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Birth: Display of a birth

  • Geburt

You have had a baby and need a birth certificate.

  • Basic information

    The birth of your child is registered at the registry office of the birth district. Therefore, it is not the registry office of your place of residence that is responsible, but the place of birth that is decisive. If the child is born in a hospital or birth center, these facilities register the birth in writing with the registry offices. In the case of home births, midwives, obstetricians or doctors issue the birth certificates. You must present these in person to the relevant registry office within one week of the birth of your child.

    Requirements

    All certificates and documents must be presented in the original at the registry office. It is also necessary to present the original of the parents' national passport and electronic residence permit (eAT). In the case of German identity cards/passports, it is also possible to submit a clearly recognizable copy instead of the original.

    For further information on the required documents, please refer to the section "Required documents".
    The translation of foreign documents must be carried out by a translator sworn in Germany and must be submitted together with the original document.
    Please note: In many cases, foreign documents must be certified (e.g. apostille). Please contact the registry office in good time before the date of birth to find out whether this is necessary in your case. This list is not exhaustive. Further documents may be required in individual cases.

  • Procedure

    You can place the documents and evidence required for the notarization in a special envelope available from the clinics and have this sent to the registry office via the clinic. If all the necessary documents are available, the birth can be notarized without you having to visit the registry office. You will then receive the certificates for your child and the certificates submitted here by post. You can then pay the fees conveniently by bank transfer. You will receive a corresponding invoice with the certificates.

    More information

    If necessary, please bring an interpreter with you when you visit the registry office in order to avoid communication problems when receiving your requests. It is necessary to make an appointment in advance.

    The registry office Bremen-Mitte is responsible for births in the clinics:

    • Links der Weser,
    • St.-Joseph-Stift,
    • Klinikum Mitte,
    • Diako,
    • Bremen-East
    • as well as for the birth centers in Bremen-Stadt.

    The registry office Bremen-Nord is responsible for births at the Klinikum-Bremen-Nord.

  • Necessary Documents
    • General information:
      • All certificates and documents must be submitted to the registry office in the original and not as copies.
      • Foreign documents must be translated into German by a sworn translator.
      • When submitting the documents to the registry office, please bring the original identity cards / passports or, if applicable, the foreign national passports and electronic residence permits of both parents.
      • If you are a foreign national or were born abroad, additional documents are often required.
      • You can also hand in all documents at the hospital when you give birth. The hospital will forward the documents to the registry office. The registry office will send the birth certificates to your home or arrange an appointment with you.
    • For married parents:
      • Form: Name determination
        • Identity card/passport (copy)
          • Foreign identity documents must be submitted in the original
        • If the marriage took place in Germany:
          • Birth certificates of both parents, if necessary with translation by a sworn translator and
          • marriage / marriage certificate or
          • certified copy from the marriage register
        • If the marriage took place abroad:
          • Marriage certificate with translation by a sworn translator and
          • Birth certificate of both parents, if necessary with translation by a sworn translator
        • For registered civil partnerships:
          • Birth certificate of the mother, if necessary with translation by a sworn translator
          • Civil partnership certificate, if necessary with translation by a sworn translator
        • For siblings:
          • Birth certificate of the previous child
    • For parents who are not married to each other:
      • Form: Name determination
        • Identity card/passport (copy)
          • Foreign identity documents must be submitted in the original
        • For unmarried mothers:
          • Birth certificate of the mother, if necessary with a translation by a sworn translator
        • For divorced mothers:
          • Birth certificate of the mother, if necessary with translation by a sworn translator
          • Marriage / marriage certificate
          • if married abroad, the marriage certificate of the divorced marriage with translation by a sworn translator
          • Divorce judgment / decree with a note of legal force, if applicable with a certificate of name change
          • Certificate of change of name, if applicable
        • Father:
          • Birth certificate, if necessary with translation by a sworn translator
          • Certificate of acknowledgment of paternity and consent of the mother
          • In the case of joint custody, also the declaration of custody from the youth welfare office
        • For siblings with joint custody:
          • Birth certificate of the previous child
    • Recognition of paternity at the registry office:
      • The father and mother must appear in person to acknowledge paternity.
      • Please bring the following documents with you:
        • Original identity card/passport of both parents
        • Birth certificates of both parents, if necessary with a translation by a sworn translator
      • Acknowledgment of paternity is also possible before the birth.
    • Naming at the registry office:
      • If custody is not exercised jointly but the child is to be given the father's surname, it is possible to give the child a name.
      • Both parents must be present.
      • Please bring the following documents with you:
        • Original identity card / passport of both parents

  • Competent Department

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    gebührenfrei 3 birth certificates for specific purposes (maternity benefit, child benefit and parental benefit)
    15,00 EUR for a certificate for your records
    8,00 EUR for each additional one in the same format
    51,00 EUR Fee for the notarization of the granting of a name
    Cash payment and payment by EC card are possible at the registry office.

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    The birth in a clinic/birthing center must be reported by the facility to the responsible registry office within one week. Home births must be reported by the parents or another person who has knowledge of the birth within one week.
    You will need the midwife's birth certificate for this.

    How long does it take to process

    No specification possible.

  • More Information

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Frequently asked Questions

  • What documents are required if the child's parents are married to each other?

    Form: Name determination

    Identity card/passport (copy)
    Foreign identity documents must be submitted in the original

    If the mother is registered outside of Bremen, the registry office will independently retrieve the registration data from the responsible registration office. If this is not possible, an extended registration certificate is required. The registry office will then contact you. You will then receive the registration certificate from your local registration office.

    If the marriage took place in Germany:

    • Birth certificates of both parents, if necessary with translation and
    • Marriage certificate or
    • Certified copy from the marriage register

    If the marriage was concluded abroad:

    • Marriage certificate with translation and
    • Birth certificate of both parents, with translation if necessary

    For registered civil partnerships:

    • Birth certificate of the mother, with translation if necessary
    • Civil partnership certificate, with translation if necessary

    For siblings:

    • Birth certificate of the previous child

  • What documents are required if the child's parents are not married to each other?

    Form: Name determination

    Identity card/passport (copy)
    Foreign identity documents must be submitted in the original

    If the mother is registered outside of Bremen, the registry office will independently retrieve the registration data from the responsible registration authority. If this is not possible, an extended registration certificate is required. The registry office will then contact you. You will then receive the registration certificate from your local registration office.

    For unmarried mothers:

    • Birth certificate of the mother, with translation if necessary

    For divorced mothers:

    • Mother's birth certificate, with translation if necessary
    • Marriage / marriage certificate
    • If married abroad, the marriage certificate of the divorced marriage with translation
    • Divorce decree/judgment with legal effect, if applicable with a certificate of name change
    • Certificate of change of name, if applicable

    Father:

    • Birth certificate, with translation if applicable
    • Certificate of acknowledgment of paternity and consent of the mother
    • In the case of joint custody, also the declaration of custody from the youth welfare office

    For siblings with joint custody:

    • Birth certificate of the previous child

  • Can certified copies/printouts of the birth/marriage registers be used instead of the birth and marriage certificates?

    Yes, the certified copies/printouts are also personal status documents.

  • Can I hand in the birth envelope with our documents for birth certification only at the clinic?

    No. You can also drop the sealed envelope in the mailbox at the relevant registry office.

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 05.03.2026

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