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Germany

Penal sentences are communicated and held by the Federal Register of public prosecutors and courts. The Federal Central Register (FCR) shall issue Certificate of Good Conduct on request to any person over 14 years of age who is the subject of that record upon application and confirmation of identity, signature and payment of 13 € (Euro).

Application Procedure

The application does not require any special form. If the person concerned has a legal representative, the latter is also entitled to make the application. If the person concerned is a minor, only their legal representative is entitled to make the application.

The person concerned may not have themselves represented by another authorized person, even a lawyer, when making the application. However, the Federal Central Register (FCR) will require an applicant’s personal details, name at birth, surname (if different from name at birth), all forenames, address, date of birth, place of birth and nationality alongside a signed request for the certificate.

If the applicant is resident in Germany then the individual must file the application with the Residents Registration Office of their place of residence. The Residents Registration Office will confirm the identity of the applicant, collect the fee for the Certificate of Good Conduct and pass the application on to the FCR for processing.

If the applicant is living outside of Germany the FCR will accept confirmation of identity and signature either:

  • From a German consular or diplomatic office (e.g.embassy). The applicant should present there himself in person. The office also provides pre-printed forms of Good Conduct Certificate applications;
  • From a notary public or a foreign authority.

Personal details may also be confirmed by sending an officially certified photocopy of personal identification papers (personal ID , passport) showing the personal details. The photocopy must be signed by the applicant before confirmation. If this application route is used, the applicant should supply all relevant information in a standard letter format including:

  • Name at birth, surname (if different from name at birth) all forenames
  • Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth
  • Nationality

The Homepage of the FCR contains an application form: www.bundesjustizamt.de (new window). Due to the confirmation of identity and signature required, applications for issue of Certificates of Good Conduct may not be made by e-mail.

The application and confirmation of identity and signature (along with payment) should be sent to the registration authority at the following address:

Bundesamt für Justiz
Bundeszentralregister
Sachgebiet IV 21 - Internationale Rechtshilfe
53094 Bonn
Germany

Cost

The fee for issuing a Certificate of Good Conduct is 13 € (Euro). For corroborating the particulars of the individual’s application there will be charged an additional fee by the German consular or diplomatic office or by the foreign notary public or other authorities which have confirmed the identity and signature.

Payment can be made by

  • cheques. Cheques from the UK can be made out in Pound Sterling or Euro. If made out in Euro, they must be drawn from a German Bank They must accompany the application. Fees charged by banks for the redemption of a cheque must be added to the fee for the Certificate of Good Conduct; the amount of such fees can be obtained from the relevant bank.
  • a money transfer to

Deutsche Bundesbank, Filiale Köln
Sort code: 370 000 00
Account no.: 38001005
BIC/swift-no.: MARKDEF 1370
IBAN-no.: 49370000000038001005
to Bundesamt für Justiz.

A copy of the transfer order, where possible, should be sent to the FCR along with the application. The FCR will not produce a Certificate of Good Conduct until they have received payment.

Content of certificates

It is not always the case that all sentences entered in the central register are listed in the Certificate of Good Conduct. Fines of not more than 90 daily rates or custodial sentences of less than 3 months are not typically listed in the Certificate of Good Conduct although they are recorded by the FCR. If a Certificate of Good Conduct does contain entries, in the majority of cases, these are removed after a certain period of time. Thus, fines and custodial sentences not in excess of 3 months shall generally no longer be entered on the Certificate of Good Conduct after 3 years.

Longer custodial sentences shall generally no longer be entered on the certificate after a period of 5 years plus the duration of the sentence imposed has lapsed. Sentenced as a result of sexual offences which result in more than one year’s imprisonment or in excess of 12 months youth custody shall be entered on the certificate for a period of 10 years, plus the duration of the sentence imposed. The period is always calculated from the day of the judgment. Life sentences are always disclosed unless the rest of the sentence has been rescinded.

For more information about Content of Certificates of Good Conduct: www.bundesjustizamt.de (new window). The Certificate of Good Conduct can only be sent to the applicant’s private address. The Certificates of Good Conduct can only be issued in German. Any required translation must be arranged by the applicant. The contents of the Certificates of Good Conduct are specified by the regulations of the Bundeszentralregistergesetz (German central registration regulations).

Turnaround time

Applications for Certificates of Good Conduct are sent in the post to the applicant’s home address normally within one week after the application has been filed.

The CRB has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained herein is as accurate and comprehensive as possible. In order to maintain the accuracy of the information, the CRB will update the information periodically.

However, the CRB cannot be held responsible for the level of service provided by overseas authorities. As such, please do not contact the CRB regarding applications submitted to overseas authorities.

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