Apply for a civil partnership certificate

To the registry office in whose jurisdiction the civil partnership was established.

If the civil partnership was established abroad and subsequently notarized in Germany, the registry office that subsequently notarized the civil partnership issues the civil partnership certificates.

Civil partnership certificates contain personal data, so their issue is subject to data protection restrictions.

You are entitled to apply under the following conditions:

• You are at least 16 years old
• You are one of the civil partners to whom the certificate is to relate
• You are the parents of the civil partner
• You are a child of the civil partner

Other persons, including close relatives such as siblings, aunts and uncles, will only receive a certificate if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest (e.g. by means of a letter from the probate court).

If the civil partnership was established abroad, you must first have it certified in Germany.

• Forms/online services available: Yes
• Written form required: No
• Informal application possible: No
• Personal appearance necessary: No

To apply for a civil partnership certificate, you will need

• Your identity card or passport (a copy if applying in writing, online you must authenticate yourself electronically with the new identity card)
• if applying or collecting by a representative: written power of attorney from the authorized person, their ID card or passport and the ID card or passport of the representative
• for other persons, proof of their legal interest

The costs vary depending on the federal state. Your local registry office will be happy to provide you with information.

Lower Saxony: Fee15 Euro

If the issue of several copies of acivil status certificate is requested, the fee is halved from thesecond copy, the fee is reduced by half.

Applying in person

• An appointment at the registry office may be required for a personal application.
• You must present your identity card or passport.
• You pay the fee directly at the registry office when you apply.

In addition to yourself, a person you trust may also order and collect the certificate on your behalf. In addition to a written power of attorney, they must present your identity card or passport (original or copy) and their own identity card or passport.

Application by post

• Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue you with a civil partnership certificate.
• Your letter should contain the following information:
  • Surname, first name
  • Your registration address
  • Place and date of the establishment of the civil partnership
  • if known: Registry office and registration number
  • the reason for the application
  • If necessary, further evidence, e.g. for the legal interest
• Enclose a copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
• You will then receive a notification of fees and the civil partnership certificate.

Online application

You can also apply online and the civil partnership certificate will then be sent to you by post.

The period for updating the civil partnership register must not have expired; the period is 80 years since the civil partnership was recorded in the civil partnership register.

Depending on the individual case

If the civil partnership data changes, for example due to a change of name or dissolution of the civil partnership, the civil partnership entry is supplemented by a subsequent certification. A new civil partnership certificate can be issued on application.

• Information from the Federal Ministry of the Interior on "Personal status law"

• §§ Sections 55-68 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• §§ Sections 48, 50 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Civil Status Act (PStV)

• Instruction by the civil status court according to § 49 PStG