By Christine Stenner, German Attorney in the United States at Stenner Law| Foreign Legal Consultant (PA) | June 26, 2026
If you are applying for German citizenship by descent, you will usually submit certified copies of your documents instead of the originals.
Why Are Certified Copies Required?
The Federal Office of Administration (BVA) decides your application based on documentary evidence. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, and other records prove your family line, identity, and citizenship history.
Do not send your original documents to the BVA. Your application may remain with the authority for many months, and your original documents would stay there as well. Certified copies allow the BVA to verify the evidence while you keep your originals.
Why a U.S. Notary Is Often Not Enough
Many U.S. notaries are authorized only to notarize signatures, not to certify copies of documents. Whether a notary may certify a true copy depends on the law of the state where the notarization takes place.
German authorities generally require a certified true copy, where the official compares the original document with the copy and certifies that the copy is a true and complete reproduction of the original. German Consulates and Honorary Consuls are familiar with the certification requirements for German authorities and are therefore often the safest option.
The difference is simple:
- U.S. notarization: In most cases verify your signature.
- German certification: Verifies the document itself.
Where Can You Certify Documents?
German missions are in the following cities;
- German Embassy, Washington, DC
- German Consulate General Atlanta
- German Consulate General Boston
- German Consulate General Chicago
- German Consulate General Houston
- German Consulate General Los Angeles
- German Consulate General Miami
- German Consulate General New York
- German Consulate General San Francisco
In addition, Germany has numerous Honorary Consuls throughout the United States who may also certify documents, depending on the services they offer.
To find the office responsible for your area, use the official German Consulate Finder:
The tool will locate your nearest:
- German Embassy
- German Consulate General
- Honorary Consul
Before making an appointment, confirm that the office offers certified copy services, as not every Honorary Consul performs every consular service.
Using the correct certification from the beginning helps avoid delays and requests for additional documents from the BVA.
About the author
Christine Stenner is a German attorney with 30 years of experience. She is admitted to practice German law in the United States and focuses exclusively on German citizenship law for clients living in the United States. At STENNER LAW, she assists applicants with restoring or reclaiming German citizenship through declaration, re-naturalization, and restitution-based applications.
