Certifications of copies of official documents for submission to an authority and for private law purposes

Prerequisites

A copy can only be certified if the original was issued by an authority or if the copy is required for submission to an authority.

Documents required

Bring original documents and, if necessary, copies. Coin copiers are available in some offices. Please bring change.

Please note

Copies of the following documents can be certified for submission to an authority:

• Originals issued by an authority (e.g. state school certificates, identification documents (identity cards), certificates of doctorate, citizenship, license to practice medicine, etc.)
• Originals that were not issued by an authority (e.g. employment references).

Certification for pension purposes

• Certifications of originals that were not issued by an authority are free of charge for pension purposes (proof of pension receipt or application required).

Power of attorney

• Certification is carried out on a certificate or document-related basis and not on a personal basis, which is why a person who is not affected can also apply for it without a power of attorney.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

Speak to the Hamburg Service in person.

Processing time

Depending on the number of notifications.

Fees

4 EUR for up to four pages and each additional page from the 5th page 1 EUR. If copies have to be made, they cost EUR 0.60 per page.


If you bring copies with you, the fee is EUR 4 for up to two pages and each additional page from the 3rd page EUR 2 due to the increased testing effort. Free of charge for pension purposes (proof required).

Legal basis

Section 33 (1) Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG)