Since 1 November 2018 it has been possible to change the order of your forenames once from that which was specified by your parents when they registered your birth. Please be aware that it is still not possible to change the spelling of your forenames, add new forenames or drop forenames.

To change the order of your forenames, a declaration by the bearer of the name is required, which must be submitted to the responsible Registrar’s Office. The name declaration will only come into effect once it has been received by the relevant registrar’s office in Germany. After being legally reviewed by the registrar, he issues a certificate of the new name.

Where to submit the application?

The Registrar’s Office in Germany that registered your birth is responsible for processing the declaration. If the birth has never been registered in a German birth register, the Registrar’s Office that registered your marriage or your same-sex partnership is competent. In case no competent jurisdiction follows from the above, the Registrar’s Office in whose jurisdiction you have or last had your place of residence or habitual abode is responsible. If there is still no jurisdiction, the Registrar’s Office I in Berlin is responsible.

What documents do I need to submit the name declaration?

Normally, the following original documents are required to submit the name declaration:

• the completed application form (not yet signed)
• your birth certificate
• your valid German passport or ID card
• if applicable, your marriage certificate
• if applicable, deregistration from Germany (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) or an up-to-date registration certificate from your (last) German place of residence, if applicable
• proof of residence in Ireland (e.g. household utility bill)
• any other relevant documents, e.g. regarding name changes, changes in the civil status of the person (e.g. married, divorced, etc), or changes in citizenship

Please print out the declaration form and complete it carefully. Do not use block capital letters because this could result in deviated spelling.

Documents that are not in German or English should be submitted with a certified translation into German. Documents issued outside the EU should be submitted with an apostille or legalisation (if possible).

During your appointment, certified copies of the originals will be made for forwarding them to the Registrar’s Office (for a fee). The originals will be returned to you immediately.

Please note that the responsible Registrar’s Office may request additional documents at a later date.

Procedure, Costs and Duration - Important Information

1. To submit the name declaration, you must be present in person at the appointment in the Embassy Dublin, as your signature on the name declaration must be authenticated.

2. Please bring the originals of all required documents with you. The originals will be returned to you immediately.

3. Documents that are not written in German or English must be accompanied by a certified translation into German. However, the Registrar’s Office may also request a translation for English-language documents in individual cases. Occasionally, apostilles or legalisation are also requested for foreign documents.

4. The Embassy in Dublin forwards the declarations and documents you have submitted to the relevant Registrar’s Office in Germany, which can issue a certificate confirming your new name. For the name certificate the Registrar’s Office will charge an additional fee.

5. Data protection information regarding the processing of your personal data can be found here.

6. The fee charged by the Embassy Dublin for the authentication of signatures on the name declaration form is approx. 85,- Euros. In addition, there is a fee of approx. 31,- Euros for the legislation of the copies that must be provided to the Registrar’s office. Please note that the Registrar’s Office will later charge an additional fee. This fee is determined individually by the respective Registrar’s Office.

7. Processing times for name declarations vary depending on the Registrar’s Office. The German Embassy in Dublin has no influence on processing times and cannot give any estimates.

8. The declaration only becomes effective upon receipt by the competent Registrar’s Office and is subject to a further comprehensive legal review there.