Urkunden Beglaubigung durch Apostille

Legalisation is associated with a not inconsiderable expenditure of time and money. For this reason, it has been partially declared unnecessary by international treaties. These agreements include the Convention on the Exemption of Foreign Public Documents from Legalisation (Hague Apostille Convention). The apostille then takes the place of legalisation as proof of authenticity. This is issued by the competent internal authority of the state which issued the document. It is then no longer necessary for the foreign representation of that state to be involved in Germany.

In addition, there are also conventions with the consequence of mutual recognition of the respective deeds, so that public deeds are regarded as genuine without further ado (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy; Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland).

To find out which states recognise the "Hague Apostille", please click here:

• Original certificate
• Passport or other proof of identity (not required for written application)
• if applicable: written power of attorney for the representative

EUR: 10,00 to 100,00

If possible, find out the exact procedure and how to pay the fees from the competent authority before submitting your application.

• Visit the competent authority. Make an appointment for this by telephone.
• Identify yourself with your identity card or passport.
• Tell them in which country you want to use the document.
• Present the original of the document.
• You pay the fee at the competent office.

Legalisation is associated with a not inconsiderable expenditure of time and money. For this reason, it has been partially declared unnecessary by international treaties. These agreements include the Convention on the Exemption of Foreign Public Documents from Legalisation (Hague Apostille Convention). The apostille then takes the place of legalisation as proof of authenticity. This is issued by the competent internal authority of the state which issued the document. It is then no longer necessary for the foreign representation of that state to be involved in Germany.

In addition, there are also conventions with the consequence of mutual recognition of the respective deeds, so that public deeds are regarded as genuine without further ado (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy; Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland).

To find out which states recognise the "Hague Apostille", please click here:

For signatures on German public documents for use abroad and apostilles on federal documents for use in countries acceding to the Hague Convention:

Postal address:

Federal Office of Administration / Authentications
Department II B 4
50728 Cologne

Visiting address:

Federal Office of Administration
Office Building Cologne-Braunsfeld (New Technology Centre)
Eupener Str. 125
50933 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 228 99358-4100
Fax : +49 228 99358-2893
E-Mail : beglaubigungen@bva.bund.de

Opening hours (visit and telephone):

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs.
Tue: 09:00 - 16:30 hrs
Wed: 09:00 - 13:00 o'clock
Thu: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00 hrs

For documents of the Federal Patent Court and the German Patent Office:

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
80297 Munich

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 Munich

Phone: +49 89 2195-0
Fax: +49 89 2195-2221
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Berlin Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Centre Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Centre Berlin
Gitschiner Straße 97
10969 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Jena Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
07738 Jena

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
Goethestrasse 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
E-mail: info@dpma.de

For signatures on German public documents for use abroad and apostilles on federal documents for use in countries acceding to the Hague Convention:

Postal address:

Federal Office of Administration / Authentications
Department II B 4
50728 Cologne

Visiting address:

Federal Office of Administration
Office Building Cologne-Braunsfeld (New Technology Centre)
Eupener Str. 125
50933 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 228 99358-4100
Fax : +49 228 99358-2893
E-Mail : beglaubigungen@bva.bund.de

Opening hours (visit and telephone):

Mon: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs.
Tue: 09:00 - 16:30 hrs
Wed: 09:00 - 13:00 o'clock
Thu: 09:00 - 13:00 hrs
Fri: 08:00 - 13:00 hrs

For documents of the Federal Patent Court and the German Patent Office:

German Patent and Trademark Office

Munich Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
80297 Munich

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 Munich

Phone: +49 89 2195-0
Fax: +49 89 2195-2221
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Berlin Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Centre Berlin
10958 Berlin

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Technical Information Centre Berlin
Gitschiner Straße 97
10969 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 25992-0
Fax: +49 30 25992-404
E-mail: info@dpma.de

Jena Office

Postal address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
07738 Jena

Visiting address:

German Patent and Trade Mark Office
Jena Sub-Office
Goethestrasse 1
07743 Jena

Phone: +49 364140-54
Fax: +49 364140-5690
E-mail: info@dpma.de