First name Change of order

If you have several first names, you can have their order changed by means of an explanation.

Since 1 November 2018, you can have the order of several first names changed without giving reasons. The prerequisite for this is that your name is subject to German law. This includes not only German citizens, but also persons entitled to asylum, foreign refugees and stateless persons.

The only exception: In the case of hyphenated first names, such as Hans-Peter, the order determined by the parents must be maintained.

Note: If you would like to have your first name changed for important or serious reasons, this can only be done by changing your name under public law. Changing the spelling and adding or omitting first names is otherwise not permitted in official documents.

Registry office of the place of birth, the place of marriage, the place of establishment of a civil partnership, the place of residence and other bodies authorised to authenticate publicly.

Registry office of the place of birth, the place of marriage, the place of establishment of a civil partnership, the place of residence and other bodies authorised to authenticate publicly.

• valid official photo ID (identity card, passport)
• for stateless persons: travel document or entry of the immigration authority in the passport or passport substitute
• for homeless foreigners or persons entitled to asylum: entry of the immigration authority in the passport or passport substitute
• for foreign refugees: entry of the immigration authority in the passport or passport substitute

For any further documents, please inquire in advance at the authority to which you submit the declaration.

Forms: none

Online procedure possible: no

Written form required: yes

Personal appearance required: yes

• You have German citizenship.
• You are entitled to asylum, a foreign refugee, a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a quota refugee.

You must declare the change in the order of your first names in writing:

• Check with your competent authority whether you should have the declaration certified or notarised and whether an appointment must be made.
• Then go to the office responsible for you with all the necessary documents and arrange for the order of your first names to be changed.

Note: Once this change has taken effect, you will need to change various documents (such as ID card or passport) accordingly. You must request these changes yourself.

none

as a rule, none

EUR 23.50, unless the municipality has set a different fee by statute.