Declare change of gender entry and first names

If your gender identity differs from your officially registered gender entry, you can have your gender and first name details changed. To do this, you must submit a declaration to the registry office.

With a declaration, you determine the details of your gender entry and your first names that best correspond to your gender identity. The self-declaration is sufficient. You do not have to give reasons for the change.

Gender details

You can choose between the following gender entry details:

• "female"
• "male"
• "diverse"
• no gender entry.

In your declaration, you must confirm that

• the chosen gender entry or the deletion of the gender entry best corresponds to your gender identity and
• you are aware of the consequences of the declaration.

Details of the first name

In your declaration, you specify one or more first names that correspond to your chosen gender entry.

For the gender entry "male", you can choose male first names or first names that can be assigned to both genders.

For gender entry "female", you can select female first names or first names that can be assigned to both genders.

If you choose not to enter a gender or select the gender entry "diverse", you can choose male, female and first names that can be assigned to both genders as well as any combination of these.

You can continue to use existing first names if they correspond to the selected gender entry.

You can also dispense with existing first names without replacing them if they do not correspond to the future chosen gender entry or add further first names.

Registration and submission of the declaration

You must register the submission of the declaration verbally (i.e. in person) or in writing at a German registry office in advance.

You can only make the declaration in writing at the same registry office after three months and no later than six months after registration.

You can only make your declaration in person. Representation is not possible.

The notarized or certified declaration only becomes effective once it has been received by the relevant registry office. The following order applies:

In principle, the registry office of the register of births responsible for you is responsible.

If your birth was not recorded in a German birth register, the registry office where the marriage register or civil partnership register is kept for you is responsible.

If this does not result in jurisdiction, the registry office of your current or last place of residence or your current habitual residence is responsible.

If this does not result in any jurisdiction either, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible for effective receipt.

Registry office I in Berlin

• In cases in which no entry is or can be made in a German civil status register, the validly received declaration will be entered in a register kept there.
• If you register and submit the declaration at another registry office in Germany, your declaration will be forwarded to the registry office responsible for receiving it.
• If you have your habitual residence abroad and are a German citizen, you can have your declaration notarized by a German diplomatic mission abroad. In this case, you must register the submission of the declaration in writing with the German registry office responsible for receiving the declaration.

The following applies to minors with limited legal capacity from the age of 14:

• If you are at least 14 years old, you can make your declaration yourself at the registry office.
• Your legal representatives, i.e. your custodial parents or a guardian, must consent to the declaration in person at the registry office. The consent can also be replaced by a family court.
• In the declaration to be submitted, you must also declare that you have been advised, i.e. that you are fully informed. You do not need to provide proof of this. Counseling is offered, for example, by
• Persons who have a professional qualification in psychology, child and adolescent psychotherapy or child and adolescent psychiatry,
• public or independent child and youth welfare organizations,
• peer counseling centers.

The following applies to minors under the age of 14 with limited legal capacity or minors who are legally incompetent:

• Only the legal representatives, i.e. the custodial parents or a guardian, can make the declaration at the registry office.
• A family court must approve the submission of the declaration by a guardian.
• Minors aged five and over must give their consent to the declaration and be present when it is made.
• When making the declaration, the legal representatives must also declare that they have received advice, i.e. that they are fully informed. They do not have to provide proof of consultation.

The following applies to legally incapacitated adults for whom legal guardianship has been appointed in this matter:

• Only the person appointed by the guardianship court to look after you in this matter can make the declaration on your behalf.
• The submission of the declaration by the person appointed as guardian in this matter must be approved by the guardianship court.

A German registry office

A German registry office

Written form required: yes

Personal appearance required: yes

• You have German citizenship or
• You have a foreign nationality and
• Your habitual residence is in Germany and
• You have declared your choice regarding the application of German law and have it notarized and
• you are in possessionof an EU Blue Card (Blue Card EU) or
• an unlimited right of residence (settlement permit) or
• a renewable residence permit and are legally resident in Germany.

If you would like to take action against a negative decision by the registry office, you have the option of filing an application with the local court with the aim of instructing the registry office.

If your application is rejected by the local court, you can then lodge an appeal with a higher regional court and, if necessary, a legal complaint with the Federal Court of Justice after the higher regional court has granted leave to appeal.

The procedure for changing the gender entry and first names is multi-stage.

• You register the submission of the declaration on the change of gender entry and first names at a German registry office of your choice, either informally or in writing. To simplify the procedure, it is recommended that you make the registration and declaration at the registry office that is responsible for receiving the declaration.
• You make an appointment to submit the declaration at the same registry office.
• You submit the declaration of the chosen or to be deleted gender entry and the first names to be determined with the required documents.
• On request, the relevant registry office can issue you with a certificate confirming that the declaration has been effectively received.

Further procedural steps:

• The declaration must be made in person before the registrar and notarized by him/her after examination.
• The registry office will forward your declaration to the registry office responsible for accepting it, unless it is responsible for accepting it itself.
• The competent registry office is responsible for the substantive legal examination of the declaration and the decision on registration or entry in the civil status register. If the competent registry office finds the declaration to be valid under substantive law, the competent registry office enters the details of the gender entry and first names in the civil status register.
• If no entry is or can be made in a German register of births, marriages or civil partnerships, the declaration will be entered in the register kept at Registry Office I in Berlin.
• The change to the gender entry and first names of a (substantively legally) valid declaration becomes effective upon receipt of the declaration by the registry office responsible for accepting it.
• You can agree with the registry office that you will be notified as soon as the chosen details of your gender and first names have been entered.
• On request, the registry office responsible can issue you with a certificate confirming that the declaration has been effectively received.

A fee of 45 euros is charged for the certification or notarization of declarations, consent or agreement to change the gender entry and first names in accordance with Section 45b (1) PStG. Additional fees may be charged for the issue of civil status documents and certificates at the request of the person concerned.: Fee 45,00 EUR

The following information applies:

• Once the change has been entered in the registers, the passport or ID card becomes invalid. As part of the general obligation to hold a valid identity card, you must therefore apply for a new identity card or passport.
• It is not possible to change the first name(s) without changing the gender entry under this procedure.

The change of gender entry and first names is only effective in the German legal system. The following are possible:

• Entries in the register of births
• entries in the marriage register or civil partnership register or
• Entry of the declaration received in the official register at Registry Office I in Berlin.
  
• Documents or register entries issued by foreign authorities cannot be changed by German authorities.
• If necessary, you can involve an interpreter in the procedure at your own expense.

If you have your habitual residence abroad and you are a German citizen, you have the following options:

• You can make the registration verbally or in writing and the subsequent submission of a declaration in person at a German registry office of your choice. To simplify the procedure, it is recommended that you make the registration and declaration at the registry office that is responsible for receiving the declaration.
• However, you can also submit your declaration to a German embassy, consulate or honorary consul, have it notarized and forward it to the registry office responsible for receiving the declaration.
• In this case, however, you must register the submission of a declaration with a German diplomatic mission abroad in writing with the registry office responsible for receiving the declaration.

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