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Applying for a marriage certificate (Eheurkunde)

Standesamt (registry office) · civil status matters

In person or in writing

The marriage certificate (Eheurkunde) is the official proof of a marriage and at the same time a certified extract from the electronic marriage register (§ 55(1) no. 1, § 57 PStG). It is issued by the Standesamt that recorded the marriage — for a marriage concluded abroad, only after the subsequent recording under § 34 PStG. Under § 57(1) PStG, it contains the names of the spouses at the time of the marriage and the names they currently use, the date and place of birth of both spouses, and the date and place of the marriage; the field "further information from the register" records the dissolution, non-existence or declaration of nullity of the marriage, a declaration of death, and the conversion of an earlier registered civil partnership into a marriage. The certificate is needed, among other things, for the use of a name after marriage, for family reunification and naturalisation, for joint tax assessment, for pension and insurance matters, and as proof of marital status in connection with the devolution of an inheritance.

Last updated25 August 2026
Legal basis§ 57 PStG in conjunction with §§ 55, 62 PStG
VerificationChecked by AmtsDeutschland.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Standesamt, not an authority and not paid advice — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body is always the final authority. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither solicitors nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costs€10.00–15.00First copy; further copies issued at the same time €5.00–9.00
Processing timeImmediate to 2 weeksIn person usually immediately, in writing approx. 10 working days to 2 weeks
MethodIn person, in writing or onlineThe Standesamt that recorded the marriage; for a marriage abroad, § 34 PStG
Required documents

What you need to bring

Valid identity card or passport

The Standesamt checks your identity before issuing the certificate, because civil status documents may not be given out to just any third party. A valid document must be submitted — expired identity documents are not accepted, not even at the counter. If your identity document has expired, first apply for a new one at the Bürgeramt: since 7 February 2026 the identity card costs €46.00 from age 24 and €27.60 under age 24, and the passport €70.00 or €37.50 respectively.

Proof of entitlement to apply under § 62 PStG

Under § 62(1) PStG, the persons entitled to apply are the spouses themselves as well as their spouses, civil partners, ancestors (parents, grandparents) and descendants (children, grandchildren); applicants must have reached the age of 16. You generally prove the family relationship with your own birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) or the family record book (Stammbuch). Anyone who does not belong to this group of persons — including siblings and heirs — must demonstrate a legal interest, for example with an Erbschein (certificate of inheritance), a court document or a request from an authority; a mere legitimate interest is not sufficient for the marriage certificate.

Complete details of the marriage

State the date and place of the marriage, the Standesamt that recorded it and — if known — the register number, as well as the full given and family names of both spouses, including their birth names. You will find this information in the family record book (Stammbuch), in an older copy of the certificate, or in the former family book. If this information is missing, the Standesamt has to research the register: in Berlin this incurs search fees of €20.00 to €80.00, and this applies even if no entry is found.

Power of attorney when the application is made by a third party

If another person applies for the certificate on your behalf, they need a written power of attorney signed by you as well as a copy of your identity document. The authorised person must additionally identify themselves. Without a power of attorney, the certificate will not be handed over — not even to close relatives who are not themselves entitled to apply under § 62(1) PStG.

For a marriage abroad: the foreign marriage certificate

For the subsequent recording of a marriage concluded abroad under § 34 PStG, you submit the foreign marriage certificate in the original. If it comes from an EU member state, since 16 February 2019 neither an apostille nor legalisation is required under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191; instead of a translation, the multilingual form that the issuing authority attaches on request is sufficient. Only for documents from third countries is an apostille or legalisation, and a translation by a translator publicly appointed in Germany, required, depending on the country.

Fee or proof of fee exemption

The first copy costs €10.00 to €15.00 depending on the local authority, and each further copy issued at the same time costs €5.00 to €9.00. If you need the certificate for statutory pension, health or accident insurance, or for Kindergeld (child benefit) or Elterngeld (parental allowance), it is issued free of charge — for this, submit the request letter from the respective body. Without this proof, the Standesamt charges the standard fee.

Delivery address and contact details for a written application

Give the full postal address to which the certificate is to be sent, as well as a telephone number or email address for queries. The marriage certificate is sent as a paper document with an official seal and signature; a scan or a simple copy has no evidential value. Missing contact details for queries are one of the most common reasons why an application is left unprocessed for weeks.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Determine the competent Standesamt

    For a marriage concluded in Germany, only the Standesamt that recorded the marriage has jurisdiction — not the Standesamt of your current place of residence, and not the Standesamt of the wedding venue either, if only the religious celebration took place there. If the marriage was concluded abroad, jurisdiction for the subsequent recording is governed by § 34 PStG: the Standesamt in whose area of responsibility the person entitled to apply has, or last had, their place of residence, or has their habitual abode, has jurisdiction in the first instance. The Standesamt I in Berlin only has fallback jurisdiction if no jurisdiction results from this — typically for persons who never had a place of residence in Germany. Anyone who sends their application to Berlin as a matter of routine often loses months.

  2. 2

    Clarify entitlement to apply

    Before applying, check whether you belong to the group of persons under § 62(1) PStG: spouses, their spouses and civil partners, ancestors and descendants. If you do not belong to this group, attach proof of your legal interest to the application from the outset — for example a certificate of inheritance, a record of the opening of a will, a court request, or a letter from the authority requiring the certificate. Applications without this proof are refused or left pending until the proof is submitted; the processing time then effectively starts again from scratch.

  3. 3

    Choose how to apply and gather the details

    Options include attending in person at the counter — in many places only with a prior appointment booking —, applying in writing by post, applying by email with a signed scan, and the local authority's online form, where one has been set up. For online applications, many cities require registration via BundID or the respective federal state's service account. Gather all the details beforehand: the date and place of the marriage, the name of the Standesamt that recorded it, and the full given, family and birth names of both spouses. The more precise the details, the faster and cheaper the processing.

  4. 4

    Determine the type of certificate and the number of copies

    Three documents are available: the German marriage certificate under § 57 PStG for use within Germany; the multilingual (international) marriage certificate under CIEC Convention No. 16 of 8 September 1976, supplemented by Convention No. 34 of 2014, which is recognised abroad without translation; and the certified extract from the marriage register under § 55(1) no. 5 PStG, which shows the complete entry with all subsequent recordings and is often required for naturalisation, probate proceedings and foreign authorities. Order all the copies you need in one go — each further copy issued at the same time costs only €5.00 to €9.00 instead of the full first-copy price.

  5. 5

    Prove your identity and pay the fee

    At the counter you present your valid identity document and pay immediately, usually by EC card or in cash. For a written application you enclose a copy of your identity document; payment is then made by invoice, bank transfer or direct debit, or, for online applications, depending on the local authority, also by card or an online payment method. If you are claiming a fee exemption — for example for a pension application, health insurance, Kindergeld or Elterngeld — prove the purpose already with the application; proof submitted later does not automatically lead to a refund.

  6. 6

    Receive the certificate and check it immediately

    If you attend in person, you usually hold the certificate in your hands before the appointment ends. Written and online applications take around ten working days (example Cologne) to two weeks plus postal time (example Munich). As soon as you receive it, check the spelling of both names, including birth names, date and place of birth, and the date and place of the marriage. Report any discrepancies to the issuing Standesamt immediately: a later correction of the register entry is a separate procedure that takes considerably longer and, in doubtful cases, is decided by a court.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees

First copy€10.00–15.00, depending on the local authority. Examples: Cologne €10.00, Berlin €12.00, Münster €15.00. There is no nationwide standard price.
Further copies (ordered at the same time)€5.00–9.00 each — Cologne €5.00, Berlin €6.00, Münster €9.00. If ordered separately later, the full first-copy price becomes payable again.
International (multilingual) marriage certificateUsually the same fee as the German marriage certificate. It saves translation costs for use abroad.
Certified extract from the marriage registerFee under state law, depending on the competent authority — ask the Standesamt in advance.
Search fee for incomplete informationIn Berlin €20.00–80.00 depending on the research effort involved. The fee is charged even if no register entry is found.
Fee exemptionFree of charge for the purposes of statutory pension, health and accident insurance as well as for Kindergeld and Elterngeld — prove the purpose with the application.
Legal basis for the fee§ 72 PStG: the amount of the fees is determined by state law, in part supplemented by local fee by-laws.
Place of paymentAt the Standesamt of the marriage; for a marriage abroad, at the Standesamt responsible under § 34 PStG.
Means of paymentAt the counter usually EC card or cash, for a written application bank transfer or invoice. Which online payment methods are offered depends on the competent authority.
Good to know

Important notes

The Standesamt of the marriage always has jurisdiction — not the Standesamt of your current place of residence. A move does not change this: even after thirty years and several changes of address, the Standesamt that originally recorded the marriage continues to keep the marriage register.

Marriage abroad: § 34 PStG takes priority over Berlin. The subsequent recording of a marriage concluded abroad is carried out on application at the Standesamt in whose area the person entitled to apply has, or last had, their place of residence, or has their habitual abode. The Standesamt I in Berlin only has fallback jurisdiction if no Standesamt results from this.

Note the 80-year time limit. Under § 5(5) PStG, the marriage register is kept by the Standesamt for 80 years. After that, under § 7(3) PStG the entries must be offered to the competent public archive — the archive no longer issues marriage certificates, only certified copies or information. For marriages concluded more than 80 years ago, your point of contact is therefore the city or state archive, not the Standesamt.

EU documents do not need an apostille. Since 16 February 2019, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 has exempted public documents from EU member states — including birth, death, marriage and partnership certificates — from legalisation and the apostille. Instead of a certified translation, a multilingual form can be attached as a translation aid. Apostille or legalisation continue to apply only for third countries.

Family book, marriage register, marriage certificate. With the civil status law reform of 1 January 2009, family books were abolished; the electronic marriage register took their place, and existing family books have since been continued as marriage entries. The marriage certificate is the extract from this register — it does not replace the family book itself, but is today's proof from the successor register.

What is stated in the field "further information from the register". Under § 57(1) PStG, this records the dissolution, non-existence or declaration of nullity of the marriage, a declaration of death, and the conversion of a registered civil partnership into a marriage. After a divorce, you therefore still receive a marriage certificate — with a corresponding note. The certificate additionally contains, under § 57(2) PStG, a reference to the birth registration of the spouses.

Earlier given names can be omitted. Under § 57(3) PStG, at the request of the person concerned, the given names used before the marriage are not included in the certificate. This is particularly relevant after a change of given name. You must expressly state this wish — the Standesamt does not omit the information of its own accord.

New naming law since 1 May 2025. Since then, spouses can use a compound married name made up of both names — with or without a hyphen — and a compound birth name is possible for children. The Standesamt of the marriage or the Standesamt of the birth registration is responsible for the declaration. After such a name declaration (Namenserklärung) or change of name, the marriage certificate shows the names currently used; older copies do not become invalid as a result, but they show the previous status.

Marriage certificate or certified register extract? The marriage certificate under § 57 PStG shows only the essential data. The certified extract from the marriage register under § 55(1) no. 5 PStG reproduces the complete entry with all subsequent recordings and notes and is required for naturalisation, probate proceedings and many foreign authorities. Ask the body requesting the document beforehand exactly which document it needs.

For use abroad: the multilingual marriage certificate. It is based on CIEC Convention No. 16 of 8 September 1976, supplemented by Convention No. 34 of 2014, and is recognised in the contracting states without translation. The fee is usually the same as for the German marriage certificate. For states outside the convention, an apostille may additionally be required.

Order several copies in one go. Further copies issued at the same time cost, depending on the local authority, only €5.00 to €9.00 instead of €10.00 to €15.00. Anyone who orders individually later pays the full first-copy price again each time, plus postage — so with three later orders the cost quickly triples.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Applying at the Standesamt of your place of residence instead of the Standesamt of the marriage. The Standesamt of your place of residence has no access to another Standesamt's marriage register and cannot issue the certificate. In practice this means forwarding or refusal and, depending on workload, two to four additional weeks — if a deadline is running, for example in pension proceedings, this can become costly.

Sending everything to Berlin as a matter of routine for a marriage abroad. Under § 34 PStG, the Standesamt I in Berlin only has fallback jurisdiction. Anyone who applies there despite having, or having had, a German place of residence ends up in one of the longest queues in the country and often loses months before the case is even passed on to the correct Standesamt.

Relying on a "legitimate interest". For the marriage certificate, § 62(2) PStG requires non-privileged applicants to have a legal interest. The relaxation for siblings applies only to birth and death certificates. Anyone who merely asserts an interest without substantiating it legally receives an official notice (Bescheid) of refusal — and still has to obtain the proof afterwards regardless.

Overlooking ancestors, even though they are entitled. Many guides mention only spouses and descendants. Under § 62(1) PStG, ancestors — parents and grandparents — are also entitled to apply. Anyone who does not know this unnecessarily commissions a document service or waits for a power of attorney that would not even be required.

Unnecessarily obtaining an apostille for an EU document. Since 16 February 2019, marriage, birth and death certificates from EU member states have been exempt from the apostille and legalisation under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191. Anyone who applies for one anyway pays fees in the issuing state, often a certified translation, and loses several weeks — for a document that the Standesamt does not even require.

Providing incomplete details about the marriage. If the date, place or birth name is missing, the Standesamt has to carry out research. In Berlin this costs a search fee of €20.00 to €80.00 — payable even if, in the end, no entry is found. You may therefore end up paying up to eight times the actual certificate fee and still have nothing to show for it.

Enquiring at the Standesamt about a marriage more than 80 years ago. Once the retention period under § 5(5) PStG has expired, the entry passes to the public archive (§ 7(3) PStG). The Standesamt refuses the application, and the archive does not issue a marriage certificate, only a certified copy. Anyone who does not know this waits for a document that no longer exists in that form — critical, for example, in probate and nationality proceedings.

Not claiming the fee exemption. The marriage certificate is free of charge for statutory pension, health and accident insurance as well as for Kindergeld and Elterngeld. Anyone who does not prove the purpose with the application pays the full fee; a refund afterwards is not guaranteed.

Ordering too few copies. Authorities, insurers and foreign bodies frequently keep the certificate. Every later individual reorder again costs the full first-copy price of €10.00 to €15.00 instead of €5.00 to €9.00 — plus postage and up to two weeks' waiting time again.

Ordering only the marriage certificate instead of the certified register extract. Naturalisation authorities, probate courts (Nachlassgerichte) and many foreign bodies require the complete extract under § 55(1) no. 5 PStG. If only the marriage certificate is submitted, the matter comes back with a request for further documents and the whole process starts again from the beginning.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What is the difference between an Eheurkunde and a Heiratsurkunde?

There is no difference in content — only the official term has changed. With the civil status law reform of 1 January 2009, the Eheurkunde under § 55(1) no. 1 and § 57 PStG took the place of the Heiratsurkunde used until 2008. Heiratsurkunden issued before 2009 remain valid and do not need to be replaced.

Who may apply for a marriage certificate?

Under § 62(1) PStG, the persons entitled to apply are the spouses themselves as well as their spouses, civil partners, ancestors (parents and grandparents) and descendants (children and grandchildren); applicants must have reached the age of 16. All other persons — including siblings and heirs — must demonstrate a legal interest. The relaxation under which a mere legitimate interest is sufficient applies explicitly only to birth and death certificates, not to the marriage certificate.

What does a marriage certificate cost in 2026?

Under § 72 PStG, the fees are governed by the law of the respective federal state; in practice the first copy costs between €10.00 and €15.00 — for example €10.00 in Cologne, €12.00 in Berlin and €15.00 in Münster. Each further copy ordered at the same time is considerably cheaper (Cologne €5.00, Berlin €6.00, Münster €9.00). For the purposes of statutory pension, health and accident insurance, as well as for Kindergeld and Elterngeld, the certificate is issued free of charge.

How do I get a marriage certificate for a marriage concluded abroad?

A marriage concluded abroad can, on application, be recorded subsequently in the German marriage register under § 34 PStG; only after that does the Standesamt issue a German marriage certificate. In the first instance, jurisdiction lies with the Standesamt in whose area of responsibility the person entitled to apply has, or last had, their place of residence, or has their habitual abode. The Standesamt I in Berlin only has fallback jurisdiction if no jurisdiction results from this — for example for persons who never had a place of residence in Germany.

Do I need an apostille for a foreign marriage certificate?

Not for public documents from EU member states: since 16 February 2019, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 has exempted birth, death, marriage and partnership certificates, among others, from legalisation and the apostille, and instead of a translation a multilingual form can be attached as a translation aid. Only for documents from third countries does the Standesamt continue to require, depending on the country, an apostille or legalisation, as well as a translation.

Can I still get a marriage certificate for a very old marriage?

Only within the retention period: under § 5(5) PStG, the marriage register is kept by the Standesamt for 80 years. After that, under § 7(3) PStG, the entries must be offered to the competent public archive; the archive no longer issues marriage certificates, only certified copies or information. For marriages concluded more than 80 years ago, you should therefore contact the city or state archive.

What is the difference between a marriage certificate and a certified register extract?

The marriage certificate under § 57 PStG reproduces only the essential data: the names of the spouses at the time of the marriage and today, the date and place of birth of both spouses, and the date and place of the marriage, supplemented by the field "further information from the register". The certified extract from the marriage register under § 55(1) no. 5 PStG, by contrast, contains the complete register entry with all subsequent recordings and notes and is often required for naturalisation, probate and proceedings involving foreign authorities.

How long does it take to issue the marriage certificate?

If you attend the Standesamt in person, the certificate is usually issued and handed over immediately. Written and online applications take around ten working days (example Cologne) to two weeks plus postal time (example Munich). If your details about the marriage are incomplete, processing is extended by the register research, for which additional search fees may be charged.

Related official procedures

Give notice of marriage
At the Standesamt · plus the ceremony fee
Registration €40–75
Apply for a birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde)
At the Standesamt of the place of birth
€10–€15 depending on the local authority
Applying for a change of name
Married name or compound surname
Standesamt from €25
Applying for an apostille
For international use
€19–40 depending on the country

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