What is on a German birth certificate
German law lists what a Geburtsurkunde contains. It gives the child's given names and birth name, the sex, the place, day, hour and minute of birth, and the given names and surnames of the parents. On request, the sex and the parents' names can be left off[3]. If a receiver needs to see the parents, order the version that includes them.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Geburtsurkunde | Birth Certificate |
| Standesamt | Registry Office, with the town name kept in German |
| Geburtenregister Nr. | Birth Register No., copied as written |
| Vorname(n), Familienname | Given name(s), surname |
| Geburtsname | Name at birth |
| Geschlecht: männlich, weiblich, divers, ohne Angabe | Sex: male, female, diverse, not specified |
| Geburtstag, Geburtsort | Date of birth, place of birth |
| Eltern, Mutter, Vater | Parents, mother, father |
| Hinweise, Änderungen | Notes, amendments |
| Die Standesbeamtin, der Standesbeamte | The Registrar |
| Siegel | [Seal], described in brackets |
Write each date with the month in words. Germany puts the day first, so 10/12/56 means December 10, 1956[4]. Keep names exactly as written, umlauts and ß included, and do not translate town names.
The international birth certificate
Germans call the multilingual version an internationale Geburtsurkunde. Officially it is a multilingual extract from the civil status register under the 1976 convention of the International Commission on Civil Status, and births use the convention's form A[1]. The fixed text on the front is in German, French and English, and the back carries the same text in the convention's other languages[1].
In Munich a birth certificate costs 12 euros, multilingual or not. The city warns that a multilingual certificate is not recognized in every country, even when that country's language is on the form[5]. The entries themselves, such as names, places and notes, stay in German, so a US receiver may still want an English translation.
How to order a German birth certificate from the US
German missions in the US cannot issue birth certificates. Write directly to the Standesamt of the town where the birth took place[4].
- Open the letter with the request "Ich bitte um Ausstellung einer internationalen Geburtsurkunde für", followed by the full name, date and place of birth, the father's name and the mother's maiden name[4].
- Add your own name and postal address. The registry sends the fee details with the certificate[4].
- The person named in the entry, a spouse, a registered partner, ancestors such as parents and grandparents, and descendants may order it. Anyone else has to show a legal interest, and applicants must be over 16[6].
- A US citizen born in a US military hospital in Germany was never registered by the German authorities. That person asks the State Department for a Replacement Report of Birth Abroad instead[4].
How to translate a German birth certificate with LoreAI
- Scan the certificate. Scan both sides of a multilingual extract. A PDF, JPG or PNG photo works.
- Upload it and choose English. LoreAI detects German, reads the scan with OCR, seal and signature lines included, and translates it.
- Download the Word file. Names, umlauts, register numbers and dates come back as written, in the order of the German form.
- Add the signed certification. For USCIS the translator certifies the English version as complete and accurate and states they are competent in German and English[2]. The certificate of translation template has the wording.
Your first document is free, up to 3 pages and 3 MB. For other German records, such as transcripts or employer letters, see German to English PDF translation.
Who can sign the translation?
The USCIS rule asks for a translator's certification and does not mention a sworn translator or a notary[2]. In a 2024 letter, the USCIS director quoted agency guidance that anyone, paid or unpaid and including family members, can provide a translation as long as they certify it[7].
LoreAI is not a certified translation service and does not sign translations. A German speaker in the family can check the LoreAI Word file and sign the statement, or a professional translator can. The guide to certified translations covers both.
Questions people ask
Does Germany issue birth certificates in English?
Not as such. The multilingual extract prints its field labels in German, French and English[1], but the names, places and notes on it stay in German.
Can the German consulate give me my birth certificate?
No. German missions in the US cannot issue birth certificates, so you write to the Standesamt of your place of birth[4].
Do I need an apostille?
Only if the receiver asks for one. German missions cannot issue apostilles; only the designated authority in the country that issued the document can[4].
What does Geburtsname mean?
Name at birth. It is the surname a person had when they were born, which can differ from the married name.
Sources
- § 50 Personenstandsverordnung (PStV): multilingual extract from the civil status register (German), accessed November 4, 2026
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), Translations, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, accessed November 4, 2026
- § 59 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG): Geburtsurkunde (German), accessed November 4, 2026
- German Missions in the United States: Obtaining a Birth Certificate if born in Germany, accessed November 4, 2026
- Standesamt München: Geburtsurkunde für Erwachsene und Kinder ab 3 Monate (German), accessed November 4, 2026
- § 62 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG): Urkundenerteilung, Auskunft, Einsicht (German), accessed November 4, 2026
- USCIS director's reply on translations for congressional casework, 2024 (PDF), accessed November 4, 2026
By Matt Mountain ·