How to Obtain a German Birth Certificate
If you were born in Germany and were registered in your place of birth, it is easy to request a copy of your birth certificate. You can take these steps on your own, without having to apply through a secondary agency. Gather your vital information and a few materials and you can have a hard copy of your birth record in very little time.
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Things You'll Need
- Business-sized envelope
- Proper postage to mail to Germany
- Date of birth
- Town or city of birth
- Father's full name
- Mother's full maiden name
Instructions
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1
Determine the correct registrar's office, or "Standesamt," for your city of birth. Note the postal code if mailing your request. If you speak German and can be easily understood over the phone, you may make your request over the phone.
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2
Write your request in German. Use this German phrase to request your birth certificate: "Ich bitte um Ausstellung einer internationalen Geburtsurkunde für [your first/middle/last name], geb am [your birthdate] in [your birthplace]. Eltern [your father's name] und [your mother's maiden name]." Include your full name and current mailing address.
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3
Address the request to:
Standesamt
[postal code]
[town name]
GermanyEnclose $2 in postage for the reply. You may also purchase International Postal Reply coupons, available at the post office.
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4
Mail the letter with the correct postage.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the name of your birth month instead of the number. For example, write "December" instead of "12." Americans write dates using the month as the first number, but Europeans use the day as the first number. Using the name of the month will eliminate any potential confusion about your correct birthdate.
