Authenticate German Certificates of Good Conduct (Führungszeugnis) for use in the United States and abroad
Isarey provides specialist attestation services in Germany to authenticate and Apostille German police and criminal checks (Führungszeugnis) at the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs and Federal Office of Justice.
Submission to Apostille Countries
German Certificates of Conduct which are to be legalized for official use in countries that are members of the Apostille Convention must be pre-certified by the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt fur Justiz) and then authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten).
The Apostille will be accepted directly by the authorities of the recipient country with need for further authentication. Apostille countries include:
United States - Spain - Italy - Portugal - Greece - Cyprus - France - United Kingdom - Saudi Arabia - China
Submission to Non-Apostille Countries
Certificates of Conduct requiring authentication for submission to non-Apostille countries will need to be attested by the embassy of the recipient country in Berlin. Before submission to the embassy, the certificate will need to be authenticated by the Federal Office of Justice.
- Some embassies, including India, Egypt, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam will accept the over-authentication (Uberbeglaubigung) from the Federal Office of Justice directly.
Other embassies, including Qatar and United Arab Emirates require a further final authentication (Endbeglaubigung) from the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs (certificates that require a final-authentication from the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs must always be pre-certified by the Federal Office of Justice).
See: List of countries requiring final authentication (PDF)
Authentication of a notarized copy
It is also possible to legalize or apostille notarized copies of German Good Conduct Certificates. This is a faster alternative (3 - 4 weeks), but you should confirm that this method is acceptable to the recipient authority, since the Apostille stamp will be applied to the copy (not the original) will certify the signature of the notary (not the signature of the Federal Office of Justice.
Isarey will take care of the entire process for you. We offer individual assistance certifying your documents and a dedicated project manager to ensure that each process is carried out efficiently and securely.
We'll arrange an insured courier to collect your original certificate and then obtain all necessary apostilles, legalizations and certifications. We also provide notarized and certified translations into Spanish, French, Portuguese and other languages, so that your certificate is properly legalized and ready to submit in the country where you need to present it.
We arrange secure delivery by courier worldwide.
Submission within the European Union
German certificates of no criminal record do not require Apostilles when being submitted to other states of the European Union where the certificate is for a citizen of Germany and where the criminal record is clean. Non-German nationals may still require an Apostille. For further information, see:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191
Exceptions to Apostille Convention (Documents issued in Germany)
Germany has objected to the accession of certain States to the Apostille Convention (including India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tunisia and Morocco), so that the Convention does not apply between Germany and these states. Documents required for these states may also require additional attestation by the embassy of the recipient embassy in Berlin.
For a full list of countries with which the Apostille Convention applies in relation to German documents, see:
Countries where Apostille Convention applies in relation to Germany
How to Obtain a German Certificate of Conduct
German Certificates of Good Conduct (Fuhrungszeugnis) are issued by the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz). Applications for the certificate may be submitted in Germany to a town hall, municipal office or citizens' office for forwarding to the Federal Office of Justice. Certificates take at least 2 weeks to be issued. An application may only be submitted for yourself or by a person legally representing you.
Isarey can assist clients based outside Germany with the submission of applications for a German Certificate of Conduct - please contact us.
Online Applications (Federal Office of Justice)
Applications for a certificate of good conduct from within Germany and from aboard may be submitted online. An electronic identity card or electronic residence permit is required.
Postal Applications
Applications for Certificates of Good Conduct from outside Germany may also be submitted by post. The signature on the application form must be officially certified (by a German embassy or consulate, or by a notary and apostille)
Applications from within Germany
Applicants who are in Germany may submit applications at their local residents’ registration authority (e.g. at a town hall or citizens’ office (Burgerbüro)) in Germany. Applications will then be forwarded to the Federal Office of Justice. Applications may also be submitted in person to the Federal Office of Justice in Bonn.
Types of Certificate
Germany issues different types of Good Conduct Certificate:
- Certificate of conduct for personal use: commonly used for submissions for foreign visas, residency and citizenship applications.
- Certificate of conduct for submission to a public authority: when certificates have been requested by a public authority in Germany.
- Extended criminal records check: required by individuals wishing to work with children and young people (applications must include confirmation that this type of certificate is legally required).
- European certificate of conduct: available to German nationals who are also nationals of another EU state or of the UK. It contains information on any convictions recorded in the applicant's home country, as well as details of the applicant's criminal record in Germany.
There are no rules on the validity of a German certificate of good conduct - they do not expire. However, the recipient authority may require a recently issued certificate (within the last 3 months).
Certified Translations of German Certificates of Conduct
When presenting a German police background check in a country (or embassy) which does not have German as an official language, then a certified translation may be required. The certified translation must meet the requirements of the destination country, so that a translation done locally in Germany will normally need to be done by a sworn translator and then certified by the court and with an apostille.
Alternatively, it is often cheaper to make a certified translation in the destination country. We offer sworn translations of German Criminal Record certificates certified locally in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and many other countries.
Isarey works with local notaries and sworn translators in a wide range of destination countries. We'll take care of the entire legalization and translation process, so that your certificates are correctly translated and ready to submit:
- BRAZIL: translations into Brazilian Portuguese must be certified by an Official Public Translator in Brazil ("Tradução juramentada")
- SPAIN: translator must be authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs ("Traducción Jurada")
- FRANCE: translations into French must be certified by a translator accredited by a French court of appeal (Cour d'appel)
- ITALY: translations must be authenticated by a Court Clerk or by a Notary Public in Italy
- PORTUGAL: translations into Portuguese can be certified in Portugal by a local notary
For further information about our German apostille service for Certificates of Conduct for use in the United States and abroad, or for assistance obtaining a German Police Clearance Certificate, use our online quotation form or send us an email. We will get back to you directly with a quotation and details of how to proceed: