Germany
Apostille in Germany
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Germany, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, BfAA), only documents issued by federal authorities (federal ministries, Federal Office of Justice, federal courts)2 |
| Fee | €22 (per Endbeglaubigung (final certification) issued, from 1 July 2025)2checked 18 October 2026 €22 (per document in an application that contains documents that cannot be certified, from 1 July 2025)2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | Not published by the office2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Documents covered | 3 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Germany
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
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents issued by federal ministries2
- Documents of the Federal Office of Justice, such as a certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis)3
- Documents issued by federal courts2
More about these documents: criminal record certificate, court judgment.
Contacts
Who to contact in Germany
- Apostille officeFederal Office for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, BfAA)2Only documents issued by federal authorities (federal ministries, Federal Office of Justice, federal courts)
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Germany
A document issued in Germany
The apostille comes from Germany, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Germany.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Germany
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Germany. Germany accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
The BfAA cannot send documents back to an address outside Germany.2
Note: Rule
For a certificate of good conduct, you can mention the needed apostille and the country when applying to the Federal Office of Justice, which then has the apostille added by the BfAA; this does not apply to the digital certificate of good conduct.3
Note: Rule
Under the EU apostille regulation, certain German public documents must be accepted in other EU member states without an apostille, but an apostille can still be requested.4
Before the apostille
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.
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 apostilles in Germany
Does Germany accept apostilles?
Yes. Germany has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 13 February 1966, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Germany?
Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, BfAA) (only documents issued by federal authorities (federal ministries, Federal Office of Justice, federal courts)).
How much does an apostille cost in Germany?
€22 (per Endbeglaubigung (final certification) issued, from 1 July 2025). €22 (per document in an application that contains documents that cannot be certified, from 1 July 2025). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Germany?
The office does not publish a processing time (checked 18 October 2026).
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. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Beantragung einer Apostille
- BfJ - Häufig gestellte Fragen
- BfJ - Anerkennung von Urkunden ohne Apostille
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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