Applying for an apostille in Essen

Apostille for a document from Essen: the office depends on the document. Documents from the city of Essen and from schools are certified by the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf (district government), in writing only, currently in 8 to 10 weeks, 25 to 40 euros. Judgments, certificates of inheritance and notarial deeds go to the Landgericht or Amtsgericht Essen (regional or local court), 25 euros. Our fixed price: 129 euros.

Apostille Essen: responsible offices and fees

City documents
Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, Dezernat 21, Postfach 300865, 40408 Düsseldorf · in writing onlyAs of: 26.10.2026 · Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf
Court documents
President of the Landgericht Essen, Zweigertstr. 52, 45130 Essen: notaries in the district, Amtsgerichte Borbeck and Steele, translationsAs of: 26.10.2026 · Landgericht Essen
Local court
President of the Amtsgericht Essen: judgments, court orders, certificates of inheritance, register extracts of the Amtsgericht EssenAs of: 26.10.2026 · Amtsgericht Essen
Official fee
Bezirksregierung private 25–40 €, business 60–75 € · Landgericht and Amtsgericht Essen 25 € per documentAs of: 26.10.2026 · Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf
All details (4)
Processing time
Bezirksregierung currently 8–10 weeks · Landgericht: currently longer due to staffing, no figure given
How to apply
Bezirksregierung by post only · Landgericht by post or drop-off Mon–Fri 9–12 · Amtsgericht by appointment
Original
originals only, or certified copies from the issuing office · copies are not certified
Behördenfix fixed price
129 € for a document for private use, official fee included

Which office certifies your document?

Standesamt, Bürgeramt, school in Essen
Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, 25–40 €
Judgment, certificate of inheritance, register extract of the Amtsgericht Essen
Amtsgericht Essen, 25 €
Notary or translator in the Landgericht district, AG Borbeck, AG Steele
Landgericht Essen, 25 €
More rows (1)
Certificate of good conduct, federal authority
Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten

How it works with Behördenfix

  1. 1Describe the documentWho issued it, for which country, private or business use.
  2. 2Upload a scan and payWith the scan we assign the document to one of the three offices.
  3. 3Send in the originalWe give you the address and the right application form.
  4. 4Certification and returnWe submit, pay the fee and track the application.

Applying for the apostille without us

The way without us, step by step

You can also apply yourself. First check who issued the document; that decides the office.

  • Documents from the city of Essen, such as birth, marriage or death certificates, registration certificates or school reports: by post with the application form to Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, Dezernat 21, Postfach 300865, 40408 Düsseldorf. There are no office hours until further notice.
  • Court documents of the Amtsgericht Essen: from the President of the Amtsgericht Essen, room 144, preferably in writing with the application form or by appointment. Office hours Monday to Friday 8 to 14.
  • Notarial deeds from the district, documents of the Amtsgerichte Essen-Borbeck and Essen-Steele and translations by sworn translators: Landgericht Essen, Verwaltungsabteilung Apostillen, Zweigertstr. 52, 45130 Essen. Drop-off Monday to Friday 9 to 12, collection until 15 in room 287.
  • Enclose your address, phone number and the destination country. At the Landgericht, state whether the document will be collected or sent back.
  • Costs: 25 euros per document at the Landgericht and Amtsgericht, 25 to 40 euros at the Bezirksregierung for private purposes. With us you pay 129 euros including the fee and hand over the assignment, sending and tracking.

Open the official page

Documents for the apostille

  • The original document with official seal and original signature, or a certified copy from the office that issued it.
  • The destination country, because it decides between apostille and legalisation.
More documents (3)
  • Divorce judgments and orders with a note of finality (Rechtskraftvermerk).
  • Civil registry documents, according to the Bezirksregierung, preferably no older than 6 months; registration certificates at most 3 months.
  • For our order: a scan of the document in advance and your power of attorney, which you sign during the order.

What is special in Essen

Three offices in one city

Documents from the city of Essen are handled as in Düsseldorf: the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf certifies them, in writing only, currently in 8 to 10 weeks. The difference lies in court and notary documents.

More about Essen (3)

Essen has two offices of its own for these. The President of the Amtsgericht Essen certifies documents of that court. The President of the Landgericht Essen is responsible for notaries in the Landgericht district, for the Amtsgerichte Bottrop, Dorsten, Essen-Borbeck, Essen-Steele, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Hattingen and Marl, and for translations by sworn translators from the district.

At the Landgericht Essen you can drop off the document in person, Monday to Friday 9 to 12. The court does not want phone enquiries; processing can currently take longer due to staffing.

Both courts charge 25 euros per document. The Landgericht is expressly not responsible for city documents, and the Amtsgericht not for school reports, birth or marriage certificates.

Questions about the apostille in Essen

Where do I apply for an apostille for a document from Essen?

It depends on the issuing office. Documents from the city of Essen and from schools go to the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, by post only. Court documents of the Amtsgericht Essen are certified by its President. Notarial deeds, documents of the Amtsgerichte Borbeck and Steele and translations go to the Landgericht Essen, Zweigertstraße 52.

How long does an apostille take in Essen?

At the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf currently 8 to 10 weeks; it gives no confirmations of receipt or status information. The Landgericht Essen gives no figure but writes that processing can take longer due to staffing. At the Amtsgericht Essen, you make an appointment first.

What does an apostille for a birth certificate from Essen cost?

The birth certificate comes from the city's Standesamt, so the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf certifies it. It charges 25 to 40 euros for private purposes, 60 to 75 euros for businesses with economic significance, and 10 euros more for shipping abroad. With us the apostille costs 129 euros including the fee.

Do I need an apostille at all for another EU country?

Not for many civil status documents. According to the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, an EU regulation has exempted birth, marriage and death certificates and registration certificates, among others, from the apostille within the EU since 16 February 2019. The Standesamt Essen also issues multilingual certificates for this.

Can I hand in the document in person in Essen?

At the Landgericht Essen, yes: Monday to Friday from 9 to 12; you collect the finished document until 15 in room 287 or have it sent. At the Amtsgericht Essen only by appointment, room 144. The Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf has no office hours for city documents.

Official sources

Reviewed by M. Gabal on 26.10.2026

Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix assigns your document to the responsible office, submits it and tracks the application. We do not give legal advice and do not assess your individual case.

All services in Essen (8)

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

Order an apostille· 129 €