General information

On June 21, 2024, the law governing self-determination in terms of the gender marker (“SBGG”) was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette. The law makes it easier for trans, intersex and non-binary people with German citizenship or habitual residence in Germany to have their gender marker and first names changed in documents.

The law came into full effect on November 1, 2024. Pre-registration to make the declaration began on August 1, 2024.

The Self-Determination Act replaces the transsexual act of 1980. The gender marker and first name can be changed through a simple declaration instead of a judicial ruling. The simple declaration needs to be sent to the appropriate registry office (Standesamt) in Germany. The declaration can be reversed no earlier than one year after the declaration was made (exceptions apply to minors).

The declaration comes into effect when it is received by the German registry office. It is not possible to make another declaration under the Self-Determination Act until one year has elapsed.

Pre-registering the declaration

The declaration to change your gender marker and first name must be pre-registered with the competent registry office in Germany at least three months before you can make the declaration. The competent registry office is the one where your birth or marriage was registered. If you are not recorded in any German civil status registry, the registry office located in your last place of habitual residence in Germany is the competent one for your case. If you are not currently registered and have never lived in Germany before, the registry office in Berlin (Standesamt I) is the competent office for your declaration.

There are no formal requirements to pre-register the declaration and this can be done verbally or in written form. If you wish to use a template, please refer to the document at the end of this article (in German only). For minors guardians must also be included in the pre-registration process.

Submitting the declaration

Once you have received confirmation of pre-registration you can book an appointment at your German mission abroad which will certify your declaration and forward it to to the German registry office. The declaration must reach the German registry office within six months of registration, otherwise the registration expires. The forenames to be used in future are to be specified along with the declaration regarding the change of gender marker. The forenames must match the chosen gender marker.

The declaration comes into effect when it is received by the German registry office. The registry office will, on request, issue you a certificate pursuant to Section 46 of Civil Status Act about your changed gender marker and first name. You cannot be issued a new passport with the gender and name change until after this certificate has been submitted. We therefore strongly urge you to obtain the certificate.

If you are not yet recorded in a German civil status registry, we encourage you also to apply for the registration of your birth in order to obtain a German birth certificate. Further information about birth registration can be found on our website under Birth registration.

It is not possible to make another declaration under the Self-Determination Act until one year has elapsed. For minors guardians also must be included in the declaration process.

Booking an appointment

The German Embassy will certify your signature on the declaration and forward the declaration and other documents to the competent registry office. For this you require an appointment between three and five months from the pre-registration.

Please contact the Embassy using the Contact Form under “Name declarations” in order to request an appointment.

You will need to bring to the appointment:

• your passport or identity card

• confirmation from the registry office showing the date of pre-registration

• German birth certificate if available or foreign birth certificate (if applicable with apostille/legalization and translation)

• German marriage certificate if applicable

• deregistration form - ony in case you are not recorded in a German civil status registry but were registered as a resident in Germany

• fee for the signature certification can be paid in cash or with credit card (Master-/ Visa card). We cannot accept Maestro- or American Express cards. Payment with mobile phone, smart watch or through an online payment provider is not possible. For security reasons, mobile phones have to be switched off before entering the premises and locked into our onsite storage lockers.

For more information from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth on the website: Selbstbestimmungsgesetz.