First name - Change of name
Your way to the application
Find out about the possibility of changing your first name at your local registry office.
Apply now
Why should I specify a location?
With the help of the location information, we can display the information, forms and services suitable for you and your responsible office.
Which location should I specify?
For example, your place of residence if you want to apply for a passport or the company location if you want to register a business.
- Registration certificate and valid official photo ID (identity card, passport)
- Extract from the register of births (available at the registry office of the place of birth)
- in case of stateless persons: travel document or entry of the aliens' registration office in the passport or passport substitute
- in the case of homeless foreigners or persons entitled to asylum: entry of the foreigners authority in the passport or passport substitute
- for foreign refugees: Entry of the foreigners authority in the passport or passport replacement.
For further documents, please enquire in advance at the name change authority responsible for you.
Varies depending on the administrative effort and the federal state.
Note: If the change is successful, subsequent costs will be incurred as you will have to reapply for documents, such as your identity card or passport. If the application is rejected, a fee of 10 to 50 percent of the administrative fee will be incurred.
Simply explained
If you want to change your first name, there must be an important reason that justifies the name change. An important reason exists if the private interests of you as the bearer of the name, which are worthy of protection, in the change of name outweigh
- the public interest or
- a private interest of a third party in keeping your name.
Important reasons are, for example
- religious motives,
- if the name is a trigger for psychological problems (for example, by association)
- if there is a danger of confusion
- if the name sounds offensive or ridiculous and is awkward to pronounce or complicated to write, or
- after a gender reassignment.
Furthermore, your name must be subject to German law. This includes not only German nationals, but also persons entitled to asylum, foreign refugees and stateless persons.
A name change is not considered if you do not like your name, for example in the case of names of foreign origin. A name change is also not justified if you want to make identification by creditors more difficult.
In the case of children over the age of 1 and under the age of 16, you can only change the first name for serious reasons in the best interests of the child.
What requirements must be met?
- You have German citizenship.
- You are entitled to asylum, a foreign refugee, a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a quota refugee.
- There is an important or serious reason justifying the change of name.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Did you already know? More benefits for families
