Birth certificate; application

The birth certificate proves the birth of a person, their first and last names and the details of their parents.

You can only obtain your birth certificate from the registry office in your place of birth. The registry office issues it from the register of births.

The birth certificate contains the following information:

• First names, maiden name and gender of the child
• Date and place of birth
• First names and surnames of the parents

The following details will not be included at your request:

• Gender
• Parents' first names and surnames

On request, multilingual forms can also be issued for the civil status certificates so that they no longer require translation in other European countries.

Certified printout from the birth register

In addition to the birth certificate, there is also a certified printout from the register of births. You will need this for a marriage, for example.
This is a copy of the birth register entry kept at the registry office or, if the register is kept electronically, a printout of it.
In addition to the birth details (including the time of birth and details of the parents), it also contains subsequent changes such as adoption or a change of name.

Multilingual birth certificate

You can use this abroad without a translation.
It is valid in all countries that are party to the Convention of September 8, 1976 on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records (see Civil Status Law - Convention - No. 16: Convention on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records).

The following persons over the age of 16 are eligible to apply:

• Persons to whom the register entry relates
• Spouses and life partners
• Ancestors and descendants (e.g. children, grandchildren)
• Siblings, if they can credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest
• Other persons who can credibly demonstrate a legal interest

You must apply for the birth certificate at the registry office that certified your birth.

Apply in person:

• Go to the registry office that notarized the birth.
• You must present your identity card or passport to prove your identity.
• You usually pay the fee when you apply at the registry office.
• In addition to yourself, a person you trust may also order and collect the certificate on your behalf. The person must present
  • a written power of attorney from you,
  • your identity card or passport (original or copy)
  • the identity card or passport of the authorized person.

Written application:

• Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue you with a birth certificate.
• Your letter should contain the following information
  • Surname, first name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Surname, first name of parents
  • if known: Registry office and notarization number
• Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
• Please enquire in advance at the registry office about payment options and the specific fee amount.
• Depending on the services offered by the city or municipality, you can also submit the application electronically via the registry office's website.

Electronic application:

• If available, call up the online procedure of the registry office.
• If necessary, authenticate yourself using the online ID function of your ID card.
• Enter the required data and upload any required documents.
• Submit the online application.

Birth certificates and certified register printouts can only be issued up to a period of 110 years from the birth registers after they have been recorded in the registers at the registry offices. In other cases, the archive of the municipality to which the registry office belongs is responsible.

usually 2 to 10 days

On average, the certificate office needs 2-3 weeks (including post) to process the order. Applications for certificates will of course be processed as quickly as possible.

• You must submit your application:
  
  • Ihren Personalausweis oder Reisepass (bei schriftlicher Beantragung: beglaubigte Kopie),
  • bei Beantragung beziehungsweise Abholung durch einen Vertreter:
    • schriftliche Vollmacht der berechtigten Person,
    • deren Personalausweis (Original oder beglaubigte Kopie) oder
    • Reisepass (Original oder beglaubigte Kopie) und
    • den Personalausweis oder Reisepass des Vertreters
  • für andere Personen: gegebenenfalls einen Nachweis ihres rechtlichen Interesses.

• Fee for a birth certificate: EUR 12.00
• Fee for a certified printout: 12,00 EUR
• Fee for a multilingual birth certificate: EUR 12.00
• Fee for issuing a translation aid (multilingual form in accordance with Art. 7 Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1191): EUR 12.00

It is not possible to obtain information about the time of birth by telephone. Please request a birth certificate from the municipal website. The time of birth is listed there.