Request information from the Central Register of Foreigners

If you would like to know what information about you is stored in the Central Register of Foreigners, you can obtain information under certain conditions. German citizens are not stored in the Central Register of Foreigners.

The Federal Office of Administration (BVA) is an upper federal authority and commissioned by the register authority Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to provide information on stored data of persons concerned from the Central Register of Foreigners.

The general data stock of the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR) contains the data of foreigners who are staying or have stayed in Germany not only temporarily, i.e. for at least 3 months, or for whom there is another legally defined reason for data storage, such as an application for asylum. The separately managed visa file, on the other hand, contains the data of visa applicants who usually only stay in Germany for a short time.

The information on persons concerned from the Central Register of Foreigners provides you with information on which of your data is stored in the Central Register of Foreigners.

Stored data may include

• Name
• Place of birth
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Nationality
• Marital status
• Information on identity document

Note: If necessary, more or different data may be stored in the AZR in accordance with the Central Register of Foreigners Act (AZRG).

The data stored about you as a foreigner is governed by the legal provisions (§§ 2, 3 AZRG).

Your right to request information serves transparency and data protection. You can check the accuracy of your data and, if necessary, have it corrected by the responsible office.

In this way, you can also obtain information about any entry bars that may exist about you and the initiating agency.

You can submit your application for information from the Central Register of Foreigners online or in writing to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

When submitting your application, you must submit:

• Proof of your identity:
  • an official certification of your signature (translated into German) on the application form, or
  • an electronic authentication with eID when applying online.
• when applying through an authorized person:
  • a power of attorney with a certified signature from you as the person concerned

Notes:

• Notarization is not necessary if the authorized person is a lawyer admitted to practice before a domestic court.
• If the application is made by a lawyer registered with a German court, a client power of attorney is required.
• An official certification can be issued by an authority. This can be, for example, the city, district or municipal administration.

• Forms available: Yes
• Written form required: Yes
• Informal application possible: Yes
• Personal appearance required: No
• Online service available: Yes

Application for information on persons concerned can be made by:

• Foreigners who have provided the following basic personal data:
  • Family name,
  • name at birth,
  • first names,
  • spelling of names according to German law,
  • date of birth,
  • Place and district of birth,
  • sex,
  • nationalities
• and, who have proven your identity.

Further requirements:

• When applying online, if you have registered via the federal user account using the online ID card or electronic residence permit, you must provide your basic personal data and prove your identity if the application is submitted by an authorized person.

When submitting a written application, you, as the person concerned, must submit the following if you are

• are within the country:
  • a notarization of the signature on the request for information
• abroad are:
  • a certification of the signature on the request for information by the diplomatic mission or an authority of the country of origin authorized to certify, or
  • a separate letter from a notary public certifying the signature with a German translation by a sworn interpreter.

Application by authorized person

• In the case of an application by an authorized person, a power of attorney with your certified signature as the person concerned must be attached.
• Notarization is not necessary if the authorized person is admitted to practice law before a domestic court.

No legal remedy is given.

You can apply for an information request in writing or online at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

Written application:

• Go to the BVA website and fill out the application form for information on data subjects electronically.
• Print out the completed form and sign it.
• Mail the completed and signed form, along with the notarized signature and any other requested documents, to the BVA.
• The BVA will review your application.
• After the review of your application is complete, the BVA will mail you the information about the stored data.

Online application:

• Go to the website of the Federal Portal and fill out the application form for data subject information electronically.
• Note: For the online function, you will need your ID card or electronic residence permit with PIN number.
• Attach the other requested documents as a scan.
• Submit your application.
• The BVA will review your application.
• Once the review of your application is complete, the BVA will send you the information about the stored data by mail.

There is no deadline.

The processing of your application usually takes 1 month, in exceptional cases up to 3 months.

There are no costs involved.