Death on German seagoing vessels - initial certification / initial registration
Sterbefall auf deutschen Seeschiffen - Erstbeurkundung / Erstregistrierung
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
The death of a person during a voyage on a seagoing vessel flying the federal flag must be recorded by the Standesamt I (Register Office I) in Berlin.
This also applies if the death occurred during the sea voyage outside the vessel, but not on land or in a port within Germany, and the deceased was taken aboard a seagoing vessel flying the federal flag.
Book an appointment
Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)
Requirements
• Death on a seagoing vessel flying the federal flag
• Obligation to report
The death must be reported without delay by the person obliged to report it to the ship's master.
Any person who lived in a domestic community with the deceased is obliged to report the death, as is any other person who was present at the death or who has personal knowledge of the death.
Documents you need
• Record by the ship's captain regarding the notification of death
• Whether further documents are required depends on the individual case.
Forms
• Sterbenachweisanforderung (request for proof of death) www.berlin.de/labo/buergerdienste/standesamt-i-in-berlin/ste
Fees
• 12.00 euros: death certificate (Sterbeurkunde)
• 6.00 euros: each additional certificate issued at the same time
• 12.00 euros: international death certificate
• 6.00 euros: each additional certificate issued at the same time
• 12.00 euros: certified extract from the death register (Sterberegister)
• 6.00 euros: each additional certified register extract issued at the same time
Legal basis
• § 37 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG) [Civil Status Act] www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__37.html
Further information
• further information www.berlin.de/labo/buergerdienste/standesamt-i-in-berlin/ste
• Do you have further questions about the initial certification / initial registration of a death on German seagoing vessels? www.berlin.de/labo/buergerdienste/standesamt-i-in-berlin/ste
Responsible for you
Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.
- Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten (LABO)
- Standesamt I in Berlin
Original
Service number 326177 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326177/