Certificate of Good Conduct; Applying for an Expanded Certificate of Good Conduct

You can apply for an extended criminal record certificate at the municipal office / registration office (citizen service center) or electronically through the Federal Office of Justice’s online portal (see “Online Procedure”) if certain legal provisions require the issuance of an extended criminal record certificate or if you need this certificate for

• the assessment of personal suitability under Section 72a of Book VIII of the Social Code (Child and Youth Welfare),
• any other professional or volunteer supervision, care, education, or training of minors, or an activity that is similarly likely to involve contact with minors.

If you submit your application in person at the municipal office, you must present your passport or national ID card and the written request in which you are required to submit an extended criminal record certificate. The written request must confirm that the requirements of Section 30a of the Federal Central Register Act for the issuance of an extended criminal record certificate are met. For self-employed individuals, a certificate from the applicant is sufficient.

To submit an application electronically , you will need either an identity card or an electronic residence permit, each with an activated online ID function; in this case, the certification required under Section 30a of the Federal Central Register Act must be uploaded.

Applications submitted by an authorized representative (e.g., an attorney) are not permitted.

Applications by Government Agencies

Since May 1, 2010, authorities have also been able to apply for an extended criminal record certificate for the purpose of protecting minors. The prerequisite for this is that the authorities require the criminal record certificate to perform their official duties and that a request to the individual concerned to submit such a certificate was either inappropriate or unsuccessful. A request for the individual to submit an extended criminal record certificate is always deemed inappropriate if a decision detrimental to that individual is intended and, therefore, their cooperation cannot be expected. In such cases, the requesting authority must grant the individual access to the certificate upon request. In all other cases, the individual’s cooperation is a mandatory prerequisite for applying for an extended certificate of good conduct.

Information on the content of extended criminal records can be found under “Further Links.”

• Reaching the age of 14
• A written request to submit an extended criminal record check or, for self-employed individuals, a certificate from the applicant

2–3 weeks

• A written request for submission of an extended criminal record check or, in the case of self-employed individuals, a certificate from the applicant
• When applying in person: Present your passport or national ID card
• For electronic applications: national ID card, eID card with a domestic address, or electronic residence permit, each with the online ID function activated

13.00 EUR

Fee Waiver: In cases of financial hardship (e.g., receipt of Bürgergeld, social assistance, the child supplement under Section 6a of the Federal Child Allowance Act, BAföG, or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act), the Federal Office of Justice may, upon request, reduce the fee or waive it entirely. If a certificate of good conduct is required to perform volunteer care work (Section 19(1), § 21 BtOG) or for volunteer work performed for a nonprofit organization, a government agency, or as part of one of the services listed in § 32(4)(2)(d) of the Income Tax Act (EStG), the fee is waived.

When submitting an application electronically, proof of eligibility for a fee exemption must be provided electronically.