apply for a birth certificate

Prerequisites

Applications can be made:

• Eligible applicants (minimum age: 16 years):
  • the person to whom the birth certificate relates
  • the spouse or civil partner (within the meaning of the Act on Registered Civil Partnerships)
  • Ancestors and descendants of the data subject
  • Siblings with Legitimate Interest

Further requirements:

• Other people, including close relatives such as aunts and uncles, only receive a certificate if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest (e.g. through a letter from the probate court).

Notice:
Civil status documents contain personal data, which is why their issuance is subject to data protection restrictions.

Documents required

When applying, you must submit:

• Your identity card or passport (when applying in writing: copy),
• if requested or picked up by a representative:
  • written power of attorney of the authorized person,
  • their identity card (original or copy) or
  • Passport (original or copy) and
  • the representative's identity card or passport
• for other people:
  • if necessary, proof of their legal interest.

Please note

• You can apply for birth certificates in writing (letter post, email, fax) or in person. It is not possible to apply by phone.
• If you no longer know the location of the event registered in the registry office, please contact the general register of the Hamburg registry offices in writing. There you can find out which registry office has notarized the civil status case.
• For birth certificates of births more than 110 years ago, please contact the Hamburg State Archives (see links).
• For civil status cases (birth, marriage, death) that have been certified in a Hamburg registry office since 2009, further certificates can be issued in all Hamburg registry offices. These documents are provided with the addition "Certificate according to § 67 paragraph 3 of the Personal Status Act". Please note that these certificates are not recognized abroad. For such purposes, please use documents that were issued by the originally responsible registry office.

Deadlines

no

Procedure

You must submit the application for a birth certificate to your responsible registry office.

Personal application:

• Go to the registry office that registered the birth.
• You must present your identity card or passport for legitimation.
• You usually pay the fee when applying at the registry office.
• In addition to yourself, a person you trust may order and collect the certificate for you. To do this, the person must submit:
  • a written power of attorney from you,
  • Your identity card or passport (original or copy)
  • the identity card or passport of the authorized person.

Application by post, email or fax:

• Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue a birth certificate for you.
• Your letter should contain the following information
  • Name first Name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Surname, first name of parents
  • if known: registry office and certification number
• Enclose a copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
• You will receive a notification of fees when the certificate is sent by post.

You can also request certificates electronically via the online service for requesting certificates (see links).

Processing time

• For processing the application: usually 2 to 10 days


• In the case of a personal visit, the certificate will be handed over immediately

Fees

• EUR 14.50, each additional one in the same processing step EUR 6.00.


• Deeds for pension purposes are free of charge.

Legal remedies

If the issuance is refused, (only) an application for a court decision can be made to the district court responsible for the registry office. The objection procedure is only possible with regard to the notification of fees.

Legal basis

• § 55 paragraph 1 number 4 Personal Status Act (PStG)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__55.html


• § 59 Civil Status Act (PStG)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__59.html


• § 62 Civil Status Act (PStG)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__62.html


• Section 50 Civil Status Ordinance (PStV)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstv/__50.html