If you need to use a German public document abroad, such as an official German Commercial Register extract, the receiving authority may require proof that the document is authentic. Two common procedures are used for this purpose: an apostille and legalisation. Which procedure is required depends primarily on the country where the German document will be used.
An apostille is the simpler procedure, but it can be used only where the Hague Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961 applies between Germany and the destination country. In some cases, bilateral agreements provide an even simpler procedure and an apostille may not be required for certain documents.
Countries where the Apostille Convention applies in relation to Germany
The Hague Apostille Convention currently applies between Germany and the following countries and territories. As treaty status can change, the requirements should always be checked for the specific destination country and type of document.
A
Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria*
Azerbaijan
B
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium*
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
C
Cabo Verde
Canada
Chile
China, including Hong Kong and Macao
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
D
Denmark* (except Greenland)
Dominica
E
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Eswatini
F
Fiji
Finland
France*
G
Georgia
Grenada
Greece*
Guatemala
Guyana
H
Honduras
Hungary
I
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy*
J
Jamaica
Japan
K
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
L
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg*
M
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
N
Namibia
Netherlands, including Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
New Zealand (except Tokelau)
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Norway
O
Oman
P
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
R
Romania
Russian Federation
S
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
S – continued
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Spain
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland*
T
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Türkiye
U
Ukraine
United Kingdom, including Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena and Turks and Caicos Islands
United States of America
Uruguay
V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
* Germany has additional bilateral agreements with some of these countries. For certain types of public documents, these agreements may remove the need for an apostille altogether.
Countries where the Convention does not apply in relation to Germany
Some countries have joined the Hague Apostille Convention, but Germany has objected to their accession. As a result, the Convention does not apply between Germany and these countries, and a German apostille cannot be used under the Convention for documents intended for them:
Algeria
Bangladesh
Burundi
Dominican Republic
India
Kosovo
Liberia
Morocco
Mongolia
Pakistan
Philippines
Rwanda
Senegal
Tajikistan
Tunisia
Uzbekistan
Viet Nam
Legalisation for countries where a German apostille cannot be used
What should you do if your German document is intended for a country where the Apostille Convention does not apply?
In this situation, another authentication or legalisation procedure may be required. Depending on the destination country and the type of document, this can include prior authentication by the competent German authority followed by legalisation through the embassy or consulate of the destination country in Germany. The exact requirements should be checked before the document is prepared.
You can order a German Commercial Register extract with an apostille or other required authentication here.
German documents with apostille Order now