Certificate of good conduct; application for an extended certificate of good conduct

You can apply for an extended certificate of good conduct at the local authority / registration office (citizens' office) responsible for your place of residence or electronically via the online portal of the Federal Office of Justice (see "Online procedure") if certain legal provisions require the issue of an extended certificate of good conduct or if you need this certificate of good conduct for

• the examination of personal suitability according to § 72a Social Code VIII Child and Youth Welfare,
• other professional or voluntary supervision, care, education or training of minors or an activity that is similarly likely to involve contact with minors.

When applying in person at the municipality, you must present your passport or identity card and the written request asking you to submit an extended certificate of good conduct. The written request must confirm that the requirements of § 30a of the Federal Central Register Act for the issue of an extended certificate of good conduct are met. In the case of self-employed persons, the certificate of the person making the application is sufficient.

To apply electronically , you will need either an ID card or an electronic residence permit with an activated online ID function; in this case, the certificate required under Section 30a of the Federal Central Register Act must be uploaded.

An application by an authorized representative (e.g. lawyer) is not possible.

Application by authorities

Since May 1, 2010, authorities have also been able to apply for an extended certificate of good conduct for the purpose of protecting minors. The prerequisite for this is that the authorities require the certificate of good conduct to carry out their sovereign duties and that the request to the person concerned to submit a corresponding certificate of good conduct has been inappropriate or unsuccessful. It is always inappropriate to request the person concerned to submit an extended certificate of good conduct if a detrimental decision is intended for them and their cooperation cannot therefore be expected. In such cases, the requesting authority must grant the person concerned access to the certificate of good conduct on request. In all other cases, the cooperation of the person concerned is a mandatory prerequisite for applying for an extended certificate of good conduct.

Information on the content of extended certificates of good conduct can be found under "Further links".

• Completion of the 14th year of life
• written request to submit an extended certificate of good conduct or, in the case of self-employed persons, the certificate of the applicant

13,00 EUR

Exemption from fees: In the case of indigence (e.g. receipt of citizens' allowance, social assistance, supplementary child allowance in accordance with Section 6a of the Federal Child Benefit Act, BAföG or benefits in accordance with 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.

In the case of an electronic application, proof of the existence of a reason for the fee exemption must be provided electronically.

• § Sections 30, 30a and 31 of the Act on the Central Register and the Parental Register (Federal Central Register Act - BZRG)
• § Section 72a of the German Social Code (SGB) - Book Eight (VIII) - Child and Youth Welfare

  Personal suitability

• Information on certificates of good conduct - Federal Office of Justice
• Information on the extended certificate of good conduct - Federal Office of Justice
• Information on the ID card app
• Digital administration - online ID card

2-3 weeks