Registering a Birth in Germany — Standesamt, Deadlines and Documents

Why do I need to register the birth?

Every birth in Germany must be registered within one week at the competent Standesamt (registry office of the place of birth). This is required by law (§ 18 PStG — Personenstandsgesetz). Without registering the birth, your child will not receive a Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate), and without it you cannot apply for child benefits, register your child with health insurance, or apply for a passport.

Who is responsible?

• If the child is born in a hospital or birthing center, the facility usually automatically forwards the birth notice to the Standesamt.
• For a home birth, parents must register the birth themselves at the Standesamt.
• The competent authority is always the Standesamt of the place of birth (not the place of residence!).

What documents do I need?

Married parents

• Geburtsbescheinigung (birth certificate) from the clinic (you receive this after birth)
• Identity cards or passports of both parents
• Marriage certificate or certified extract from the marriage register
• For foreign marriages: Apostille or legalization + certified translation

Unmarried parents

In addition to the documents mentioned above:

• Vaterschaftsanerkennung (acknowledgment of paternity — can be declared before birth at the Standesamt or youth welfare office — recommended!)
• Sorgeerklärung (joint custody declaration for unmarried couples — submit to youth welfare office)
• Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) of the mother

Foreign parents — Special considerations

If one or both parents do not have German citizenship, you will additionally need:

• Residence permit or visa (a copy is usually sufficient)
• Geburtsurkunde (birth certificates) of both parents with certified German translation
• Possibly a certificate of single status or certificate of capacity to marry from the home country
• For some nationalities: name declaration (if the family name is determined by the law of the country of origin)

Tip: Contact the Standesamt before the birth to find out which documents you need in your specific case. This will save time and stress after the birth.

Procedure for birth registration

Step 1 — Obtain the Geburtsbescheinigung

The hospital or midwife will issue you a Geburtsbescheinigung. This contains the date, time and place of birth as well as information about the child and parents.

Step 2 — Visit the Standesamt

Go to the Standesamt of the place of birth within seven days after birth. Many hospitals have a branch office of the Standesamt that you can use on-site.

Step 3 — Obtain the Geburtsurkunde

The Standesamt will issue the Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate). You will typically receive:

• 3 birth certificates (for parental allowance, child benefits, health insurance)
• An international birth certificate (on request, useful for foreign authorities)

Fees are approximately 12 € per certificate. The first certificate for parental allowance is free.

Name law — What name will the child have?

Married parents

The child receives the married name (joint family name) of the parents.

Unmarried parents

• If the mother has sole custody, the child receives the mother's surname.
• With joint custody, parents can choose whether the child will have the mother's or father's surname.
• The decision must be made within one month after birth.

Foreign parents

If both parents have the same foreign nationality, the name law of the country of origin can be applied. In some countries, for example, the child receives both surnames. Consult the Standesamt about this.

Acknowledgment of paternity — Important for unmarried couples

If the parents are not married, legally only the mother is initially considered a parent. The father must expressly acknowledge paternity. This can be done:

• At the Standesamt (free)
• At the youth welfare office (free)
• With a notary (fee-based)
• At the district court (in case of dispute)

Recommendation: Acknowledge paternity before the birth. This way, the father will be directly entered in the birth certificate, and you save yourself an extra visit to the office.

Joint custody

Unmarried parents can file a Sorgeerklärung (joint custody declaration) at the youth welfare office to obtain joint custody. Without a custody declaration, only the mother has custody rights.

The Sorgeerklärung:

• Is free at the youth welfare office
• Can be filed before or after birth
• Must be personally signed by both parents
• Is valid indefinitely

Nationality of the child

A child born in Germany receives German nationality if:

• At least one parent has German nationality, or
• At least one parent has lived lawfully in Germany for 8 years and holds a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence permit) or comparable residence title (§ 4 Abs. 3 StAG)

Otherwise, the child receives the nationality of the parents. In this case, you should register the child at the consulate of your country of origin.

After the birth — Next steps

After registering the birth, you should submit the following applications:

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss the deadline?

If the birth is not registered within 7 days, the Standesamt may impose a fine. In practice, this rarely happens, but you shouldn't rely on it. For hospital births, the clinic usually takes care of timely registration.

Can I change the child's first name later?

You can change the first name within one month after birth. After that, a name change is only possible in exceptional cases and is fee-based.

Do I need an interpreter?

If you don't speak German, bring an interpreter with you or ask the Standesamt in advance about interpretation services. Some registry offices offer consultations in multiple languages.

As of: March 2026. All information without guarantee.