Bundesportal | Notarization of a marriage abroad by a German registry office

More Information

Publisher

Brandenburg

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

Call 115 now

Government service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.

Properly issued marriage certificates (marriage certificates) from abroad are generally recognised in Germany. There is no obligation to subsequently certify the marriage.

However, the subsequent entry in the marriage register can be advantageous because the local registry office can then issue you with a German marriage certificate. Any translations and certifications of the foreign certificate will therefore no longer be necessary in future.

Marriage certificate (marriage certificate) of the marriage concluded abroad, if necessary with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalisation by the German diplomatic mission abroad
valid identity card, passport or travel permit
if applicable, certificate of naturalization, citizenship certificate
Translations of all documents in a foreign language by sworn translators in Germany.

Further additional documents required:

if the spouses were born in Germany

the birth certificates

If the spouses were born abroad

the birth certificates with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalisation by the German mission abroad.

If one spouse has been married before

certified copy from the marriage register of the last previous marriage with annotation of dissolution
Alternatively, or in the case of a previous marriage abroad: proof of the conclusion and dissolution of all previous marriages - for example marriage certificates, death certificates, all divorce decrees (complete and with a note by the court as to when the decree became final / "final decree note")
if applicable, recognition of the foreign divorce by the President of the Higher Regional Court

If one of the spouses had previously entered into a registered civil partnership:

Evidence of the establishment and dissolution of all civil partnerships.

Label

Preconditions

A marriage concluded abroad can only be entered in the German marriage register if it was legally concluded. Furthermore, it must not contradict German law.

The subsequent certification of the marriage is possible for:

German nationals
Stateless persons, homeless foreigners or foreign refugees with habitual residence in Germany.

Persons entitled to apply:

each spouse
are both deceased
- their parents or
- their children

Hints

Since 1 January 2009, certified copies of the family register are no longer issued - the registry office continues to keep the data of the family registers as marriage entries.

If you need proof, please request a marriage certificate in each case.

If you have married abroad, you can apply to the registry office in your home town for the marriage to be subsequently recorded in the German marriage register.

The fee depends on the nationality of the spouses at the time of the marriage.

Notarisation of a marriage contracted abroad
- for German nationality of both partners: 60,00 Euro
- in the case of foreign citizenship
  - of one partner: 90,00 Euro
  - of both partners: 110,00 Euro
Notarisation or certification of a declaration, consent or agreement to the use of a name on the basis of family law regulations: 25.00 Euro
Copy of the marriage certificate:
- one copy: 10,00 Euro
- each additional copy, if applied for at the same time: 5,00 Euro

Basis for legal action

§§ 34 f. Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)

Procedure

Details about the modalities and the documents that the registry office requires from you in detail, please ask there in advance by phone.

Compile the necessary documents and visit the registry office.
The registrar will check whether it is possible to have the marriage recorded by a German registry office.
If the requirements are met, the entry can be made in the marriage register.

If required, the registry office will issue you with a marriage certificate after the registration has taken place.

Label