If a child is born out of wedlock, legal paternity for the German law needs to be established through paternity acknowledgement. This legal act consists of two declarations, one from the father and one from the mother. The declarations can be given in person at any German registry or notary or at the Embassy. Through this legal act, the child of a German father (must be German citizen at time of birth), born out of wedlock, receives the German citizenship. Please fill out the attached questionnaire and hand it in at the embassy (Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 11 am) or send it by email to the legal and consular section.

The attached leaflet tells you which documents need to be presented.

Please note there is another legal step before your child can apply for a German passport. You need to do a name declaration (for more information download the leaflet “name declaration”). Try to get an appointment for the paternity acknowledgement and the name declaration on the same day.