Certification of documents for use abroad (Apostille/legalisation)

• The document for which you need a certified copy (Beglaubigung) was issued by a Berlin authority. • Application by post Certified documents are generally sent only to an address within Germany. Would you like your certified documents to be sent abroad? Please note that this will result in longer delivery times and additional postage costs for you. If you choose to have the documents sent abroad, they will be sent by International Registered Mail with return receipt. For this we must charge you the postage costs (flat-rate postage fee): • Kompaktbrief (compact letter) = 7.45 Euro A Kompaktbrief is 100-235 mm long, 70 – 125 mm wide, 10 mm high, and up to 50 g in weight. • Großbrief (large letter) = 10.10 Euro A Großbrief is 100-353 mm long, 70-250 mm wide and 20 mm high, and up to 500 g in weight. Once the shipment has been processed and sent, you will receive the shipment number (tracking code). With the shipment number you can check the delivery status online. This makes it easier to estimate the time of delivery. No binding information can be given as to when the shipment will arrive abroad. Please refrain from making inquiries and use the tracking system instead. Further information is available on our information sheet (see "Further information").

• For the certification (Beglaubigung) of documents issued in Berlin: You must present these documents in the original. • For the pre-certification (Vorbeglaubigung) of certificates or diplomas from schools (except private schools that are not state-recognized): Please contact the Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie (Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family). An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten (State Office for Citizens' and Regulatory Affairs, LABO). • For the pre-certification of documents from state universities: Please contact the responsible examination office (Prüfungsbüro) of your university. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten. • For the pre-certification of documents from private universities state-recognized in the State of Berlin: Please contact the Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit, Pflege und Gleichstellung (Senate Department for Science, Health, Care and Equality). An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten. • For the pre-certification of documents from the Charité: Please contact the Charité. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten. • For the pre-certification of German-language medical certificates: Please contact the Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (State Office for Health and Social Affairs). An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten. • For the pre-certification of certificates from a tax office (Finanzamt): Please contact the Senatsverwaltung für Finanzen (Senate Department for Finance). For more on this topic, see "Further information." An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten. • For the pre-certification of certificates from Protestant / Catholic schools: Please contact first the Konsistorium der Evangelischen Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (Consistory of the Protestant Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia) / the Erzbischöfliches Ordinariat (Archdiocesan Ordinariate), and then the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt (Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion). An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten. • For the pre-certification of documents and records from chambers, for example the Ärztekammer (Chamber of Physicians), Apothekerkammer (Chamber of Pharmacists), Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK) (Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Rechtsanwaltskammer (Bar Association), Architektenkammer (Chamber of Architects): Please contact the respective chamber. An apostille / legalization can then be issued by the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten.

• Certification of public documents for use abroad (if the documents are submitted by post) www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/labo/zentrale-e

• 19.00 euros per certificate/document: apostille • 19.00 euros per certificate/document: preliminary certification for a legalization • 5.00 euros per page: certification of German passports, identity cards and residence permits • Additional postage costs for shipment abroad

• Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents www.personenstandsrecht.de/Webs/PERS/DE/uebereinkommen/_docu

• If you appear in person: processed immediately • If you send the documents by post to the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten (LABO) (State Office for Citizen and Regulatory Affairs): approx. 2 weeks (within Germany) • If you send the documents by post to the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten (LABO) and wish to have them returned abroad, no binding information can be given regarding shipping times.

• German public documents for use abroad (Federal Foreign Office) www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/urkunden/2007718#content_0 • Certification / legalization / apostille / obtaining documents (Federal Foreign Office) www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/beurkundungen-beglaubigungen/2007 • Apply for certification / apostille (Federal Office for Foreign Affairs) bfaa.diplo.de/bfaa-de/service/apostillenundbeglaubigungen • Information sheet on the certification of documents for submission abroad (Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten, State Office for Civil and Regulatory Affairs) www.berlin.de/labo/_assets/buergerdienste/20180904_informati • Certification of information in tax matters, certificates of residence for abroad (apostille/legalization) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327459/ • Notice on the issuance of apostilles for submission to Russian authorities www.berlin.de/labo/_assets/buergerdienste/hinweis-fuer-die-a

For a booked appointment, the number of documents to be certified is limited to a maximum of 3. If several documents need to be certified, please book an appropriate number of appointments.