How to Obtain a Record of Birth if Born in Germany
Just like in the United States, birth, marriage and death records in Germany are kept in local vital records or registry offices. Requests for these types of documents must be made directly, in writing, to the local registry office for the place where you were born. If you were born in Germany, these offices can send you your German birth certificate. If you wish to get a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad document, which is different than a birth certificate, German officials will not be able to help you; instead, contact the U.S. State Department.
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Instructions
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Complete a request for a German birth certificate in writing. Include your full name, place of birth and date of birth. It is also a good idea to add the names of your father and mother, including your mother's maiden name. Also, be sure to include the address to which you want the birth record sent. The request should be in German. You can find a basic template for this type of request, in German and English, on the U.S. Mission to Germany website.
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Get the address of the vital records office for where you were born. Vital records or registrar offices in Germany are known as "Standesamts." You can find the contact information for these offices on the websites of their respective cities or towns. You can usually reach the website of a German municipality by typing www.(name of city).de into your browser's address bar.
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Send your request to the appropriate Standesamt. Send your written request by mail to the Standesamt for the municipality in which you were born. It is a good idea to include a photocopy of some proof of your identity, such as a driver's license or passport photo page. Be sure to affix sufficient international postage to the envelope containing your request.
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Tips & Warnings
Germany uses a different numerical dating system than the U.S., so it is a good idea to write out your birth date fully, such as December 10, 1975, to avoid any confusion.
