Applying for a school certificate copy (Zeugnisabschrift) in Duisburg
School certificate copy in Duisburg: the school issues a replacement certificate if you come in person with ID. If the school no longer exists, a city list shows whether a successor school or the city archive holds the records. The city archive issues it free of charge, in about two weeks. Our fixed price: 49.90 euros.
Replacement certificate in Duisburg: the essentials
- Responsible office
- the school; for closed schools the successor school or city archive per the city listAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Duisburg
- School
- personal visit with ID card; the school decides on exceptionsAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Duisburg
- Retention period
- certificates usually 10 years, leaving and final certificates 50 yearsAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Duisburg
- Archive
- city archive: online form with ID copy, free of charge, about two weeksAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Duisburg
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- Contact
- Stadtarchiv 0203 283-2154 · Amt für Schulische Bildung 0203 94000
- List
- overview of certificate storage, as of 20.10.2026
- Behördenfix fixed price
- €49.90 plus any school fee
Who issues the replacement certificate?
- School still exists
- the school itself, in person with ID
- School closed, records at another school
- the successor school per the city list
- School closed, records in the city archive
- Stadtarchiv Duisburg, online form, free of charge
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- No or incomplete records
- certificate from the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf with statutory declarations
How we proceed
- 1Name school and yearName, district, year of graduation.
- 2Find the officeWe check the city's list.
- 3Pay the fixed price49.90 euros, school fee extra.
- 4Submit the applicationWith your ID copy and power of attorney.
Applying for the replacement yourself
The way without us, step by step
You apply for the replacement certificate without us directly at the school or the city archive. The City of Duisburg describes it like this:
- If your school still exists, only it issues the replacement. You must visit the school in person with your ID card; the school decides on exceptions case by case.
- Mind the time limits: certificates are usually kept for only 10 years, leaving and final certificates for 50 years.
- If the school is closed, look it up in the city's overview of certificate storage. It shows whether a successor school or the city archive took over the records.
- At the city archive you apply online with school type, district, school name, final class, year of graduation and a photo of your ID card. There are no fees; processing usually takes about two weeks.
- If there are no or only incomplete records, the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf can issue a certificate as a substitute. For this it needs statutory declarations from a person in school service or from two people with their own knowledge.
- Costs compared: the city archive charges 0 euros. With us you pay 49.90 euros for searching the list, the application and follow-up, plus any school fee. Whether an existing school accepts an application with power of attorney is its own decision; we cannot promise that. We are not an authority and not a school.
Details for the application
- Name of the school and the district it was in.
- School type, final class and year of graduation.
More documents (3)Show less
- Your name during your school years and your date of birth.
- Copy or photo of your ID card.
- Your power of attorney for Behördenfix from the order process.
The list of closed schools
A list shows where old certificates are kept
Duisburg publishes a list showing, for closed schools, who keeps the certificate records.
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The overview of certificate storage is dated 20.10.2026 and sorted by district, from Aldenrade to Walsum. For each former school it names the storage place: usually a current school, for some schools the city archive, for some «storage place unknown».
Important according to the city: the city archive only has the records listed under the city archive. If a school has reported that it has no records, asking the city archive is pointless; the route via the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf remains.
Certified copies of certificates are made by the citizens' service points of the district offices for a fee, by appointment. For the apostille, the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf requires the head of the school to sign certified copies of school certificates.
Questions about a lost school certificate in Duisburg
School certificate lost: what can I do in Duisburg?
If the school still exists, apply for the replacement there, in person with your ID card. If it is closed, check the city's overview of certificate storage to see whether a successor school or the city archive has the records. At the city archive you apply online with a photo of your ID.
What does a replacement certificate cost in Duisburg?
The Stadtarchiv Duisburg charges no fees for replacement certificates, and the Amt für Schulische Bildung names none either. Whether an existing school charges anything is not on the city's pages. With us the application costs 49.90 euros, plus any school fee.
How long does the school keep my certificates?
According to the City of Duisburg, certificates are usually kept for only 10 years. The school keeps leaving and final certificates for 50 years. For closed schools the records are mostly at a successor school or in the city archive; the overview of certificate storage shows which.
Is a replacement certificate an original?
The replacement is issued by the school or the city archive. Whether it is equivalent to an original is not stated on the city's pages, and we do not assess how the office you present it to will treat it. For the apostille, the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf requires the signature of the head of the school or their deputy on certified copies of school certificates.
Lost my certificate from 1988, how do I get it back?
A final certificate from 1988 is still within the 50-year period. If the school still exists, ask there in person. If it is closed, the city's list shows where the records are. If they are missing entirely, the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf can issue a certificate with statutory declarations.
Official sources
- Stadt Duisburg – Zeugnisse (Amt für Schulische Bildung), read on 26.10.2026
- Stadt Duisburg – Ersatz von verloren gegangenen Schulzeugnissen (Stadtarchiv), read on 26.10.2026
- Stadt Duisburg – Übersicht Zeugnisaufbewahrung (PDF, Stand 20.10.2026), read on 26.10.2026
- Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf – Apostillen und Beglaubigungen, read on 26.10.2026
Reviewed by M. Gabal on 27.10.2026
Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix submits the application with your power of attorney to the responsible office. We are not an authority, do not give legal advice and do not assess your individual case.