Good to know
Having a birth certificate translated: what you need to know
Public authorities in Germany usually require a birth certificate to be in German. This is most commonly required by the registry office prior to a wedding, for naturalisation, for family reunification, and when applying for parental allowance or child benefit. The translation must be certified. This means that a translator who is sworn in by a German court confirms, with a stamp and signature, that the translation is accurate.
A photograph is sufficient for the translation. Take a photo of the certificate in daylight so that all margins and stamps are visible. A scan or a PDF is just as acceptable. We translate everything written on the paper, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes.
Do you have an international birth certificate, i.e. the multilingual extract? In that case, many authorities in the EU do not require a translation at all. Just check with the relevant authority before placing your order. If you are unsure, send us a photo. We will tell you honestly whether a translation is worthwhile.
If your certificate comes from abroad, the relevant authority may sometimes also require an apostille or legalisation. This must be applied to the original document and is issued by the authority that issued the certificate. We certify the translation, not the certificate itself.
You’ll receive the translation as a PDF, usually within 2 to 4 working days. If you wish, we’ll post the certified original with a stamp and signature to you afterwards. Many authorities will initially accept the PDF for registration and will want to see the paper copy at your appointment.
