The city of registration counts, not your home city
Big cities can have several registry offices, and each one only holds the partnership entries it registered. Go to the city of registration to see how its office takes orders: online, by post, at a counter or only with an appointment, and whether payment comes before dispatch. Some offices issue only a German version.
Aachen
Bendelstraße 21, 52062 Aachen
Check that Aachen holds your partnership record before paying, because a wrong request can bring extra costs.
Bring ID/passport; a representative needs authority and the principal’s ID copy. Non-portal requests require an ID copy, delivery address and contact phone, with payment evidence before dispatch. Ask which certificate or register printout the recipient needs.
Augsburg
Maximilianstraße 69, 86150 Augsburg
The online form covers Augsburg records from the last 80 years, and older ones need a different way of ordering.
Prepare the partners’ names, date and place of registration and any reference number you hold. Ask which identity or entitlement evidence applies. Keep submission and payment confirmations; a downloaded PDF should not be mistaken for confirmation that an unfinished request was submitted.
Berlin
Schlesische Straße 27A, Erdgeschoss — Urkundenstelle, 10997 Berlin
Watch your spam folder for the payment request that comes by e-mail before dispatch.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Schönstedtstraße 5, 13357 Berlin
Order through the online form, as e-mail and phone are for questions only and there are no fixed public hours.
Have the full names, event date and place, any former registry name, entry/reference number and an earlier certificate if available. Check the holdings overview or ask the office whether it actually has your entry. Confirm the total charges for your case: it charges €30 for checking its Register- und Urkundensammlung, plus possible search charges of €20–80 when necessary identifying details are missing. These search charges are due even if no certificate can be issued; they are not a flat quote for every certificate. Documents are issued only after payment; the office does not offer delivery with payment deferred. The payment guidance offers electronic payment or bank transfer, which can add bank-processing time.
Berlin
Egon-Erwin-Kisch-Straße 106, 13059 Berlin
Allow up to six weeks, as the certificate is sent only after you have paid the fee notice.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Alice-Salomon-Platz 3, 12627 Berlin
Ask the receiving organisation which version it needs, as a certificate with a dissolution note is also available.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Parochialstraße 3, Persönliche Vorsprache nur nach individueller Vereinbarung, 10179 Berlin
Orders are posted to you with no collection possible, and advance credit-card payment is recommended.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Blaschkoallee 32, Haus 5, 12359 Berlin
Arrange any personal visit by phone first, as there are no open walk-in sessions.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Breite Straße 24a–26, 13187 Berlin
Paying online by credit card is faster than the advance invoice, which takes at least eight weeks.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Antonyplatz 1, 13437 Berlin
The registry where the partnership was recorded handles your order, not the one near your home.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Carl-Schurz-Straße 2/6, Räume 24–40, 13597 Berlin
You can ask for the certificate in person during set walk-in hours on three weekdays.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
Kirchstraße 1/3, 14163 Berlin
In a written request, give the partners’ full names, the date and place of registration, and your reason.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Berlin
John-F.-Kennedy-Platz 1, Eingang Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße, 10825 Berlin
Order online or send a written request with a clear copy of your ID and your handwritten signature.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority. State the purpose clearly: the office assesses purpose-specific fee exemptions individually.
Berlin
Alt-Köpenick 21, 12555 Berlin
A register copy shows more than the plain certificate, such as name changes and any dissolution.
Have your passport or identity card, the partners’ full names, registration date and place, any known register reference, intended use and required number of copies ready. Provide relationship, authority or legal-interest evidence as applicable. The standard fee is €12 for the first certificate and €6 for each further certificate of the same type ordered at the same time; a difficult record search can cost extra. Ask the recipient whether it needs a partnership certificate or a certified register copy with annotations. The international certificate format is not available for partnership records; check translation or apostille requirements with the receiving authority.
Bielefeld
Niederwall 23, Neues Rathaus, 1. Etage, Zimmer F101, 33602 Bielefeld
Book an appointment to receive the certificate straight away, or order online and wait about two weeks plus post.
Bring valid ID/passport and full names, event date and place. Representatives need authority and the principal’s ID copy. Express authority to collect immediately is essential; otherwise the certificate is posted to the person concerned. Incomplete details can incur €20 per started 15 minutes of searching.
Bochum
Willy-Brandt-Platz 2–6, Historisches Rathaus — Ebene 3, 44787 Bochum
Bochum does not issue a multilingual certificate, so check which document the receiving organisation accepts.
Prepare valid ID/passport and the partners’ names, date and place of registration. Establish your authority or legal interest. Tell the recipient if you need a register printout, and ask about translation requirements for use abroad.
Bonn
Thomas-Mann-Straße 4, Loggia am Stadthaus, 53111 Bonn
If you need it sooner, ask in person during opening hours, where it is normally issued on the spot.
For a personal request, bring a valid identity card, passport or driving licence. A representative collecting for you needs written authority and a copy of an official identity document. Check which certificate format the recipient requires and provide proof if claiming the pension-purpose fee exemption.
Braunschweig
Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 38100 Braunschweig
Allow about five weeks after your payment arrives, as certificates are posted rather than handed over.
Prepare ID/passport, both partners’ names, registration date, delivery address and intended use. Third-party requests need legal-interest evidence. Purpose-specific statutory health or German pension-insurance certificates can be free with evidence; ask about translation-aid suitability before paying.
Bremen
Hollerallee 79, 28209 Bremen
Send a written request using the registry’s order form, as phone orders are not accepted.
Provide ID/passport or accepted electronic identity evidence; a representative needs written authority and identification for both parties. Follow the authority’s advice on encrypted transmission of sensitive ID copies. DE-Mail needs a DE-Mail account. Confirm any purpose-based exemption and the correct record-holding registry before ordering.
Bremen
Gerhard-Rohlfs-Straße 62, 2. Etage, 28757 Bremen
If you would rather not send a copy of your ID, you can arrange to collect the certificate in person.
Provide ID/passport or accepted electronic identity evidence; a representative needs written authority and identification for both parties. Follow the authority’s advice on encrypted transmission of sensitive ID copies. DE-Mail needs a DE-Mail account. Confirm any purpose-based exemption and the correct record-holding registry before ordering.
Related services
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.
For freelancers, sole traders and new business owners. See how tax registration works, what the Steuernummer is for and which tax office can help.
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.
For students, workers and family members from outside the EU. See which office handles your stay and how applications start.
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.
For anyone who has to show where they live. See what the certificate covers and which office in your city issues it.
Other countries
Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.
Most offices in Amsterdam, Deventer, and Hoofddorp
Most offices in Terrassa, Palma, and A Coruña
Most offices in Antwerp, Ghent, and Charleroi
Where to next
For people who registered a partnership in Germany and need official proof, for example for pension or insurance matters or for use abroad. See where to order it.
Jump straight to another part of the manual.