German Civil Records in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Germany does not require citizens to register a birth or a marriage that happened abroad, but doing so is often the practical solution, because a German-issued certificate removes the need to produce an apostilled and translated U.S. document every time. Applications go through the mission and are decided by the civil registry office in Berlin that handles events abroad.

Quick facts

The single most important related procedure is the name declaration. German and U.S. naming rules differ, and a child registered here with a name that German law does not recognise needs a declaration before a German passport can be issued.

Fees breakdown

Payment follows the same rules as passports: credit card charged in euros, or dollars in cash or by money order. No personal checks.

How to file

1. Order the long-form U.S. certificate of the event from the state vital records office.
2. Have it apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state.
3. Have it translated into German if the registry requires a translation.
4. Book an appointment at the mission covering your address and submit the originals.
5. The mission checks the file and forwards it to the registry office in Berlin.
6. Once registered, order German certificates, which then serve for every later procedure.

Required documents

• Long-form U.S. certificate, apostilled, in original.
• Passports or identity cards of the people concerned.
• German birth certificate of the German parent or spouse.
• Proof of German citizenship where it is not obvious from the documents.
• Marriage certificate, divorce decree or death certificate where the file depends on it.
• Name declaration forms where the naming rules require one.

Where to file

Submit at the mission covering your state. The decision is taken in Germany, so the mission cannot speed up the registry’s own queue.

Additional notes

Registration is optional but useful

A German certificate is accepted everywhere in Germany without further formalities. Families who deal regularly with German authorities usually find it pays for itself.

Name declarations and passports

A pending name declaration holds up the passport application attached to it, which is why missions warn that processing times change considerably in those cases.

Plan around the delay

Registration can take many months. If a passport is needed sooner, ask the mission whether a temporary passport bridges the gap.

Deaths abroad

Registering a death simplifies inheritance and pension matters in Germany, and missions also issue the permits needed to transport a body or an urn.