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  4. Certification of copies

Certification of copies

Beglaubigung von Kopien
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
You can have copies certified, for example a copy of a school certificate (Schulzeugnis). A certification (Beglaubigung) confirms that the copy shows the same content as the original. The Bürgeramt (citizens' office) certifies copies in two cases: • The original was issued by a public authority (Behörde). • You need the copy for a public authority. The Bürgeramt can only issue official certifications (amtliche Beglaubigungen), not public certifications (öffentliche Beglaubigungen). Public certifications and certifications for use abroad • In other cases, and if you need a public certification, please contact a Notariat (notary's office). You can find notary's offices in Berlin, for example, through the Berliner Notarkammer (Berlin Chamber of Notaries) (under "Further information"). • If you want to present a certification abroad, additional requirements may apply (under "Further information"). Certification of foreign documents and papers • In general, documents in other languages must be accompanied by a German translation from a publicly sworn interpreter (öffentlich vereidigter Dolmetscher). • If a legalization/apostille is required for the use of foreign public documents, such as certificates or diplomas, that are to be presented domestically, this can only be carried out by the respective country of origin (under "Further information").

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• Official document or copy for a public authority Either the original was issued by a public authority. Or the copy is intended for a public authority. • Certification is not reserved to another authority For certain documents, you can only have copies certified by the authority that issued the original. These include: • Extracts from the Grundbuch (land register) (Amtsgericht [local court] – Grundbuchamt [land registry office]), • Extracts from the Handelsregister (commercial register) (Amtsgericht [local court] – Registergericht [register court]), • Extracts from the Vereinsregister (register of associations) (Amtsgericht [local court] – Registergericht [register court]), • Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates and other civil status certificates (Standesamt [registry office]), • Information from the Liegenschaftskataster (real estate cadastre) (Bezirksamt [district office] – Vermessungsamt [surveying office]). • If a legalisation/apostille is required for the use of foreign public documents, such as certificates or diplomas, that are to be presented domestically, this can only be carried out by the respective country of origin. • The original is unaltered If the original appears to have been altered, we will not certify the copy. Examples: gaps, crossings-out, correction fluid ("Tipp-Ex") • The original is complete If you present only part of the original, we will likewise not certify the copy. Example: you bring only one page of a multi-page original. • Authorising another person, if applicable Appearing in person is not required. You can also have another person arrange the certification of copies. No power of attorney needs to be presented for this.

Documents you need

• Original and copy of the document • if applicable, a German translation by a publicly sworn interpreter for documents in another language In general, for documents in other languages, a German translation by a publicly sworn interpreter must also be enclosed, if the certifying body cannot otherwise form a clear picture of the content. In exceptional cases, if sufficient knowledge of the language is available, a translation may be waived. However, this decision can only be made after the document has been submitted.

Fees

5.00 euros per page The fee (Gebühr) may be higher if the original and the copy are difficult to compare with each other, for example in the case of technical drawings or chemical formulas.

Legal basis

• Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz (VwVfG) [Administrative Procedure Act] §§ 33 and 34 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vwvfg/BJNR012530976.html#BJNR0125 • Gesetz über das Verfahren der Berliner Verwaltung (VwVfG BE) [Act on the Procedure of the Berlin Administration] gesetze.berlin.de/bsbe/document/jlr-VwVfGBE2016rahmen

Processing time

immediately

Further information

• Berliner Notarkammer (Berlin Chamber of Notaries) www.notarkammer-berlin.de • Certification of documents for use abroad (Apostille/legalization) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/320315/ • Foreign public documents for use in Germany (Auswärtiges Amt/Federal Foreign Office) www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/urkunden/2007718#content_1 • Extract from the Grundbuch (land register) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327196/ • Extract from the Handelsregister (commercial register) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327144/ • The Berlin Registergericht (register court) www.berlin.de/gerichte/amtsgericht-charlottenburg/das-gerich • Ordering certificates (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and other civil-status certificates) www.berlin.de/standesamt/urkunden/ • Information from the Liegenschaftskataster (real estate cadastre) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324341/ • Overview of Vermessungsämter (surveying offices) service.berlin.de/vermessungsaemter/ • Information from the Berlin Vermessungsämter (surveying offices) www.berlin.de/vermessungsaemter/

Who is responsible

This service can be used at all Bürgerämter (citizens' offices).

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 121701 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121701/