Certificate of good conduct; application for a European Certificate of Good Conduct

The European Certificate of Good Conduct does not have to be applied for. When a certificate of good conduct is issued to nationals of other EU Member States, the entries in the criminal record of the Member State of origin are recorded in full.

In the case of applications for the issue of a simple or extended certificate of good conduct for nationals of other Member States of the European Union, the respective Member State of origin is requested to provide information on entries in the criminal record of the Member State of origin.

If the Member State of origin notifies entries in the criminal record, these will be recorded in full and in the language transmitted. The information provided will not be translated or checked for content.

If the Member State of origin does not provide information from its criminal record, this will be indicated in the certificate of good conduct.

• when applying in person: presentation of passport or identity card
• for electronic applications: ID card, eID card with domestic address or electronic residence permit with activated online ID function in each case
• in case of written application: official or publicly certified signature

• Completion of the 14th year of age
• in the case of legal incapacity, the application must be submitted by the legal representative, if applicable

13.00 EUR

Exemption from fees: In the case of indigence (e.g. receipt of citizen's allowance, social assistance, child supplement according to § 6a of the Federal Child Benefit Act, BAföG or benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act), the Federal Office of Justice can reduce the fee or waive the costs upon application. If a certificate of good conduct is required for the exercise of voluntary care (§ 19 Para. 1, § 21 BtOG) or voluntary work that is carried out for a non-profit organization, for a public authority or as part of one of the services listed in § 32 Para. 4 No. 2 letter d EStG, there is no fee.

If the application is submitted electronically, proof of the existence of a reason for the fee exemption must be provided electronically.