Death abroad Notarisation of deaths on seagoing vessels

If a person dies during a voyage on a seagoing vessel flying the federal flag, the Standesamt I in Berlin records the death in its death register.

If a person dies during a voyage on a seagoing vessel flying the federal flag, there is an obligation to report the death to the registry office I in Berlin. The skipper must be notified verbally of the death without delay.

Please contact the registry office I in Berlin.

In particular, the following documents are required:

• Your identity card/passport as an applicant
• Foreign death certificate of the deceased person (if necessary with translation and certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalisation by the German mission abroad; the submission of a multilingual form may be sufficient)
• the marriage or partnership certificate of the last marriage or civil partnership of the deceased person and/or proof of its dissolution,
• the birth certificate of the deceased person,
• proof of the last residence of the deceased person
• for naturalised persons, persons entitled to asylum, stateless persons, homeless foreigners and recognised foreign refugees: naturalisation certificate / proof of special status

• If a person dies on a seagoing vessel flying the federal flag, the notification is mandatory. This applies regardless of the nationality of the deceased.

The person who lived with the deceased in the same household or, in case of incapacity, another person who was present at the time of death, shall submit the death notice to the skipper.

The certification in the death register of the registry office I in Berlin is free of charge.

For the issuance of a death certificate, fees are charged according to Berlin state law.