Germany’s Police Clearance Certificate in 2025: Updated Apostille and Certification Process

Germany is currently undergoing a digital transformation of public administration, aiming to reduce paperwork, shorten processing times and improve access to official services for both residents and individuals abroad.

As part of this initiative, the application and apostille process for Germany’s Police Clearance Certificates—officially known as Führungzeugnis—has changed notably, especially for international applicants.

This blog covers how to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Germany, and the changes for the apostille and final certification request in 2025.

What is Changing in 2025 for Germany’s Police Clearance Certificate?

As of December 2024, the procedure for obtaining a German Führungszeugnis and having it certified for international use has changed significantly. These updates impact how individuals abroad apply for and legalize the document for use in visa, employment or immigration matters.

For those who live abroad and need a police clearance for a visa or residence permit application in another country, these updates can cause delays or confusion.

Key changes include:

• Applications for apostilles/final certification must be submitted through a dedicated online portal managed by the Federal Office of Foreign Affairs (BfAA).
• Local offices such as Bürgeramt or Meldebehörde can no longer assist with forwarding documents for apostille or final certification.
• Applicants now receive a personalized application form and identification number, which must be printed and submitted with the clearance certificate.
• Payment must be completed online (no more cash-on-delivery), via the secure “ePayBL” system.

What is a Führungszeugnis (Police Clearance Certificate)?

A Führungszeugnis is an official German criminal background check, issued by the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz). It confirms whether an individual has a criminal record in Germany.

There are three main types:

• Private Certificate (Führungszeugnis für private Zwecke): issued directly to the applicant. Often required for employment, visa application or work and residence permit applications. Can be apostilled/legalized for international use.
• Official Certificate (Führungszeugnis zur Vorlage bei einer Behörde): sent directly to a German authority (e.g. employer, immigration authority or public institution). Usually, it is required for public service positions, naturalization purposes and not for international use.
• European Certificate (Europäisches Führungszeugnis): a special version for German residents with citizenship in another EU country. It includes entries from both the German criminal register and the applicant’s home EU country. This certificate can also be apostilled or legalized for use abroad. It typically takes longer to process, as it involves cooperation between national justice authorities in multiple EU countries.

Why the Apostille Process Matters for Police Clearance Certificates

Those applying for a visa, work permit or anyone who needs to prove their background outside Germany will often be required to submit a German Police Certificate with an apostille or final certification. These stamps authenticate the document for use abroad, especially in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

As of 2025:

• The apostille fee (€25) must be paid upfront via bank transfer.
• The processing time has improved—now taking about two weeks for apostille issuance and roughly four weeks in total for the entire process, including procurement of the Police Clearance Certificate.

New Final Certification and Apostille Requirements Explained

Unlike in the past, applicants must now:

• Handle separate communications with both the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) and BfAA.
• Manage timing and documentation independently, which can be complex if not fluent in German or unfamiliar with the system.

Who Needs a Certificate of Good Conduct from Germany?

Common scenarios include:

• Immigration and visa applicants needing background checks.
• Employees or contractors hired by multinational companies.
• Individuals applying for residence permits or naturalization abroad.

More Details: How to Request a German Police Clearance Certificate in 2025

Application for apostilles or final certification must now be submitted exclusively through a new online portal at the Federal Office of Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten- BfAA).

German authorities like Bürgeramt/Meldebehörde/Rathaus can no longer forward the request for apostille or final certification (Endbeglaubigung) to the relevant authority on your behalf.

Each applicant will receive their own application form per email and will be assigned a specific identification number. This form must be printed and submitted to the BfAA authority together with the Police Clearance Certificate. The application will be processed once the payment has been received.

Those applying from abroad must coordinate two separate authorities: the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz) and the Federal Office of Foreign Affairs (BfAA) at the correct time and with the correct documentation.

How Can Fragomen Help?

Fragomen provides comprehensive support throughout the process:

• End-to-end case management, including submission to the Federal Office of Justice and the Federal Office of Foreign Affairs.
• Authorized representation via power of attorney, eliminating the need for personal appearance.
• Accurate coordination of timelines, payment and documentation across multiple authorities.
• Predictable processing, typically within four weeks, supported by ongoing status updates.
• Centralized case oversight, minimizing the need for direct engagement with German agencies.

Fragomen helps ensure that individuals and organizations remain compliant and on schedule when managing police clearance documentation for use abroad. For tailored support, Fragomen’s team is available to assist.

Need to Know More?

For questions related to German immigration requirements, please contact Manager Maja Sugui at [email protected].

This blog was published on 13 June 2025, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.