Certification of German documents for use abroad

Legalization is associated with a not inconsiderable expenditure of time and money. For this reason, it has been partially declared dispensable by international treaties. These agreements include the Convention on the Exemption of Foreign Public Documents from Legalization (Hague Apostille Convention). The apostille then takes the place of legalization as proof of authenticity. This is issued by the competent internal authority of the state that issued the document. Involvement of its foreign representation in Germany is then no longer necessary.

In addition, there are also conventions with the consequence of mutual recognition of the respective deeds, so that public deeds are regarded as genuine without further ado (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy; Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland).

Which states recognize the "Hague Apostille", please read here:

If possible, find out the exact procedure and how to pay the fees from the competent authority before submitting the application.

• Visit the competent authority. Make an appointment by telephone.
• Identify yourself with your identity card or passport.
• Tell them in which country you want to use the certificate.
• Present the original of the certificate.
• You pay the fee at the competent office.

For signatures on German public documents for use abroad and apostilles on federal documents for use in countries acceding to the Hague Convention:

Postal address:

Federal Office of Administration / Authentications
Department II B 4
50728 Cologne

Visiting address:

Federal Office of Administration
Office Building Cologne-Braunsfeld (New Technology Center)
Eupener Str. 125
50933 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 228 99358-4100
Fax : +49 228 99358-2893
E-mail : beglaubigungen@bva.bund.de

Opening hours (visit and phone):

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs.
Tue: 09:00 - 16:30 hrs
Wed: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs
Thu: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00 hrs

For documents of the Federal Patent Court and the German Patent Office:

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
80297 Munich

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Zweibrückenstrasse 12
80331 Munich

Phone: +49 89 2195-0
Fax: +49 89 2195-2221
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Berlin office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
Gitschiner Street 97
10969 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Jena Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
07738 Jena

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
Goethestrasse 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
E-mail: info@dpma.de

• Original certificate
• Passport or other proof of identity (not required if application is made in writing)
• if applicable: written power of attorney for the representative

EUR: 10,00 to 100,00

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Released by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Co-signature of the Federal Ministry of Justice requested.

For signatures on German public documents for use abroad and apostilles on federal documents for use in countries acceding to the Hague Convention:

Postal address:

Federal Office of Administration / Authentications
Department II B 4
50728 Cologne

Visiting address:

Federal Office of Administration
Office Building Cologne-Braunsfeld (New Technology Center)
Eupener Str. 125
50933 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 228 99358-4100
Fax : +49 228 99358-2893
E-mail : beglaubigungen@bva.bund.de

Opening hours (visit and phone):

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs.
Tue: 09:00 - 16:30 hrs
Wed: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs
Thu: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00 hrs

For documents of the Federal Patent Court and the German Patent Office:

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
80297 Munich

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Zweibrückenstrasse 12
80331 Munich

Phone: +49 89 2195-0
Fax: +49 89 2195-2221
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Berlin office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trademark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Center Berlin
Gitschiner Street 97
10969 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Jena Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
07738 Jena

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
Goethestrasse 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
E-mail: info@dpma.de