Certificate of Good Conduct; Applying for a Standard Certificate of Good Conduct

A certificate of good conduct is a document detailing, in particular, criminal convictions. You can apply for it starting at age 14 at your local municipality / registration office (citizen service center) or through the Federal Office of Justice’s online portal (see “Online Procedure”).

If you apply for the certificate of good conduct to be submitted to a government agency, it will be sent directly to that agency. However, upon request, you, as the applicant, may be granted access to the certificate.

You can apply for a standard certificate of good conduct in person, in writing, or electronically.

• Ifyou apply in person atthe municipality, you must present your passport or national ID card.
• Toapply electronically viathe Federal Office of Justice’s online portal (see “Online Procedure”), you will need either an identity card, an eID card with a domestic address, or an electronic residence permit—each with an activated online ID function.
• Ifsubmitting a written application, your signaturemust becertified by an authorized certifying authority. Public certification by a notary is also possible. Additionally, you must specify the intended use of the certificate of good conduct. Information on certifications can be found under “Further Links.”

Applications submitted by an authorized representative are not permitted.

• Reaching the age of 14
• If the applicant lacks legal capacity, the application must be filed by the legal representative, if necessary

You must apply for the basic certificate of good conduct. 

In general, the following explanations can be provided regarding the certificate of good conduct:

• Convictions of criminals appear not only in the Federal Central Register but also in the criminal record certificate, which any person over the age of 14 can request from their local registration office.
• However, there are a number of exceptions to inclusion in the criminal record certificate, such as the following:

• Provided that no other conviction is recorded in the register, a conviction involving a fine of up to 90 daily rates or a prison sentence of up to three months is not included in the certificate of good conduct (though it is recorded in the Central Register, from which, however, only certain authorities receive information).
• Furthermore, juvenile sentences of up to two years are not included, provided they are suspended.

• There are also expungement periods for the certificate of good conduct; they are generally shorter than those for the Federal Central Register (ranging from 3 to 20 years, depending on the type of conviction).

An exception to the requirement to appear in person may be granted if you still have a valid ID card or passport issued by the City of Erlangen. In that case, it is sufficient to mail us the signed form along with a copy of your identification document—without notarization.

about 2 to 3 weeks

• When applying in person: Present your passport or ID card
• For electronic applications: ID card, eID card with a domestic address, or electronic residence permit, each with the online ID function activated
• For written applications: An officially or publicly certified signature

• If the application is submitted by a legal representative: the birth certificate of the person being represented or a certificate of appointment
• Information on the Purpose of Use

13.00 EUR

Fee Exemption (see also “Related Links”): In cases of financial hardship (e.g., receipt of Bürgergeld, social assistance, 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 to perform volunteer work carried out for a nonprofit organization, a government agency, or within the scope 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.