Formal Preparations of your Relocation

There are two ways of confirming the authenticity of a foreign public document: Apostille or Legalisation. The main difference is in who gives the confirmation and how fast.

Legalisation:
Traditionally, the confirmation of authenticity is given by a consular officer of the state in which the document is to be used, after it has passed through a confirmative chain of authorities, including those of the state that originally issued the document. This process can take several weeks or even months.

Apostille/ The Hague Apostille:
To simplify and speed up the traditional legalisation process, many countries have agreed on a treaty called the Hague Convention. If both states concerned with a document are party to this agreement and consider the document public and requiring legalisation, authenticity of the document can be confirmed by a designated Competent Authority of the state that originally issued the document. This makes it considerably easier and faster to obtain (in most cases, within only a day). For more information see the brochure The ABCs of Apostille.

Certification/ Authentication – “Beglaubigung”

… certifies merely that an original document and its copy are complete and identical or that a signature on a document was made in the presence of an officer. Usually the entity that issued a document will be competent to authenticate its copy or signature. For example, copies of documents (e.g. degrees) issued by TU Dresden can be authenticated by designated university staff, whilst most other public documents need to be authenticated by officers of a local Citizens’ office – Bürgerbüro. Civil status documents, such as birth certificates can only be authenticated by the Civil Registrar’s Office which issued the original document.

Notarisation – “Notarielle Beurkundung”

… is a special notarial act which certifies that certain persons have signed a document in the notary’s presence and were previously informed of its contents. The laws of each country specify exactly when this form of authentication is required.

Legislation (of a foreign document for use in Germany)
The German embassy or consulate in the country where the original documents were issued

Apostille (for a foreign document for use in Germany)
The designated compentent authority for any public documents issued in your country or region. Read here how to get an Apostille and find a list of competent authorities by country.

Apostille (for a German/Saxon degree certificate for use in another country)
The State Directorate of Saxony – Landesdirektion Sachsen is the competent authority according to the Hague Convention which may issue an Apostille for degree certificates (e.g. a doctorate degree) obtained in Saxony. For one-sided originals, the Apostille will be attached directly to the back of the original document. For two-sided originals, a certified one-sided copy needs to be obtained first from the university that issued the degree before an Apostille can be made out for it.

Authentication

Directorate 8 – Dezernat 8
For any documents issued by TU Dresden less than 2 years ago

TUD Archives
For any documents issued by TU Dresden longer than 2 years ago

Local Citizen’s Office – Bürgerbüro
For any public documents (with the exception of civil status documents)

Civil Registrar’s Office – Standesamt, Urkundenstelle
For a civil status document issued in Dresden or to have a civil status document issued for the first time (e.g. a birth certificate for a Dresden-born child) either visit in person or use their online application form

Notarisation
For a notarisation – notarielle Beurkundung, contact a notary within your jurisdiction

Authorized translators and interpreters (under oath)

Official German database of authorised translators and interpreters
in cooperation of the Federal Ministry of Justice and competent regional courts/authorities

Saxon database of authorised translators and interpreters
by Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer (BDÜ) Landesverband Sachsen e.V. – Saxon Association of the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators

Interpreters for everyday life

Dresden Community Interpreters Service
a volunteer organization – if need be, send them a request with the date, time, place and language(s) required