First name - Changing the order of first names
Your way to the application
As a rule, the registry office of your place of residence is responsible.
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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.
- valid official photo ID (identity card, passport)
- for stateless persons: travel document or entry of the aliens' registration office in the passport or passport substitute
- for 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.
If you require any further documents, please contact the authority to which you are submitting the declaration in advance.
Varies depending on the federal state.
Note: If the change is successful, there will be subsequent costs, as you will have to reapply for documents such as your ID card or passport.
Simply explained
You can have the order of several first names changed since November 1, 2018, without giving reasons. The prerequisite for this is that your name is subject to German law. This includes not only German nationals, but also persons entitled to asylum, foreign refugees and stateless persons.
The only exception: in the case of first names with a hyphen, such as Hans-Peter, the order determined by the parents must be retained.
Note: If you would like to have your first name changed for important or serious reasons, this can only be done via a change of name under public law. Changing the spelling and adding or omitting first names is otherwise still not permitted in official documents.
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.
What else is important?
Frequently asked questions and answers
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