The birth certificate confirms the birth of your baby. This document is primarily needed for government family benefits. For example, as parents, you need it to apply for parental allowance and child benefit after the birth, to register your child with health insurance, to open a bank account in your child's name, or to present to your employer. As an adult, you will need the birth certificate for things like marriage or your pension.
When does the birth certificate need to be applied for?
After the birth you have seven days It's time to apply for your baby's birth certificate. If you miss this deadline, you might face consequences. Fine The deadline is set so short because without the birth certificate, further important official procedures, such as applying for... Child benefit and Parental allowance, as well as registering your baby with the Health insurance and the Issuance of identity documents, are not possible.
The birth certificate contains various pieces of information about your child:
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First and Last Name
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Day, place and time of birth
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Your child's legal representatives
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Biological sex (optional)
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Parents' first and last names (optional)
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Religious affiliation (optional)
The optional information on the birth certificate can be omitted if desired.
Don't panic if you haven't found the perfect first name for your child after the birth – you have four weeks to submit the name and will receive a [document/information/etc.] until then. Birth certificate.
Where can you get a birth certificate?
You will receive a total of four copies the birth certificate dated local registry office – either by post or for collection. One of these certificates is for private use, and the other three certificates are issued for parental allowance, child benefit, and health insurance.
There are several ways you can apply for a birth certificate. Often, the hospital the application. Since you're bringing all the necessary documents for the birth registration anyway, this is the most convenient way.
If you give birth at home or in a birthing center, you or a parent with custody must submit the certificate to the registry office. on site apply. However, in many cities there is now the option to... Apply for a birth certificate online. It's best to find out about the procedure in your area during your pregnancy – after the birth your mind will certainly be full of other things.
Documents required for applying for a birth certificate
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Birth announcement
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Birth certificates of the legal guardians (If you are a single parent, your birth certificate is sufficient).
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Identity card or passport of the legal guardian(s). If you are using a passport, you will also need the most recent registration certificate.
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If the parents are married, the birth certificates of both spouses, as well as the marriage certificate or a certified copy from the marriage register, are required.
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Declaration of acknowledgment of paternity and, if applicable, declaration of parental responsibility if you are not married.
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If the parents are divorced, you will need a marriage certificate with the divorce notice.
If someone other than the parents, such as siblings, needs to apply for the birth certificate, a power of attorney may be required. In such a case, it's best to contact the relevant authority by phone. Most German states offer a form for this online.
The registry office where you receive the birth certificate also registers your child with the residents' registration office. Once your child is registered there, they will appear in your ELStAM data. Employers use this data as the basis for payroll processing.
By the way: If you're planning to move abroad soon or live abroad for an extended period, you should also consider... international birth certificate apply for.
A birth abroad can be officially registered retroactively. This will cost you approximately 70-160 euros. The certificate officially confirms the birth of the child.
How long does it take to issue a birth certificate?
You usually receive the birth certificate after about 7 to 14 days. If it takes longer, it's worth stopping by the registry office. Often the certificate is already ready for collection and just hasn't been sent out yet.
How much does a birth certificate cost?
The fees for issuing a birth certificate vary from city to city. In most cases, the costs range between... 10 and 25 euros. Each additional copy costs between 5 and 8 euros. And even if you only buy one... Lost birth certificate If you have a birth certificate – whether from you or your child – you don't need to worry: The relevant registry office can easily issue you a new one.
The bureaucracy after the birth may be a bit annoying, but most official procedures are not too complicated.
Things to consider during a home birth
If you give birth at home, your midwife will issue you a birth certificate. You will also need a birth notification, which is submitted using the "Notification of Birth" form provided by hospitals or birthing centers. Additionally, you will need a declaration of name, either on an official form or informally, in which case it must be signed by both parents.
If your documents were written in another language, you must have them translated into German by an officially appointed and sworn translator. However, the registry office still requires both versions. Depending on the country of origin, further regulations apply, including those concerning the translation. For specific questions, please contact your local registry office.
Submit your birth certificate to your workplace
Parents with one child are exempt from the 0.6 percent surcharge on long-term care insurance contributions that childless individuals must pay themselves. Therefore, you can send your employer a copy of your child's birth certificate. This will reduce your long-term care insurance contribution rate.
We wish you and your family all the best.
Sources:
Bund.de: Apply for a birth certificate
Deutsche-Rentenversicherung.de: How do I apply for my pension?
Berlin Service Portal: Reporting the birth of a child
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