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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

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Your selected location: Rhede (Ems) (268...)

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Apply for a negative certificate (for citizenship)


If you require official proof that you do not have German citizenship, you can apply to the citizenship authority for a declaration of non-existence of German citizenship. If it can be established that you do not have German citizenship, a so-called negative certificate will be issued.

You will need a negative certificate, for example, if you have been asked by an authority abroad (e.g. in your country of origin or in your parents' country of origin) to provide official proof that you do not have German citizenship or if this is required in order to use the consular services of another country's diplomatic mission in Germany.

A negative certificate is often required, for example, if you were born in Germany, are descended from German ancestors or have lived in Germany for a very long time.

Which documents are required?

  • Fully completed application form
  • Proof of identity (foreign passport, recognized foreign passport replacement document or another official foreign identity document with photograph, for example an identity card or ID card)
  • Proof that German citizenship was not acquired or was previously held but has since been lost, e.g. through
    • German visas, residence permits, other residence titles and certificates of residence rights in Germany,
    • if German citizenship was previously held: old German identity documents (e.g. German passport, identity card; children's identity card),
    • Documents on the acquisition of another nationality (e.g. foreign naturalization certificate),
    • documents relating to voluntary enlistment in the armed forces of a foreign country,
    • adoption documents,
    • documents and certificates concerning a change of name.

Requirements

  • You do not have German citizenship.
  • You usually reside in Germany.
  • You must credibly demonstrate a legitimate interest in a negative determination and certificate. Such an interest is credible if you state certain facts which make it appear predominantly probable to the citizenship authority that the negative determination is relevant for a purpose worthy of protection.

What are the fees?

(for the declaratory decision) EUR 51

A fee reduction or fee exemption may be granted for reasons of equity or public interest.

There are no additional costs for issuing a negative certificate.

For special shipping options (e.g. registered mail or cash on delivery), additional expenses will be charged to cover the costs.

A negative certificate will only be sent if the determination fee and any expenses have been paid in advance or if cash on delivery is requested.

Additional costs may be incurred for the procurement of documents, translations and certifications.

Process flow

  • You must apply to the competent citizenship authority for a declaration of non-existence of German citizenship and the issue of a negative certificate.
  • To submit your application, use the application form provided by the citizenship authority for download or sent to you on request.
  • Submit the completed application form with all documents (see "Required documents") in clearly legible copies (on white paper, DIN A4) to the citizenship authority.
  • Once the application documents have been received, the citizenship authority will contact you. You do not need to do anything else before then
  • In the course of the procedure, the citizenship authority will ask you to submit the original documents for verification; you will then receive the documents back

Processing duration

The duration of the application processing depends, among other things, on the factual accuracy of your information and the completeness of your application documents. It also depends on which, if any, difficult facts need to be determined in order to be able to make the requested determination. Depending on this, it may take a few weeks or even longer than a year to reach a final decision on your application.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

The negative certificate is issued for an unlimited period.

Applications / forms

Personal appearance required: Yes

What else should I know?

  • Negative certificates are only issued if this is necessary to prove the non-existence of German citizenship to foreign public authorities or is at least specifically useful in individual cases. Applications to establish the non-existence of German citizenship will not be granted without a justified reason.
  • The negative certificate is not a certificate of citizenship, but an informal certificate bearing an official seal. Experience has shown that these certificates are recognized in other countries.
  • The negative certificate certifies that you do not have German citizenship on the day it is issued.

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Contact point

Responsible authorities


Landkreis Emsland - Fachbereich Sicherheit und Ordnung
Address: Ordeniederung 1 , 49716 Meppen
Timetable
Postal address: Post Office Box 15 62 , 49705 Meppen
Timetable
Telephone: 05931 44-0
Fax: 05931 44-3621
Transport Connection:
Station Haltestelle Kreishaus
Bus: 993
Building Access
elevator available, wheelchair-accessible

Contact

Ausländerbehörde
Telephone: 05931 44-0
responsible for:

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)