Under certain circumstances, the child’s German citizenship may depend on the registration.

General information

For children born in the United Kingdom, it is necessary to apply to the British authorities for a birth certificate after the birth. The British birth certificate (long version including the names of the parents) is generally all that is needed when applying for a German identity document for your child. However, please always check before applying for a German passport whether a name declaration is required (see section 2).

You want to obtain a German birth certificate for yourself or your child? German nationals or persons with parental responsibility for minor German children can have the birth retrospectively registered in the German register of births.

A German birth certificate has many benefits. It documents one’s name, parents and birth particulars. In addition, no proofs of authenticity such as apostilles or translations are then required for German authorities.

If no name declaration is required, the application for registration of the birth can also be filed by one parent only. Adult children can of course file the application themselves.

Important information about the process involved and appointment booking can be found here only.

Can I file the name declaration as part of the application for registration of the birth?

You can file a name declaration regarding the child’s birth name when you register the birth (page 4 of the application form). A separate declaration form is not required.

Detailed information on naming law and name declarations can be found here.

In this case, both persons with parental responsibility have to attend the appointment in person.

What documents are required?

If you would like to start preparing your application, please read our information about the process involved and appointment booking here.

To retrospectively register the birth of your child if he or she was born abroad, the following documents are required:

• Cover letter
• Application form filled out in full and in legible writing – please write normally (not block capitals), and do not sign the form yet
  If a name declaration is required, only enter the desired name! A separate declaration form is not necessary. If no name declaration is required, please leave this section (page 4 of the form) blank.
• Valid passports or ID cards of both parents (the passport page containing personal details is all that is needed) and, for Germans who are not also British citizens, proof of residential status in the United Kingdom.
• Proof of the child’s German citizenship, e.g. German identity document of the child or of a parent (parent’s German passport or identity card valid at the time of the child’s birth), certificate of naturalisation or certificate of nationality of the child/ one parent
  Note: If you do not have proof of this kind, please contact our citizenship team using the contact form before applying to register the birth: Citizenship
• Child’s German or foreign passport, if he or she already has one
• Birth certificates of both parents
• Child’s birth certificate – in the case of a British certificate it is the long version that is needed, which also includes the names of the parents
• If you opt for your child to be named according to foreign law, proof that the child bears the desired name under foreign law (e.g. birth certificate or passport issued by the country in question)
• Marriage certificate if the parents are married
• Decree absolute if a parent is divorced, if need be with proof of recognition under German law. Please read the guidance on the recognition of foreign divorces on the following page: Marriage matters
• Translations of all foreign-language documents (not usually required in the case of international multilingual or English-language birth and marriage certificates)
• Proof, if applicable, that the parents use a shared married name (e.g. name certificate from the German registry office or German marriage certificate)
• Proof of residence in the United Kingdom (e.g. council tax bill or utility bill)
• Certificate of deregistration from Germany or an up-to-date registration certificate from your (last) German place of residence, if applicable
• Birth certificates of any other joint children – in the case of British certificates it is the long version that is needed, which also includes the names of the parents
• Name certificates or German birth certificates of siblings, if applicable

How do I submit my application?

PLAIN COPIES (not the originals!) of the documents listed must be sent BY POST to the Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Edinburgh before you book an appointment. Click here for details of what the process involves.

The originals of the documents listed above only need to be presented at your appointment.

Additional documents may be required, depending on the case; the registry office may ask you for them after you have submitted your application. In particular, you may be asked for German translations of documents (including English-language ones). In addition, apostilles are increasingly being required on foreign documents. Click here for information on applying for apostilles on British documents.

Further guidance on registrations (processing time, fees) can be found here.