Apostilles and certified commercial register extracts for use abroad

To use a German extract abroad, you will often need an apostille or final authentication. We obtain both directly from the competent local and regional courts and deliver the fully certified document to you.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is an international form of authentication under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. It confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and, where applicable, the seal on a public document, such as a current commercial register extract. An apostille replaces legalisation only where the Convention applies between Germany and the destination country; accession subject to a German objection is not sufficient.

Certified extracts for use abroad

A standard PDF extract is often insufficient for authorities, banks, notaries and courts abroad. You need an extract from the competent register court that is officially certified — with an apostille or preliminary certification, BfAA final authentication and consular legalisation, depending on the confirmed procedure for the destination country.

Final authentication explained

The regional court can provide preliminary certification of judicial documents. Where required, subsequent final authentication is carried out by the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs (BfAA) before consular legalisation. It is not a general prerequisite for an apostille.

German judicial documents: preliminary certification and, where required, BfAA final authentication before consular legalisation. Observed 10 October 2026: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Cambodia, Qatar, Laos, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Togo. Lebanon: school/training certificates only. UAE: separately confirm classification because of the commercial-document exception. Taiwan: judicial documents only; Iran: excluding university certificates. China, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia: apostille procedure in relation to Germany. Bangladesh: Germany has objected to accession. Obtain confirmation from the receiving authority; no blanket guarantee of procedure or acceptance.

Which countries accept apostilles?

More than 120 countries worldwide are parties to the Hague Convention and accept apostilles as sufficient authentication. Common destinations in our work include:

• Europe: France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Poland
• North America: USA, Mexico
• Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia
• Asia: Japan, South Korea, India (since 2005), Hong Kong
• Middle East: Israel, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates (since 2025)
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

If the Apostille Convention does not apply in relation to Germany, the procedure must be clarified with the competent foreign diplomatic mission and the receiving authority.

Uses

• Setting up a subsidiary or branch abroad
• Opening accounts with foreign banks
• Notarial certification outside Germany
• International tenders and contracts
• Visa applications, residence permits and business registration abroad
• Submission to foreign tax authorities and ministries of economic affairs

Which documents do you receive?

• Certified commercial register extract — bearing the register court’s seal
• Preliminary certification / BfAA final authentication where required – only in accordance with the confirmed destination-country procedure
• apostille — international authentication under the Hague Convention for contracting states
• Translation on request (e.g. English, French, Spanish)

Apostille processing time

Processing involves several stages, with each authority having its own processing time:

PDF extracts: usually within 1–15 minutes after acceptance of the complete order during our service hours (Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00, Saturday 09:00–15:00, German local time). Outside these hours, processing starts in the next service period. Without a valid request for early performance, processing starts no earlier than the end of the withdrawal period. We confirm the processing start when accepting your order. Official certification: usually 2–4 weeks; apostilles: usually 6 weeks, in each case after acceptance of the complete documents. Postal transit time is additional. Legalisation: processing time on request. Availability and processing by public authorities may delay delivery; these are estimates, not guaranteed deadlines.