Two countries
Apostille from Germany to Australia
At a glance
Can a document from Germany be used in Australia?
| Result | Apostille applies. |
|---|---|
| Germany | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Australia | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Apostille issued by | Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, BfAA)2 |
| Fee in Germany | €22 (per Endbeglaubigung (final certification) issued, from 1 July 2025)2 €22 (per document in an application that contains documents that cannot be certified, from 1 July 2025)2 |
| Processing time in Germany | Not published by the office2 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from Germany ready for Australia
- Make sure the federal document has first been pre-certified (vorbeglaubigt) by the responsible federal authority.2
- Fill in the online data form (Online-Datenformular) with all the required details.2
- After sending the form, pay the expected fees on the payment page that opens.2
- Print the completed application form that is emailed to you and post it with the documents to BfAA, Referat Apostillen & Endbeglaubigungen, Kirchhofstraße 1-2, 14776 Brandenburg an der Havel.2
- Visiting in person is only possible in justified exceptional cases, such as transferring a deceased person, and only with an appointment made in advance.2
- When the documents have arrived and the fees are paid, the BfAA sends them by registered mail (Einwurf-Einschreiben) to you or a person you name, at an address in Germany.2
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in Australia that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from Australia used in Germany, the apostille or legalisation starts in Australia. Check Australia to Germany
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from Germany for Australia
Is an apostille from Germany accepted in Australia?
Yes. An apostille from Germany is enough for Australia: both are members of the Apostille Convention (Germany since 13 February 1966, Australia since 16 March 1995). The apostille is issued in Germany by Federal Office for Foreign Affairs. The published fee in Germany is €22. The office in Australia that receives the document decides what else it needs. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from Germany?
Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, BfAA). The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in Australia.
How much does the apostille cost in Germany?
The published fee in Germany is €22. Fees can change, so check the office's own page before you apply.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in Germany. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does Australia also need a translation?
The office in Australia that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Beantragung einer Apostille
- BfJ - Häufig gestellte Fragen
- BfJ - Anerkennung von Urkunden ohne Apostille
- Notarial services in Australia
- How to get your documents legalised
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
Every fact on this page links to the source it was taken from. Read how we check facts.
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