Applying for an apostille for documents from Duisburg

Apostille for Duisburg: city documents, such as birth and marriage certificates or registration certificates, are certified by the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, in writing only, currently in 8 to 10 weeks, for 25 to 40 euros privately. Documents of Duisburg notaries and courts go to the Landgericht Duisburg: 25 euros, about 5 working days. With us: 129 euros.

Apostille for Duisburg: the key facts

City documents
Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, in writing onlyAs of: 26.10.2026 · Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf
Processing time district government
currently 8–10 weeksAs of: 26.10.2026 · Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf
Fee district government
€25–40 private use · €60–75 commercial useAs of: 26.10.2026 · Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf
Regional court
Landgericht Duisburg: €25 per document, about 5 working daysAs of: 26.10.2026 · Landgericht Duisburg
All details (4)
Originals
originals only, or certified copies from the issuing office
Age of the document
civil registry certificates no older than 6 months, registration certificates at most 3 months
For use abroad
return shipping abroad: €10 surcharge
Behördenfix fixed price
€129 for one document for private use, official fee included

Two routes: who certifies which document?

Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf
Documents of the City of Duisburg: birth, marriage and death certificates, registration certificates and certificates of no impediment, school certificates
Landgericht Duisburg
Documents of notaries and courts in the Duisburg court district, such as judgments or certificates of inheritance; translations by authorised translators
First a notary, then the Landgericht
private documents, such as a power of attorney or salary statement
More rows (2)
Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Certificate of good conduct and documents of federal authorities
First the Finanzamt, then the Bezirksregierung
certificates from the tax office first need a preliminary certification by the tax office

How it works with us

  1. 1Name the document and the countryWhat, issued by whom, for which country.
  2. 2Check office and ageBezirksregierung or Landgericht.
  3. 3Pay the fixed priceThe fee for one document is included.
  4. 4Application with the originalIn writing to the responsible office.

Applying for the apostille yourself

The way without us, step by step

You can apply for the apostille without us. Which office is responsible depends on who issued the document:

  • City of Duisburg documents: by post with the application form to Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, Dezernat 21, Postfach 300865, 40408 Düsseldorf, with your address and the country the apostille is for. No office hours until further notice. The invoice comes with the document and is paid by transfer.
  • Phone of the Bezirksregierung: Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 12 noon. By its own account, it gives no confirmations of receipt or status updates.
  • Documents of Duisburg notaries and courts and translations by authorised translators: by post, courier or night letterbox to Landgericht Duisburg, Verwaltungsabteilung Apostillen / Legalisationen, König-Heinrich-Platz 1, 47051 Duisburg, with the form «Antrag auf Überbeglaubigung». Questions: 0203 9928-211.
  • Both offices certify originals only. Court documents need an official seal and signature.
  • Costs compared: Bezirksregierung 25 to 40 euros for private use, Landgericht 25 euros per document. With us 129 euros including the fee for one document for private use.
  • We are not an authority. Only the responsible office issues the apostille; we cannot make it faster.

Open the official page

What you need

  • The original document or a certified copy from the issuing office.
  • The country in which you will present the document.
More documents (3)
  • For birth, marriage or death certificates: the date of issue; if it is older than 6 months, the registry office may issue it again.
  • For registration certificates or certificates of no impediment: at most 3 months old.
  • Your address for the return, even if it is abroad.

What is special for Duisburg

Two offices, very different waiting times

For Duisburg documents there are two offices: the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf and the Landgericht Duisburg.

More about Duisburg (3)

The Bezirksregierung handles documents of the cities in the Düsseldorf district, including Duisburg. It currently states 8 to 10 weeks and accepts written applications only. The Landgericht Duisburg states about 5 working days, but only for notarial and court documents from its district and for translations. Its president expressly cannot certify city documents.

Many EU countries need no apostille: since 16 February 2019, birth, marriage and death certificates and registration certificates, among others, are exempt under the EU apostille regulation. The Duisburg registry office also issues these certificates in multilingual form; for the states of the Vienna CIEC Convention, they get no apostille.

Some countries, such as Iraq, Iran, Syria or the United Arab Emirates, require legalisation instead of the apostille, with a final certification by the Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten in Brandenburg an der Havel. The preliminary certification by the Bezirksregierung is then free of charge.

Questions about the apostille in Duisburg

Where do I get an apostille in Duisburg?

That depends on the document. City of Duisburg documents, for example from the registry office or citizens' office, are certified by the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf in writing via its PO box. Documents of Duisburg notaries and courts and translations by authorised translators go to the Landgericht Duisburg at König-Heinrich-Platz 1.

How long does the apostille take?

At the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf it currently takes 8 to 10 weeks; there are no confirmations of receipt or status updates. The Landgericht Duisburg states about 5 working days. From 10 to 18 October 2026, by its own account, the Landgericht certified no public documents.

What does an apostille cost in Duisburg?

The Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf charges 25 to 40 euros for private purposes and 60 to 75 euros for traders, plus 10 euros if the document is returned abroad. The Landgericht Duisburg charges 25 euros per document. With us, the apostille for one document for private use costs 129 euros including the fee.

Do I need an apostille for the birth certificate?

For Hague Convention countries yes, unless an exemption applies. In the EU, birth, marriage and death certificates have been exempt since 2019, and for the states of the Vienna CIEC Convention the multilingual certificate from the Duisburg registry office is enough. The Bezirksregierung requires civil registry certificates at most 6 months old.

Can I have a copy apostilled?

No, not a simple copy. The Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf certifies only originals or certified copies from the issuing institution, the Landgericht Duisburg only originals. Copies of school certificates must be certified by the school head; tax office certificates first need a preliminary certification by the tax office. Private documents go to a notary first.

Who certifies a translation for use abroad?

The Landgericht Duisburg, if the translator is authorised by the president of the Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf and their signature is on file there. The court then confirms the signature or issues an apostille or legalisation. Applications are made in writing and online; questions: 0203 9928-211.

Official sources

Reviewed by M. Gabal on 27.10.2026

Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix applies for the apostille on your behalf at the responsible office. We are not an authority, do not give legal advice and do not assess your individual case.

All services in Duisburg (7)

Fee included: we check your scan, file the application and track it until the document is back.

Have the apostille applied for· 129 €