Photocopies can be certified at the Embassy, if the original document is presented with the corresponding copies.

Please note that the certification is only for use with German authorities. The certification does not make any statement about the content or authenticity and validity of the document.

Necessary Documents:

• The original document or certified copy
• The fee for certification of a photocopy depends on the location. More information can be found here. Fees are payable in BHD only and also depend on the number of copies to be certified. In order to book an appointment please visit the following link:

Book an appointment

The German Embassy can issue different kinds of consular certificates e. g.

• German Pensions (Please note that the the Embassy cannot offer advisory services in pension matters!) “life certificates”
• Consular certificate for cancellations of blocked accounts

Please contact us for more information by email: visa@manam.diplo.de

In order to book an appointment please visit the following link:

Book an appointment

With the signature authentication, the Consular Officer confirms that the named individual signed the document in front of them. The signature must be done in person in front of the appropriate Consular Officer or must be recognized by him. The individual will not be instructed on the legal meaning of the document to be signed.

In many cases, in order for the document to be legally binding, authenticating the signature suffices.

To give you some examples:

• Declaration of Consent, respectively authorizing a Power of Attorney (“Genehmigungserklärung” or “Vollmachtsbestätigung”): someone signed on your behalf a contract or declaration without having received the power of attorney from you. You are now asked to authorize this declaration retroactively, so that the contract will be legally binding.
• Simple Power Of Attorney (“Vollmacht”): power of attorney for which the individual gives a lesser authorization, e.g. power of attorney for a single legal transaction that can be revoked , e.g. simple inheritance declarations
• Entries in the trade register
• Requesting a certificate of good conduct
• Declaration for renouncing an inheritance

The following notarizations are excluded: full power of attorney (Generalvollmacht), health care proxy (Vorsorgevollmacht), living will (Patientenverfügung) – as a rule, these documents must be notarized.

To have your signature certified, please present the following documents:

• the document that has to be signed (the German Embassy cannot draft this document on your behalf)
• for declarations of consent also the contract that has already been signed: for power of attorneys: proof of the value of the legal transaction
• a valid official photo-ID
• if you are not acting on your own behalf, but on behalf of e.g. a company, a ward, etc., please bring a document (original or certified copy) stating your power of attorney for the company / individual, etc.

Fees

The fee for authentication of a signature is dependent on the purpose of the authentication as well as the value of the matter, and can vary between 20 and 250 euros, payable in BHD.

​​​​​​​Appointment

This kind of service requires throughout preparation. Therefore, an appointment has to be booked separately and NOT via the online booking system. Instead contact the Embassy by email info@manam.diplo.de.

In States which are party to the Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents of 5 October 1961 public documents no longer need to be legalized. All that is required for these documents is the so-called “Hague apostille”. This Convention applies to all public documents (i.e. marriage and birth certificates, university degrees etc.) with the exception of documents executed by consular officers and documents issued by administrative authorities, which relate directly to commerce or customs.

The “Hague apostille” confirms the authenticity of a public document, the original of which must be submitted to the designated authority. The “Hague apostille” is issued by designated authorities of the state which issued the document.

For German documents, the “Hague apostille” is issued by the designated German authorities.

In the Kingdom of Bahrain in general the Apostille for Bahraini public documents (e.g. birth or marriage certificates) is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In the Federal Republic of Germany, all police records are filed at the Federal Central Criminal Register, the so-called “Bundeszentralregister” (BZR).

If you wish to apply for a certificate of conduct (“Führungszeugnis”), please read the information and download the application form on the website of the Federal Office of Justice.

Please note that your signature on the application must be authenticated. Therefore, an appointment has to be booked separately and NOT via the online booking system. Instead contact the Embassy by email info@manam.diplo.de.