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I was born in Germany and need to have my birth certificate re-issued. How to go about it?

Our child was born in the U.S. and we would like to apply for a German birth certificate for our child. What do we have to do?

I got married in the U.S. and want to change my last name in my passport. What do I have to fill out?

I have received news from Germany that I have become an heir of an estate. What do I have to do now?

If you have one of these or similar questions regarding family matters, the German Missions in the U.S. provide you with more information on the following:

22.02.2022 Article

Registration of a child's birth

If a German citizen is born abroad, the birth may be registered upon request at the competent Registrar’s Office (“Standesamt”) in Germany and a German birth certificate will be issued.

01.03.2021 Article

Birth Certificate from Germany

You were born in Germany and you wish to apply for a birth certificate?

22.02.2022 Article

Registration of a Marriage

If a German citizen is getting married abroad, the marriage may be registered upon request at the competent Registrar’s Office (“Standesamt”) in Germany and a German marriage certificate will be issued.

25.02.2020 Article

Name Declaration / Naming law

German citizens are subject to German law with respect to their use of a name. The possible names which may be used under German law may deviate from those entered in US vital records or identification documents.

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Marriage in Germany

In Germany marriage may only be contracted before a registrar, a religious ceremony is optional.

23.03.2020 Article

Recognition of a Divorce Decree

As far as German law is concerned, a marriage divorced abroad is considered to continue to exist until the foreign divorce decree has been recognized by the competent Land Department of Justice.

04.01.2023 Article

Inheritance Matters

Under Germany's inheritance laws a decedent's property passes directly to the heirs at the time of death.

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Child Abduction

The prime legal instrument in cases of international child abduction is the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Every country party to the Convention has instituted central authorities responsible for taking all appropriate measures in these cases.

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Finding relatives and friends in Germany

On data protection grounds, German authorities cannot provide information on places of residence. German Missions are, therefore, not in a position to help finding relatives or friends in Germany.…

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Self-Determination

On June 21, 2024, the law governing self-determination in terms of the gender marker (“SBGG”) was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette.

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Scheduling an Appointment

Every German Mission in the U.S. requires that you schedule an appointment via the Online Appointment System for the application of a visa, a passport or identification card. If you would like to…