If you are a German citizen, over 18 years old and applying for a German passport for the first time, you may need to declare your name first. If at the time of your birth your parents did not carry a joint married name according to German law, you must file a name declaration. Please note that you might have to file a name declaration even though your German passport was already issued to you in your preferred name. This is the case when the necessity of a name declaration was overlooked in the past.

In addition, since 1 May 2025, people of legal age can redefine their current birth name once in accordance with the new options through a name declaration.

Please contact us in advance using our contact form, so we can advise whether a name declaration is necessary or not.

What is my current name under German law?

Since the reform of naming law on 01.05.2025, the use of names is determined by the law of the country in which the person has their habitual residence. Still, a name that has already been acquired does not change.

If you possess a German birth certificate or a name certificate

In this case, your legal name is the one that appears on the German birth certificate or on the name certificate issued by the German Registrar’s Office, if you have not changed it.

If you don’t possess a German birth certificate or a name certificate

The name that appears on your German passport has to be your current name under German law. If you have never had a German birth certificate or name certificate, the following applies:

• If your parents were not married at the time of your birth

At birth, you automatically acquired the surname your mother was bearing at the time of your birth, as a rule.

If your mother changed her name after you were born, your parents got married after you were born and chose a joint married name, or your parents already submitted name declarations for you or minor siblings, the name specified might also apply to you. Please contact the Embassy first using our contact form (Link einfügen). We can then advise you whether a name declaration is necessary.

• If your parents were married at the time of your birth and have or had a joint married name

If your parents had a joint married name at the time of your birth, your birth name automatically is your parents’ married name. Under German law, the parents’ joint married name automatically extends to any children under 5 years old born in wedlock. If children are 5 years or older at the time of the declaration of the joint married name, a name declaration might be necessary.

If your parents declared a married name when marrying outside of Germany, please enquire with us first using our contact form (Link einfügen) as to whether it is recognised as a married name under German law. We will then advise you whether you need to file a name declaration before applying for a passport.

• If your parents were married at the time of your birth, but use different surnames

Under the German law in force until 1 May 2025, you may at first have no surname (or name at birth) until you submit a name declaration.

If, under German law, you had no surname prior to 1 May 2025, the Federal Foreign Office’s understanding is that the new law is applicable. This means that, when the new naming law came into force on 1 May 2025, you automatically acquired the surname that appears on your foreign (e.g. Irish) birth certificate. Other German authorities may take a different view, however. In such cases we advise that it is essential to retrospectively register the birth in order to obtain legal certainty and avoid problems with future passport applications. Detailed information on registering a birth can be found here.

Please note: A surname already acquired under German law will not change as a result of the new law.

Please contact us using our contact form before applying for a passport, if

• your parents opted for a joint married name retrospectively (after your birth)
• you lived in Germany for longer than one month as a minor and your name hasn’t yet been registered in German documents
• your parents submitted a name declaration for you or your siblings when you were still a minor, but you don’t have proof of that.

I wish to change my current surname. What options to I have?

Following the changes to German naming law, as of 1 May 2025 you have the one-off opportunity to choose a new birth name in line with the new options. The name declaration is binding and cannot be reversed. In addition to the declaration by the adult child, the consent of the parent whose name is to be adopted is also required.

German Law

The following options are available, among others, if you wish to choose a new birth name:

• Compound surname consisting of the surnames your parents were bearing at the time of your birth (either hyphenated or unhyphenated, but not more than two name components)
• Your parents’ married name, if you did not already acquire it
• Complete surname of your mother or father (at the time of your birth)
• Go from a compound surname to a single surname

On the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice you will find a FAQ with detailed information on the new options under German naming law (only available in German).

Foreign Law

Choosing foreign law is only an option if you hold another nationality in addition to German nationality.

Please submit proof that the desired name is possible under foreign law (e.g. if available, a passport or birth certificate issued by the country whose law you wish to choose).

Which 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 for the name declaration (not yet signed)
• the child’s birth certificate
• birth certificates of both parents
• valid passports or ID card of the child
• valid passports or ID card of both parents
• Proof of the German citizenship of the adult child, e.g. valid German passport or German ID card, certificate of naturalisation or certificate of nationality of the adult child or of a parent, German identity document of a parent (parent’s German passport or ID card valid at the time of the child’s birth)
• if applicable, marriage certificate of the parents
• if applicable, deregistration from Germany (“Abmeldebescheinigung”)
• proof of residence in Ireland (e.g. utility bill)
• if applicable, proof of change of your name or of one of your parent’s name
• if applicable, proof of joint custody
• 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 Registrar’s Office in Germany that was the last place of residency of the adult child is responsible for processing the declaration. If the child has never taken up residency in Germany, the Registrar’s Office I in Berlin is the appropriate office for processing the name declaration. 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.

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

9. A name declaration may also be necessary under certain circumstances if a passport has already been issued in the corresponding name, but the submission of a name declaration was omitted at the time.