Bundesportal | Marriage certificate; application

More Information

Publisher

Bavaria

Last update or date of publication

August 19, 2025

If you have married and need a new marriage certificate, you can apply for one at the registry office. Please contact the registry office where the marriage took place. The marriage certificate proves that you are married to your spouse. Among other things, it contains the names you use in the marriage. It also states the place and date of the marriage. You can obtain the marriage certificate in various forms:

As a marriage certificate, possibly with translation assistance for use in European Union countries.
As a multilingual marriage certificate, which is valid in all countries that have signed the Convention of September 8, 1976 on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records. You can find further information on this under Civil Status Law - Convention - No. 16: Convention on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records.
As a certified printout from the marriage register. This printout contains all the data entered by the registry office at the time of the marriage.

If there are any changes after the marriage, for example due to a change of name or divorce, the entry in the register will be supplemented by a subsequent certification. If you wish, the registry office can then issue you with a new marriage certificate.

Application for a marriage certificate
Apply in person:
- Bring your identity card or passport with you.
- Your family relationship must be explained and, if necessary, proven
- An authorized person must bring a written power of attorney as well as the identity card or passport (original or copy) of the person granting the power of attorney and their own identity card or passport.
Written application:
- Enclose a copy of your identity card or passport.
- Your family relationship must be explained and, if necessary, proven.

Label

Preconditions

The following persons over the age of 16 can submit an application:

The person to whom the entry in the register relates.
Ancestors and descendants, e.g. parents, children or grandchildren (the relationship must be explained and, if necessary, proven).
Other persons who can prove a legal interest, for example by means of a letter from the probate court, a court judgment or an enforceable title.

Fee for a marriage certificate: EUR 12.00
Fee for a certified printout: 12,00 EUR
Fee for a multilingual marriage certificate: EUR 12.00
Fee for issuing a translation aid (multilingual form pursuant to Art. 7 Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1191): EUR 12.00

Basis for legal action

§ 53 Personenstandsverordnung (PStV)

§§ 48 bis 50 Personenstandsverordnung (PStV)

§§ 55 bis 58 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)

§§ 57, 61, 62 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)

Legal Remedies

Application for a court decision at the local court responsible for the registry office

Procedure

You can request the marriage certificate from the registry office where the marriage took place in person (appointment may be necessary), in writing or electronically.

Applying in person:

An appointment may be necessary to apply in person.
Bring your identity card or passport with you.
You pay the fee directly at the registry office when you apply.
A trusted person can also order and collect the certificate for you. This person will need a written power of attorney as well as your identity card or passport (original or copy) and your identity card or passport.

Written application:

Address an informal letter to the relevant registry office requesting that the marriage certificate be issued.
Your letter should contain the following information:
- Your surname and first name
- Your registration address
- The date and place of the marriage or, if applicable, the conversion of the civil partnership
- If known, the registration number and the registry office
- If available, further proof, e.g. of legal interest or exemption from fees.
Enclose a copy of your identity card or passport.

Electronic application:

If the registry office offers an online option, go to the relevant website.
If necessary, log in using the online ID function on your ID card.
Enter the required data and, if necessary, upload the required documents.
Submit the application online.

Deadlines

Marriage certificates and certified register printouts can only be requested from the registry office up to 80 years after the marriage was recorded in the marriage register. The archive of the municipality to which the registry office belongs is responsible for older entries.

Processing time

Usually 2 to 10 days