As a rule, officially certified photocopies are available from public bodies in Germany which are authorised by law to carry an official seal (stamp).
Certifications provided by the following public bodies or authorities will be accepted:
In Germany
- Municipality, municipal administration
→ Please note: Some public administrations in Germany do not issue officially certified photocopies for foreign documents but for German documents only (please enquire directly). - Notary
- Consulate/Embassy of your country here in Germany
In other countries
- Municipality, municipal administration
- Notary
- German Embassy, German Consulate
The following types of certification cannot be accepted: e.g. certified photocopies from lawyers, student bodies, banks, insurance companies and churches (parish offices, university religious communities). Translators are not authorised to certify documents in their original language. Normal (non-certified photocopies) cannot be accepted.
The officially certified photocopy must fulfil the following minimum criteria:
- A statement that the certified photocopy corresponds with the original (Beglaubigungsvermerk);
- the signature of the person who issued the certified photocopy;
- the official seal of the issuing authority (an official seal usually has an emblem or symbol). Please note that a simple text stamp is not sufficient.
If your original document has two or more pages:
- It must be clear from the manner in which your documents are officially certified that each page is from one document only.
- The statement confirming that the certified photocopy corresponds with the original is required on one page only, as long as part of the seal is visible on each page (e.g. with the printed seal overlapping all pages).
- Alternatively, each page can be certified individually. In this case, your name must appear on each page of the original document.
If your original document has text on the front and on the back:
- Please ensure that your officially certified photocopies are stamped on both sides: front and back. The following, or similar, should be written on the photocopy by the certifying body: This is to certify that front and back of this copy correspond with the original (‘Hiermit wird beglaubigt, dass die Vorder- und Rückseite der Kopie mit dem Original übereinstimmen’).
- If this is not the case, front and back must be certified individually.