Germany
Official language: German
1. Certified Translations
I carry out certified translations of documents from Germany (German-Spanish / German-English), e.g.:
- Geburtsurkunde (Birth Certificate)
- Ledigkeitsbescheinigung (Single Status Certificate)
- Meldebescheinigung (Resident Registration Certificate)
- Eheurkunde / Lebenspartnerschaftsurkunde (Marriage Certificate / Civil Partnership Certificate)
- Einbürgerungszusicherung (Assurance of Naturalization /Assurance of Citizenship)
- Führungszeugnis (Criminal Record Certificate)
(Issuing authority: Bundesamt für Justiz (BfJ)) - Abschlussurkunden und Zeugnisse (Degree Certificate and Transcript)
- Führerschein (Driving Licence)
- Sterbeurkunde (Death Certificate)
2. Apostilles for Documents from Germany
Apostilles are issued only for countries in which the Hague Apostille Convention is valid in relation to Germany.
A consular legalisation is issued – instead of the apostille – by the consulates of those countries for which the Hague Apostille Convention is not valid in relation to Germany. In these cases, you will be required a previous authentication carried out by the competent body of the corresponding German federal state (and an additional final authentication, issued by the BVA for certain countries). – Country list (final authentication) of the BVA
The verification of documents for German authorities can be carried out by German consulates, if consular legalisation has been suspended in a country. – Country list (verification) of the German Foreign Ministry
Apostilles for Documents issued by Federal Authorities:
Competent body: Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) – e.g. apostille for the Führungszeugnis (Criminal Record Certificate)
Apostilles for Documents issued by Authorities of individual Federal States
Competence is dependant on the type of document and the place of issuance. I do not assume any responsibility for the information.
- Baden-Württemberg
Competent bodies: Regierungspräsidien, Kultusministerium, Wissenschaftsministerium, Landgerichte - Bavaria
Competent bodies: Regierungen der Regierungsbezirke, Landgerichte - Berlin
Competent bodies: LABO, Landgericht Berlin - Brandenburg
Competent bodies: Auslandsbeglaubigungsstelle der Landeshauptstadt Potsdam, Landgerichte - Bremen
Competent bodies: Behörde für Inneres, Landgericht Bremen - Hamburg
Competent bodies: Behörde für Inneres, Landgericht Hamburg - Hesse
Competent bodies: Regierungspräsidien, Landgerichte - Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
Competent bodies: Ministerium für Inneres und Europa, Landgerichte - Lower Saxony
Competent bodies: Polizeidirektionen, Landgerichte - North Rhine-Westphalia
Competent bodies: Bezirksregierungen, Landgerichte - Rhineland-Palatinate
Competent bodies: Aufsichts- und Dienstleistungsdirektion Kaiserslautern, Landgerichte - Saarland
Competent bodies: Landesverwaltungsamt St. Ingbert, Landgericht Saarbrücken - Saxony
Competent bodies: Landesdirektion Sachsen, Landgerichte - Saxony-Anhalt
Competent bodies: Landesverwaltungsamt Magdeburg, Landgerichte - Schleswig-Holstein
Competent bodies: Innenministerium, Landgerichte - Thuringia
Competent bodies: Landesverwaltungsamt Weimar, Landgerichte
3. Embassies and Consulates
Information on consular districts for individual countries can be found in the country list.
4. Links of Interest
Auswärtiges Amt (German Foreign Ministry)
- Consular Service
- International Recognition of Documents
- Authentication / Consular Legalisation / Apostille / Procurement of Documents