23 Belgrave Square

London, SW1X 8PZ

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire

Responsible mission: Consulate General Edinburgh

A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls PDF / 585 KB

East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire und Nottinghamshire, Nottingham

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior apppointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls

Northern Ireland

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

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A prior appointment is necessary.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

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A prior appointment is mandatory.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls

Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Swansea, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, Monmouthshire, Breconshire/Powys, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

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A prior appointment is recommended.

All enquiries either by e-mail or telephone (strictly Mon-Fri 10.00-16.00 hrs).

Appointments for passports by telephone only! Visa enquiries in London only (see visa pages).

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Undertaking German Public Notarisations

Passport application with Honorary Consuls PDF / 585 KB

West Midlands

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is required.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

Please note that the Honorary Consul can not advise on passport or visa issues. Please contact the Embassy in London directly regarging such queries.

Counties Essex, Kent, East- and West-Sussex

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is recommended.

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Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

More information from the Honorary Consul for Dover, Mr John Ryeland:

Dear readers,

From time to time I am asked what administrative acts are undertaken in my capacity as Honorary Consul for Germany in Dover within my consular district, which includes the counties of Essex, Kent, East- and West Sussex.

Firstly, some background. The Federal Republic of Germany relies on a network of over 300 Honorary Consuls worldwide, 17 of whom serve in the United Kingdom. Honorary Consuls are volunteers who do not have to be German citizens. Honorary consuls do not receive a salary for their services and may combine their official role with private activities. Aiming primarily at securing the interests of Germany and its citizens in the United Kingdom/Channel Islands and fostering the relations between Germany and the United Kingdom/Channel Islands, Honorary Consuls support and complement the work of the German Embassy in London (and the Consulate General in Edinburgh) in a broad way. They are responsible for consular duties, cultural cooperation, promotion of trade and commerce, as well as building a positive and modern image of Germany abroad.

The following list sets out my principal consular activities:

Passport and visa applications

It is NOT possible to apply for a German passport or visa from my Dover office. Applications should be directed to the Embassy in London, as detailed in the relevant section of this website.

Certifications

The Honorary Consul can certify signatures on a document for its intended use in Germany or on applications for certificates of Good Conduct (i.e. no criminal convictions). The consular fee is fixed at Euro 20.00 (to be paid in British Pounds)

When certifying signatures for powers of attorney and declarations of ratification in connection with the purchase or sale of property in Germany the consular fee is calculated by reference to a statutory fee table, by reference to the value of the underlying legal transaction.

The consular fee for certifying the authenticity of copies (as compared against original documents) is fixed at Euro 10.00 for up to 10 pages (to be paid in British Pounds)

Name Declarations

Due to its complexity, the completion of the form for a name declaration is undertaken by the Embassy in London; nevertheless, all signatures and copies of all original supporting documents can be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is EURO 25.00 for certifying the signature and EURO 10.00 for certifying copies of up to 10 pages.

For all questions related to Name Declarations please click here

Pension matters

Recipients of a public pension from Germany must normally produce an annual life certificate to the pension provider. The signature of the pension recipient on the relevant form can be certified by the Honorary Consul, free of charge.

Renunciations of Inheritance

From time to time heirs wish to renounce their inheritance in relation to German estates. As a general rule, the heirs can declare their renouncement to the competent German probate court within six weeks after being informed about the death and their entitlement as heirs. The deadline is six months in case either the heir stayed outside of Germany (irrespective of his/her actual residence) at the time of death or if the deceased had his sole residence outside of Germany. All signatures on the relevant form must be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is EURO 20.00

After certification of the signature, the form has to be sent to the competent probate court (Nachlassgericht) in Germany. In case the heir has children, the right of inheritance would usually pass on to them under intestacy rules and they would have to sign a separate renouncement form. In case of children who are underage, their legal representative(s) (i.e. usually both parents) will have to sign. In some cases the approval by the family court is necessary to renounce for children. The family court’s approval has to be submitted to the competent court of probate within the above mentioned deadline. The family court’s approval is not necessary in cases when the minor becomes an heir where the parent, who legally represents the minor, has renounced the inheritance.

The Honorary Consul unfortunately cannot offer legal advice regarding inheritance matters including the legal consequences and validity regarding a renouncement. You are therefore kindly asked to check with the German court directly whether the form has been received and accepted within the deadline. If necessary you may wish to avail yourself of a lawyer for detailed legal advice and further assistance.

If you require an appointment with the Honorary Consul please apply by email, telephone or post.

Honorary Consul Ryeland looks forward to your visit.

City and port of Glasgow

Responsible mission: Consulate General Edinburgh

A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

York, Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Sheffield, Rotherham, Manchester, Districts: Selby of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is required.

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Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls

More information from the Honorary Consul for Leeds and Manchester, Mr Mark Green:

Dear readers,

From time to time I am asked what administrative acts are undertaken in my capacity as Honorary Consul for Germany within my district, which includes the conurbations of both Leeds and Manchester.

Firstly, some background. The Federal Republic of Germany relies on a network of over 300 Honorary Consuls worldwide, 17 of whom serve in the United Kingdom. Honorary Consuls are volunteers who do not have to be German citizens. Honorary consuls do not receive a salary for their services and may combine their official role with private activities. Aiming primarily at securing the interests of Germany and its citizens in the United Kingdom and fostering the relations between Germany and the United Kingdom, Honorary Consuls support and complement the work of the German Embassy in London and the Consulate General in Edinburgh in a broad way. They are responsible for consular duties, cultural cooperation, promotion of trade and commerce, as well as building a positive and modern image of Germany abroad.

Please note that I am not able to take in/ process visa applications. For all visa related questions please contact the German Embassy in London.

The following list sets out my principal consular activities:

Passport applications

It is possible to apply for a German passport in my office.

Passport applications are dealt with strictly by prior appointment. Please note that, due to the high number of enquiries, appointments might sometimes be given for a date that is up to two months after the date of request.

The applicable fees, including an additional consular fee for applications processed in my district, have to be paid in British Pounds. As they depend on various circumstances (e.g. type of passport, age of applicant) they will be determined upon request or once an application has been filed.

During the appointment, all copy documents produced by the applicant are compared against all the original documents brought by the applicant and then certified. All relevant personal data is taken digitally, including finger prints and a facial photograph, which are then promptly forwarded to the Embassy in London. Normally, a new passport is issued in Germany within 9 weeks. The time needed for processing applications depends entirely upon the German authorities and cannot in any circumstances be influenced by the Honorary Consul or the German Embassy in London. Following receipt by the Embassy, new passports are then forwarded directly to applicants by special delivery post.

Certifications

The Honorary Consul can certify signatures on a document for its intended use in Germany or on applications for certificates of Good Conduct (i.e. no criminal convictions). The consular fee is fixed at Euro 20.00 (to be paid in British Pounds)

When certifying signatures for powers of attorney and declarations of ratification in connection with the purchase or sale of property in Germany the consular fee is calculated by reference to a statutory fee table, based upon the value of the underlying legal transaction.

The consular fee for certifying the authenticity of copies (as compared against original documents) is fixed at Euro 10.00 for up to 10 pages (to be paid in British Pounds)

Name Declarations

Due to its complexity, the completion of the form for a name declaration is undertaken by the Embassy in London; nevertheless, all signatures and copies of all original supporting documents can be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is Euro 25.00 for certifying the signature and Euro 10.00 for certifying copies of up to 10 pages.

For all questions related to Name Declarations please click here.

Pension matters

Recipients of a public pension from Germany must normally produce an annual life certificate to the pension provider. The signature of the pension recipient on the relevant form can be certified by the Honorary Consul, free of charge.

Renunciations of Inheritance

From time to time heirs wish to renounce their inheritance in relation to German estates. As a general rule, the heirs can declare their renouncement to the competent German probate court within six weeks after being informed about the death and their entitlement as heirs. The deadline is six months in case either the heir stayed outside of Germany (irrespective of his/her actual residence) at the time of death or if the deceased had his sole residence outside of Germany. All signatures on the relevant form must be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is Euro 20.00

After certification of the signature, the form has to be sent to the competent probate court (Nachlassgericht) in Germany. In case the heir has children, the right of inheritance would usually pass on to them under intestacy rules and they would have to sign a separate renouncement form. In case of children who are underage, their legal representative(s) (i.e. usually both parents) will have to sign. In some cases the approval by the family court is necessary to renounce for children. The family court’s approval has to be submitted to the competent court of probate within the above mentioned deadline. The family court’s approval is not necessary in cases when the minor becomes an heir where the parent, who legally represents the minor, has renounced the inheritance.

The Honorary Consul unfortunately cannot offer legal advice regarding inheritance matters including the legal consequences and validity regarding a renouncement. You are therefore kindly asked to check with the German court directly whether the form has been received and accepted within the deadline. If necessary you may wish to avail yourself of a lawyer for detailed legal advice and further assistance.

If you require an appointment with the Honorary Consul please apply by email, telephone or post to the consular assistant as follows:

Please contact the Honorary Consul by one of the following means:

email: leeds@hk-diplo.de

phone: 01535 656 525 (Wed-Fri: 10am-4pm)

Please contact us by email whenever possible.

Honorary Consul Green and consular assistant Mageean look forward to your visit.

Shetland Islands

Responsible Mission: Consulate General Edinburgh

A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

5th Floor Hanover House, Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Cheshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Man, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham, independent districts Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls

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A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services (also for residents from Teesside and North Yorkshire):

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls PDF / 585 KB

More information from the Honorary Consul for Newcastle upon Tyne, Mrs Manuela Wendler:

Dear readers,

From time to time I am asked what administrative acts are undertaken in my capacity as Honorary Consul for Germany within my district for biometric passport applications.

Firstly, some background. The Federal Republic of Germany relies on a network of over 300 Honorary Consuls worldwide, 17 of whom serve in the United Kingdom. Honorary Consuls are volunteers who do not have to be German citizens. Honorary consuls do not receive a salary for their services and may combine their official role with private activities. Aiming primarily at securing the interests of Germany and its citizens in the United Kingdom and fostering the relations between Germany and the United Kingdom, Honorary Consuls support and complement the work of the German Embassy in London and the Consulate General in Edinburgh in a broad way. They are responsible for consular duties, cultural cooperation, promotion of trade and commerce, as well as building a positive and modern image of Germany abroad.

The following list sets out my principal consular activities:

Passport applications

It is possible to apply for a German passport in my Newcastle office.

Passport applications are dealt with in Newcastle generally on Thursdays, strictly by prior appointment. Please note that, due to the high number of enquiries, appointments might sometimes not be available for several weeks after the date of request.

The applicable fees, including an additional consular fee for applications processed in Newcastle, have to be paid in British Pounds. As they depend on various circumstances (e.g. type of passport, age of applicant) they will be determined upon request or once an application has been filed.

During the appointment, all copy documents produced by the applicant are compared against all the original documents brought by the applicant or copies are taken at the appointment and then certified. All relevant personal data is taken digitally, including finger prints and a facial photograph, and forwarded to the German Consulate General in Edinburgh within 24 hours. A photographer is usually available to take the German specification photograph at the time of the appointment – cost £10. Normally, a new passport is issued in Germany within 6/7 weeks. The time needed for processing applications depends entirely upon the German authorities and cannot in any circumstances be influenced by the Honorary Consul or the German Consulate General in Edinburgh. Following receipt by the Consulate General, new passports are then forwarded directly to applicants by special delivery post.

Certifications

The Honorary Consul can certify signatures on a document for its intended use in Germany or on applications for Certificates of Good Conduct (i.e. no criminal convictions). The consular fee is fixed at Euro 20.00 (to be paid in British Pounds)

When certifying signatures for powers of attorney and declarations of ratification in connection with the purchase or sale of property in Germany the consular fee is calculated by reference to a statutory fee table, by reference to the value of the underlying legal transaction.

The consular fee for certifying the authenticity of copies (as compared against original documents) is fixed at Euro 10.00 for up to 10 pages (to be paid in British Pounds).

Name Declarations

Applications regarding name declarations (birth, marriage, divorce) can be undertaken by the Honorary Consul in Newcastle, including certification of all signatures and copies of all original supporting documents, unless the matter is of extreme complexity. The current consular fee is EURO 25.00 for certifying the signature and EURO 10.00 for certifying copies of up to 10 pages.

For all questions related to Name Declarations, please click here

Pension matters

Recipients of a public pension from Germany must normally produce an annual life certificate to the pension provider. The signature of the pension recipient on the relevant form can be certified by the Honorary Consul, free of charge.

Renunciations of Inheritance

From time to time heirs wish to renounce their inheritance in relation to German estates. As a general rule, the heirs can declare their renouncement to the competent German probate court within six weeks after being informed about the death and their entitlement as heirs. The deadline is six months in case either the heir stayed outside of Germany (irrespective of his/her actual residence) at the time of death or if the deceased had his sole residence outside of Germany. All signatures on the relevant form must be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is EURO 20.00

After certification of the signature, the form has to be sent to the competent probate court (Nachlassgericht) in Germany. In case the heir has children, the right of inheritance would usually pass on to them under intestacy rules and they would have to sign a separate renouncement form. In case of children who are underage, their legal representative(s) (i.e. usually both parents) will have to sign. In some cases the approval by the family court is necessary to renounce for children. The family court’s approval has to be submitted to the competent court of probate within the above mentioned deadline. The family court’s approval is not necessary in cases when the minor becomes an heir where the parent, who legally represents the minor, has renounced the inheritance.

The Honorary Consul unfortunately cannot offer legal advice regarding inheritance matters including the legal consequences and validity regarding a renouncement. You are therefore kindly asked to check with the German court directly whether the form has been received and accepted within the deadline. If necessary you may wish to avail yourself of a lawyer for detailed legal advice and further assistance.

Visas

Visa applications are not dealt with in Newcastle. Applicants should apply through the Consulate General in Edinburgh.

If you require an appointment with the Honorary Consul please apply by email, telephone or post to the consular assistant as follows:

German Honorary Consul: Mrs. Manuela Wendler

Address: c/o German Consular Office, Registrar’s Entrance, Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8PS; Tel: 079 5403 4744;

Email: newcastle-upon-tyne@hk-diplo.de

Honorary Consul Wendler looks forward to your visit.

Devon and Cornwall

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

Passport application with Honorary Consuls

Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Wiltshire

Responsible mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is recommended.

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Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of biometric passports

More information from the Honorary Consul for Southampton, Mr Richard Cutler:

I am very proud to serve as the Honorary Consul for the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset and Wiltshire area, and have been in post since 2012. I was lucky to succeed a very well-respected and experienced Honorary Consul in Mr Roger Thornton, who fulfilled the role with grace and expertise for 37 years!

My appointments take place on Mondays and Fridays at the Totton & Eling Tennis Centre, which is the home of my business, Serving Tennis. As Honorary Consuls generally fulfil other employment alongside their role for the Federal Republic of Germany, appointments normally take place at the individual’s place of work. The role of Honorary Consul is essentially a voluntary position, and therefore duties often fit in alongside day-to-day work. The Federal Republic of Germany relies on a network of more than 300 Honorary Consuls worldwide, 17 of whom serve in the United Kingdom. Honorary Consuls do not necessarily need to be German citizens.

I often get asked about my own background and how I came to be an Honorary Consul. As a very brief summary, I studied German / Business Administration at Aston University, and then worked in Germany for a number of years as a contract manager in the logistics industry. This time took me primarily to Hamburg and Offenau (Stuttgart) and was a fascinating and immersing experience. My lifelong love has always been tennis, so when the opportunity came along to create a business in community tennis development, it did not take much thinking about! Although this meant that I did not have many opportunities to use my German language, I maintained links with the country through organisations such as the Southampton Anglo-German Society, Totton & Eling Twinning Association and British German Association. By 2012, as my business had become established and I had a little more time, I was therefore looking for a role that would allow me to both build on my links with Germany, and give me the opportunity to use my language. The Honorary Consul vacancy was therefore perfectly timed!

Please note that I am not able to take in/ process visa applications. For all visa related questions please contact the German Embassy in London.

The following list sets out my principal consular activities:

Passport applications

It is possible to apply for a German passport at my Southampton office. Unfortunately I cannot accept ID card applications.

The applicable fees, including an additional consular fee for applications processed in Southampton, have to be paid in British Pounds. As they depend on various circumstances (e.g. type of passport, age of applicant) they will be determined upon request or once an application has been filed. Please note that the passport fees payable to the Embassy in London must be made via Postal Order. The additional consular fee for applications processed in Southampton is payable in cash.

During the appointment, all original documents brought by the applicant are copied and then certified. All relevant biometric data is taken digitally, including finger prints and a facial photograph, and forwarded together with the paperwork to the Embassy in London within 24 working hours.

A new passport is issued in Germany within 4-6 weeks for a standard application, or 2-4 weeks for an express. The time needed for processing applications depends entirely upon the German authorities and cannot in any circumstances be influenced by the Honorary Consul or the German Embassy in London. Following receipt by the Embassy, new passports are then forwarded directly to applicant by Special Delivery post.

Certifications

The Honorary Consul can certify signatures on a document for its intended use in Germany or on applications for Certificates of Good Conduct (i.e. no criminal convictions). The consular fee is fixed at Euro 20.00 (or the comparable amount in British Pounds).

When certifying signatures for powers of attorney and declarations of ratification in connection with the purchase or sale of property in Germany, the consular fee is calculated by reference to a statutory fee table, related to the value of the underlying legal transaction.

The consular fee for certifying the authenticity of copies, as compared against original documents, is fixed at Euro 10.00 for up to 10 pages (or the comparable amount in British Pounds).

Name Declarations

Due to its complexity, the completion of the form for a name declaration is undertaken by the Embassy in London; nevertheless, all signatures and copies of all original supporting documents can be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is Euro 25.00 for certifying the signature and Euro 10.00 for certifying copies of up to 10 pages.

For all initial questions related to Name Declarations, and to organise preparation of the document, please refer to the information provided on the Homepage of the German Embassy.

Pension matters

Recipients of a public pension from Germany must normally produce an annual life certificate to the pension provider. The signature of the pension recipient on the relevant form can be certified by the Honorary Consul, free of charge.

Renunciations of Inheritance

From time to time heirs wish to renounce their inheritance in relation to German estates. As a general rule, the heirs can declare their renouncement to the competent German probate court within six weeks after being informed about the death and their entitlement as heirs. The deadline is six months in case either the heir stayed outside of Germany (irrespective of his / her actual residence) at the time of death or if the deceased had his sole residence outside of Germany. All signatures on the relevant form must be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is Euro 20.00

After certification of the signature, the form has to be sent to the competent probate court (Nachlassgericht) in Germany. In case the heir has children, the right of inheritance would usually pass on to them under intestacy rules and they would have to sign a separate renouncement form. In case of children who are underage, their legal representative(s) (i.e. usually both parents) will have to sign. In some cases the approval by the family court is necessary to renounce for children. The family court’s approval has to be submitted to the competent court of probate within the above mentioned deadline. The family court’s approval is not necessary in cases when the minor becomes an heir where the parent, who legally represents the minor, has renounced the inheritance.

The Honorary Consul unfortunately cannot offer legal advice regarding inheritance matters including the legal consequences and validity regarding a renouncement. You are therefore kindly asked to check with the German court directly whether the form has been received and accepted within the deadline. If necessary you may wish to avail yourself of a lawyer for detailed legal advice and further assistance.

If you require an appointment with the Honorary Consul please apply as follows:

Appointments are available, strictly by prior appointment, on Mondays and Fridays, although not necessarily both every week. For shorter appointments (for example signature/ photocopy authentications), appointments are usually available in 1-2 weeks. For passport applications the current waiting time is around 2-3 weeks. For emergencies, I will always do my best to find the earliest possible appointment.

In the first instance, please send an email to southampton@hk-diplo.de containing full details of your enquiry, and including your full name and contact telephone number. I will attempt to reply to all enquiries (or call back) within 2-3 working days, and often on the same day.

If you need to speak to me personally, please telephone 023 8155 0065. Please note that due to other work commitments, it is often difficult for me to take consular phone calls, and therefore an email will result in the quickest possible response.

N.B.Please be aware that my email responses sometimes fall into Spam/ Junk folders (especially with Gmail). Please check these folders regularly, and if affected, mark the reply as “Not Spam”. It also helps to add to your address book/ contacts.

Honorary Consul Richard Cutler is looking forward to your visit!

Jersey (Bailiwick of Jersey)

Responsible Mission: German Embassy London

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A prior appointment is recommended.

Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of emergency travel documents

55 Le Bordage, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1BP

Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, (Bailiwick of Guernsey)

Responsible Mission: German Embassy London

A prior appointment is recommended.

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Consular services:

authentication of signatures in matters relating to civil status/ civil law

authentication of signatures in pension matters (life certificates)

authentication of copies

applications for the issue of emergency travel documents

More information from the Honorary Consul for St Peter Port, Mr Christopher Nicholas Betley:

Dear readers,

From time to time I am asked what administrative acts are undertaken in my capacity as Honorary Consul for Germany within the Bailiwick of Guernsey (including the islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm).

Firstly, some background. The Federal Republic of Germany relies on a network of over 300 Honorary Consuls worldwide, 18 of whom serve in the United Kingdom. Honorary Consuls are volunteers who do not have to be German citizens. Honorary consuls do not receive a salary for their services and may combine their official role with private activities. Aiming primarily at securing the interests of Germany and its citizens in the United Kingdom/Channel Islands and fostering the relations between Germany and the United Kingdom/Channel Islands, Honorary Consuls support and complement the work of the German Embassy in London (and the Consulate General in Edinburgh) in a broad way. They are responsible for consular duties, cultural cooperation, promotion of trade and commerce, as well as building a positive and modern image of Germany abroad.

The following list sets out my principal consular activities:

Passport and visa applications

It is NOT possible to apply for a German passport or visa from my Guernsey office. Applications should be directed to the German Embassy in London, as detailed in the relevant section of this website.

However and in cases of emergency (e.g. lost or stolen passport), I can issue a German Emergency Travel Document which enables the holder to return to Germany.

Certifications

The Honorary Consul can certify signatures on a document for its intended use in Germany or on applications for certificates of Good Conduct (i.e. no criminal convictions). The consular fee is fixed at Euro 20.00 (to be paid in British Pounds).

When certifying signatures for powers of attorney and declarations of ratification in connection with the purchase or sale of property in Germany the consular fee is calculated by reference to a statutory fee table, by reference to the value of the underlying legal transaction.

The consular fee for certifying the authenticity of copies (as compared against original documents) is fixed at Euro 10.00 for up to 10 pages (to be paid in British Pounds).

Name Declarations

Due to its complexity, the completion of the form for a name declaration is undertaken by the Embassy in London; nevertheless, all signatures and copies of all original supporting documents can be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is EURO 25.00 for certifying the signature and EURO 10.00 for certifying copies of up to 10 pages.

For all questions related to Name Declarations please refer to the information provided on the Homepage of the German Embassy at:

Pension matters

Recipients of a public pension from Germany must normally produce an annual life certificate to the pension provider. The signature of the pension recipient on the relevant form can be certified by the Honorary Consul, free of charge.

Renunciations of Inheritance

From time to time heirs wish to renounce their inheritance in relation to German estates. As a general rule, the heirs can declare their renouncement to the competent German probate court within six weeks after being informed about the death and their entitlement as heirs. The deadline is six months in case either the heir stayed outside of Germany (irrespective of his/her actual residence) at the time of death or if the deceased had his sole residence outside of Germany. All signatures on the relevant form must be certified by the Honorary Consul. The current consular fee is EURO 20.00.

After certification of the signature, the form has to be sent to the competent probate court (Nachlassgericht) in Germany. In case the heir has children, the right of inheritance would usually pass on to them under intestacy rules and they would have to sign a separate renouncement form. In case of children who are underage, their legal representative(s) (i.e. usually both parents) will have to sign. In some cases the approval by the family court is necessary to renounce for children. The family court’s approval has to be submitted to the competent court of probate within the above mentioned deadline. The family court’s approval is not necessary in cases when the minor becomes an heir where the parent, who legally represents the minor, has renounced the inheritance.

The Honorary Consul unfortunately cannot offer legal advice regarding inheritance matters including the legal consequences and validity regarding a renouncement. You are therefore kindly asked to check with the German court directly whether the form has been received and accepted within the deadline. If necessary you may wish to avail yourself of a lawyer for detailed legal advice and further assistance.

If you require an appointment with the Honorary Consul please apply by email, telephone or post.