Please note:
The following list contains documents that must normally be submitted. In individual cases, the submission of additional documents may be requested by the responsible foreign mission or subsequently by the responsible registry office. The registry offices in Germany are entitled to request legalizations and translations of foreign documents. The decision on this is at the discretion of the German registry office.

Translations of foreign - non-English - documents must be submitted in German. Civil status documents originally issued in English (especially in tabular form) are accepted by many German registry offices even without a translation into German. Please note that the responsible German registry office may request a translation into German.

Our advice on the use of names under German law relates to the most common routine cases. Due to the complexity of German naming law and the variety of possible circumstances, deviations are possible in individual cases. The information is for your guidance only and does not replace individual advice. The diplomatic missions abroad would also like to point out that the final decision on name declarations is made at the competent German registry office (at the last German place of residence). If your case is not covered by the following information, please contact the German registry office responsible for you in advance.

Please note that all name declarations only cover a person's surname. A person's first names are determined by the parents when the birth is registered in Germany or abroad.

• Completed form (see above), not yet signed
• Birth certificates (for birth in Canada: „certified copy of birth registration“ or „copie d'acte de naissance“, issued by the civil status authority of the respective Canadian province)
• If applicable: official marriage certificate (for marriage in Canada: issued by Vital Statistics; marriage certificates issued by a religious institution and proof of „solemnization of marriage“, which the spouses receive directly upon marriage, are not recognized)
• Valid current passports - persons who are (also) German citizens must present a valid German passport or identity card
• If applicable: valid permanent resident card (front and back) or valid Canadian visa
• Confirmation of deregistration (Abmeldebestätigung) of last place of residence in Germany
• If applicable: proof of dissolution of marriage or dissolution of previous marriages (e.g. divorce decree or death certificate)
• If applicable: German naturalization certificate
• If applicable: Canadian naturalization certificate + „Beibehaltungsgenehmigugn“ if applicable

You have a name from a former marriage, are divorced by now, and would like to go back to your maiden name or the name you carried before your marriage?

In order to change your name, you have to give a name declaration in accordance with German law. You can apply for a new passport under the new name only after you have received certificate confirming the change of name.

Please note: If you were divorced outside of Germany, the foreign divorce decree has to be acknowledged by a German court before you give any name declarations. Until then, your divorce is not considered valid according to German law. You can find more information here: Anerkennung einer ausländischen Ehescheidung (Acknowledgment of a foreign divorce decree)