Glossary — 220 German official terms explained

Abmeldung (Deregistration)

Deregistration of residence from the registration office, e.g. when moving abroad.

Before moving to Poland, I had to deregister at the registration office.

Authorities

Anmeldung (Registration)

Mandatory registration of residence with the registration office within 14 days of moving in.

Without registration, you cannot open a bank account in Germany.

Authorities

Apostille (apostille)

International certification of authenticity of public documents — confirms authenticity for use abroad.

I needed an apostille on my diploma certificate for its recognition abroad.

Authorities

Aufenthaltserlaubnis (Residence permit)

A temporary residence permit issued for a specific purpose (e.g., studies, work, family).

My residence permit for study purposes is valid for two years.

Authorities

Aufenthaltsgestattung (residence permit)

Residence document for asylum seekers during ongoing asylum proceedings — not a residence title in the proper sense.

With Aufenthaltsgestattung, one is allowed to work after 9 months.

Authorities

Aufenthaltstitel (Residence title)

Umbrella term for all permits to reside in Germany (visa, residence permit, settlement permit, EU Blue Card).

Without a valid residence permit, one is not allowed to stay in Germany.

Authorities

Ausländerbehörde (Immigration office)

Authority responsible for foreign residence matters (residence permits, extensions, deportations).

I need to go to the immigration office to extend my residence permit.

Authorities

Ausländerzentralregister (AZR) (Foreign Central Register)

Central database of the BAMF containing information about all foreigners living in Germany.

Data from the Central Register of Foreigners are checked during visa verification.

Authorities

Ausweis (ID card)

Official identity document — ID card for Germans, residence permit card for foreigners.

During a police check, you must present your ID.

Authorities

BAMF (BAMF)

Federal Office for Migration and Refugees — responsible for asylum proceedings, integration courses and citizenship.

The BAMF decides on asylum applications in Germany.

Authorities

Beglaubigte Übersetzung (Certified translation)

Translation by a certified translator — required by government agencies and courts.

I needed a certified translation of my birth certificate for registration.

Authorities

Beglaubigung (Certification)

Official certification of the authenticity of a copy or signature by an authorized body.

For my application, I need a certified copy of my certificate.

Authorities

Bescheid (Notice)

Official written administrative act issued by an authority, e.g. tax notice, rejection decision.

One can lodge an appeal against the decision within one month.

Authorities

Blaue Karte EU (Blue Card EU)

Residence permit for highly qualified specialists from non-EU countries with a minimum salary.

As an engineer with a university degree, I was able to apply for the EU Blue Card.

Authorities

Briefwahl (Postal voting)

The ability to vote in elections by mail instead of voting in person at the polling station.

I applied for postal voting because I won't be in the city on election day.

Authorities

Bürgeramt (Citizen's Office)

Municipal office for registration, ID documents, certificates of good conduct and other citizen services.

I registered my new address at the Bürgeramt.

Authorities

Daueraufenthaltserlaubnis-EU (EU permanent residence permit)

EU-wide unlimited residence permit after 5 years of legal residence — similar to permanent residence permit.

The permanent residence permit-EU also allows relocation to other EU countries.

Authorities

Duldung (Toleration Status)

Temporary suspension of deportation — not a residence status, but the stay is tolerated.

With toleration, one is generally not permitted to work.

Authorities

Eheurkunde (marriage certificate)

Official certificate of marriage — issued by the registrar's office.

For family reunification, I needed the translated and notarized marriage certificate.

Authorities

Einbürgerung (Naturalization)

Acquisition of German citizenship by application — requires, among other things, at least 5 years of residence, language skills and naturalization test.

After 6 years in Germany, I applied for naturalization.

Authorities

Einbürgerungstest (Naturalization Test)

Test with 33 questions on German law, history and society — prerequisite for naturalization.

To pass the naturalization test, you must answer 17 of 33 questions correctly.

Authorities

Fahrerlaubnis (driving license)

Official authorization to operate a motor vehicle — foreign driving licenses must be converted if necessary.

I had to have my Ukrainian driver's license converted into a German driving license after 6 months.

Authorities

Familiennachzug (Family Reunification)

Possibility for foreigners to bring spouses and minor children to Germany.

For family reunification, one must prove sufficient living space and income.

Authorities

Fiktionsbescheinigung (Fiction Certificate)

Temporary document that permits residence while the application for a residence title is being processed.

Until my residence title is ready, I have received a fictional certificate.

Authorities

Führungszeugnis (Certificate of Good Conduct)

Official extract from the Central Criminal Register — shows convictions and is often required by employers.

For the position in the kindergarten, I need an enhanced certificate of good conduct.

Authorities

Gebührenordnung (Fee Regulation)

Legal regulation that specifies the costs for administrative acts (e.g., passport issuance, residence title).

The fees for the residence title are determined by the fee regulation.

Authorities

Jugendamt (Youth welfare office)

Municipal authority for child and youth welfare — counseling, child protection, kindergarten places, legal guardianship.

The youth office helps with finding a kindergarten place.

Authorities

Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate)

Confirmation from the registration office of current residence — often required as proof for authorities, banks, or employers.

To open an account, I needed a current registration certificate.

Authorities

Meldepflicht (Registration requirement)

Gesetzliche Pflicht, den Wohnsitz bei der Meldebehörde anzumelden — innerhalb von 14 Tagen nach Einzug.

Die Meldepflicht gilt für jeden, der eine Wohnung in Deutschland bezieht.

Authorities

Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit)

Unlimited residence permit — entitles to permanent residence and unrestricted employment.

After 5 years with a residence permit, one can apply for a settlement permit.

Authorities

Ordnungsamt (administrative office)

Municipal authority responsible for public order and safety — noise disturbance, illegal parking, restaurant licenses.

Because of the loud party, the neighbor called the police authority.

Authorities

Personalausweis (ID card)

Official identity document for German citizens — mandatory from age 16 (alternatively passport).

The Personalausweis is applied for at the citizen's office.

Authorities

Polizeiliches Führungszeugnis (Police clearance certificate)

Alternative name for certificate of good conduct — extract from the Federal Criminal Register on previous convictions.

The police clearance certificate can be applied for at the citizen's office or online.

Authorities

Reisepass (Passport)

Travel document for international travel — mandatory for non-EU travel, application at citizen's office.

I need my passport to enter Turkey.

Authorities

Sachbearbeiter (Case officer)

Contact person at a government agency responsible for a specific matter or application.

My case officer at the Jobcenter helped me with my application.

Authorities

Standesamt (Registry office)

Civil registry office — responsible for marriages, birth certificates, and death certificates.

The civil marriage ceremony takes place in the town hall.

Authorities

Ummeldung (change of registration)

Registration of a change of residence within the same city at the citizen registration office — mandatory within 14 days.

After moving to a new apartment, I have to register the change at the citizen registration office.

Authorities

Visum (visa)

Entry permit — to be applied for at the German embassy in your home country, various types (Schengen, national visa).

For studying in Germany, I needed a national type D visa.

Authorities

Zoll (customs)

Federal agency responsible for tariffs, import duties, black labor control, and excise taxes.

Customs inspects packages from non-EU countries for import duties.

Authorities

Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office)

Authority for registration, deregistration, and re-registration of motor vehicles — issues license plates and vehicle documents.

At the registration office, I registered my car and received the license plate.

Authorities

Zweitwohnsitz (secondary residence)

Additional residence besides the main place of residence — must be registered and may be subject to second residence tax.

For my second residence in Munich, I pay 9% second residence tax.

Authorities

📚 Glossary — 220 German official terms explained

Welcome to hamboorg.city!

Assistant

German Document Scanner

Knowledge Base

Specialist Directory

Community Q&A

Gov Page Translator

Support us

You're all set!