consult a Stasi file
Everyone has the right to apply for access to the documents of the State Security Service of the former GDR relating to him or her. The records on missing or deceased persons are exceptionally accessible to relatives under the restrictive conditions of the Stasi Records Act. Records of the State Security Service of the former GDR are indexed and administered by the Stasi Records Authority (BStU).
Who should I contact?
Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the Former German Democratic Republic (BStU)
Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 31/33
10178 Berlin, City
Telephone: 030 23 24-70 00 (official)
Fax: 030 23 24-77 99 (official)
E-mail: post@bstu.bund.de (official)
Competent authority
Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the Former German Democratic Republic (BStU)
Requirements
Everyone has the right to apply for access to the documents of the State Security Service of the former GDR relating to his person. The records on missing or deceased persons are exceptionally accessible to relatives under the restrictive conditions of the Stasi Records Act.
Which documents are required?
In order to ensure that no-one requests unauthorised access to any documents relating to you, confirmation of your personal details is required in addition to your signature.
If you submit your application in person, this confirmation of identity will be carried out by employees of the authority. You will need your identity card for this.
If you do not submit your application in person, the confirmation of identity will be issued by your competent registration office upon presentation of a valid identity document and can be made directly on the enclosed application form.
If you submit your application online, you only need a new ID card with the online ID function activated.
What are the fees?
The Ordinance on Costs at the Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the Former German Democratic Republic (Stasi-Unterlagen-Kostenordnung-StUKostV) regulates the amount of fees and expenses for individually attributable public services of the BStU.
Written information to persons concerned, to third parties or to close relatives of missing or deceased persons (§§ 13, 15 StUG) and the inspection by persons concerned, by third parties or by close relatives of missing or deceased persons (§§ 13, 15 StUG) are free of charge.
For expenses, such as the issuance of duplicates, costs of EUR 2.56 or more are incurred.
Duplicates of paper documents and filmed files cost a minimum of EUR 0.03 and a maximum of EUR 0.26 per page (DIN A4 or DIN A3).
Processing duration
Within six months, you will receive initial information as to whether records of the State Security Service have been created on you. Due to the large number of applications and the time-consuming preparatory work, there may be a longer waiting period before the documents can be inspected.
- Bürgerberatung
Remark: Für weitere Informationen zu Zugangsrechten und Antragsvoraussetzungen wenden Sie sich bitte an die Bürgerberatung.