Order a birth, marriage or death certificate in Germany

It comes from the registry office where the event was recorded

Germany has no single national register for these documents. Each Standesamt, the local registry office, keeps the entries for births, marriages and deaths in its area and issues the certificates. You normally ask the office of the place where the event happened, even if you live elsewhere now. A full register copy and a multilingual version are separate options.

Find your officeBrowse services

How it works

Get a birth, marriage or death certificate

Order an official birth, marriage or death certificate from the civil registry.

You may need a birth, marriage or death certificate for a residence application, a wedding, an inheritance or a name change. It is usually issued by the civil registry where the event was recorded, not where you live now. Check whether the recipient needs a full copy, a short extract or a multilingual version, and whether it must be legalised or carry an apostille for use abroad. Many registries accept orders online or by post.

Also searched as

birth certificatemarriage certificatedeath certificatecivil registrymultilingual certificatecopy of birth certificateregister office

At a glance

Offices
54 offices in 39 cities
Book online
At 5 of 54 offices
Apply online
At 50 of 54 offices

The right Standesamt depends on the place of the event

Registry offices that issue your certificate

A certificate is issued by the registry office that holds the entry, which may be in another city from the one you live in. Some offices take orders online or by post, others only at the counter, and each asks for its own proof of identity.

Browse by city

Related services

Other everyday services in Germany

Help with rent and living costs in Germany

For people who cannot cover rent, food or other basic costs. See whether the Sozialamt or the Jobcenter is your starting point and how to reach them.

135 offices · 39 cities

Tax registration with the Finanzamt in Germany

For freelancers, sole traders and new business owners. See how tax registration works, what the Steuernummer is for and which tax office can help.

108 offices · 37 cities

Report a change of address in Germany

For people who already live in Germany and move to a new home. See how to update your registered address and which office takes it.

104 offices · 39 cities

Residence permit applications in Germany

For students, workers and family members from outside the EU. See which office handles your stay and how applications start.

103 offices · 38 cities

Register your address after arriving in Germany

For anyone moving into a home in Germany from another country. See what the registration involves and which office in your city deals with it.

98 offices · 39 cities

Certificate of your registered address

For anyone who has to show where they live. See what the certificate covers and which office in your city issues it.

95 offices · 39 cities
Browse services

Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Registry offices that issue certificates

Find the Standesamt in the right city and check whether you can order online, by post or at the counter.

Registry offices in Germany

Explore more

Jump straight to another part of the manual.