s) as a scan or photo to the local authority for a preliminary check of your documents. Please indicate in your e-mail that you do not want an appointment and that your document is in the mail.

More information about returns:

• If you are resident in Germany, the fee will be charged in the form of a fee notice and sent back together with the certified document.
• If the fee is more than 100 € (only for private individuals) or if you live abroad, an advance payment will be required after completion. You will be sent a notification of fees for this. After the value date, your documents will be returned to you by registered mail.

In urgent cases or if no appointments are available:

• Before the holidays, this service is in high demand and hardly any appointments are available. Therefore, use the written procedure by post.
• In order to save time during delivery, you can also put your case in the post office column in the inner courtyard of the local authority. This is on the left-hand side at the side entrance to the tax office in Hamburg-Ost.
• Be sure to include your contact details (e-mail and telephone number) for the country of destination of the document, the reason for the urgency and when you need your document back.
• An agreement to collect your documents personally is possible after completion.
• Fees are charged for these procedures in writing.

Processing time

In the case of a personal appointment:

• immediately - only possible if a preliminary check has taken place!

In the written procedure by post:

• Within Germany, it is usually returned about ten days after the post has been processed by the authorities.

Fees

Fees for making an appointment:

• €13 per apostille (fee increase to €13.50 from January 1st, 2024)


• €9 per pre-certification


• 5 € translator stamp


• €6 for copy certification/official certification - for each first page of the document


• 1 € copy certification/official certification - from the 2nd page of each document


• 0.60 € copies - from the 1st page to the 10th page


• 0.30 € copies - from the 11th page


• 15 € per Iran stamp


• €5 per signature confirmation

Different fees in the postal process

• €32 per apostille (fee increase to €34 from January 1st, 2024)


• €28 per pre-certification (fee increase to €29.50 from January 1st, 2024)


• If you live in Germany, the fee is charged by fee notice.


• If the fee is over €100 or if you live abroad, advance payment will be required upon completion. You will receive a fee notice for this. After the value date, your documents will be sent back to you.

Payment methods available

• Girocard
• Bill
• Cash payment

Payment information

Payment by invoice / notification of fees is only possible if the application is sent by post.

Legal remedies

.

Legal basis

• Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents


• § 33 (1) Hamburg Administrative Procedures Act (HmbVwVfG)


• List of States to the Hague Convention

If a domestic (German) public document is required for use abroad, the foreign state in which the domestic document is to be used can request a separate authentication (Hague Apostille or legalization requirement/pre-authentication) of authenticity.

The Office for Migration of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport is authorized to affix the apostille or pre-authentication to public documents that were issued by an authority of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (FHH).

Other responsibilities outside the Office for Migration (see links) :

• Hamburg district court for documents from the Hamburg courts (e.g. decision/judgment - divorce from the district court in Wandsbek)
• Hamburg Regional Court for private documents - e.g. power of attorney (please contact a Hamburg-based notary for notarization). Then go to the district court of Hamburg.
• Federal Office for Foreign Affairs for federal documents or final certification - e.g. certificates of good conduct
• Translations by interpreters who have not been sworn in Hamburg are the responsibility of the federal state where the swearing took place.
• Certificates from other federal states and nations - please contact the issuing country or federal state.