Requesting a copy of a school certificate (Zeugnisabschrift) in Köln
A copy of a lost final or leaving certificate (Zeugnisabschrift) from a municipal school in Köln comes free of charge from the school you attended, which keeps it for 50 years. If the school has closed, the Schulamt (school office) or the Amt für Schulentwicklung (school development office) helps; at least 4 weeks. We write the request: 49,90 euros.
School certificate copy in Köln at a glance
- Responsible office
- the school that issued the certificate · if closed, the Schulamt or the Amt für SchulentwicklungAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
- Address
- Schulamt and Amt für Schulentwicklung: Güterhaus, Peter-Huppertz-Straße 7, 51063 Köln · PO Box 10 35 64, 50475 KölnAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
- Official fee
- no feesAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
- Processing time
- closed comprehensive school, Realschule, Gymnasium or vocational college: at least four weeks · otherwise not publishedAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
All details (4)Show less
- Retention period
- final and leaving certificates 50 years · interim reports 10 years, only via the school
- How to apply
- in writing to the school · closed comprehensive school, Realschule, Gymnasium or vocational college: in writing or by email to the Amt für Schulentwicklung
- Contact
- Amt für Schulentwicklung 0221 / 221-29203 · Schulamt 0221 / 221-29266 or 221-29277
- Behördenfix fixed price
- 49,90 €
Who is responsible? By type of school and school
- Municipal Hauptschule or special needs school
- school attended · closed: Schulamt for the city of Köln
- Municipal comprehensive school, Realschule, Gymnasium, vocational college
- school attended · closed: Amt für Schulentwicklung
- Non-municipal school
- school attended or its successor organisation
How we request your certificate copy
- 1Name the school and certificateSchool, final class, year and type of certificate.
- 2Upload a copy of your IDPlus your current address and a former name, if different.
- 3We write to the right officeSchool, Schulamt or Amt für Schulentwicklung, depending on the type of school.
- 4Follow-up until the copy arrivesWe follow up and name the successor school if the city does.
Requesting the certificate copy yourself
The way without us, step by step
In Köln, you request a replacement for a lost certificate yourself as follows:
- In writing to the school that issued the original, with all details and an ID copy.
- If the school cannot issue a copy, it confirms this; with that, contact the Schulamt for the city of Köln.
- Closed municipal Hauptschule or special needs school: contact the Schulamt for the city of Köln.
- Closed municipal comprehensive school, Realschule, Gymnasium or vocational college: in writing or by email to the Amt für Schulentwicklung, which forwards it to the city archive and names the successor school.
- Yourself: 0 euros. With us: 49,90 euros for finding the office, the request and follow-up.
Which details the school needs
- Name, birth name if applicable, first name and current address.
- Name, designation and address of the school.
More documents (3)Show less
- Leaving or final class and type of certificate (leaving or final).
- Copy of your ID card or passport.
- Phone number or email address for queries.
Köln: school closed – what now?
School closed – what now?
If your municipal school in Köln has closed, the type of school decides: Hauptschulen and special needs schools go to the Schulamt; comprehensive schools, Realschulen, Gymnasien and vocational colleges to the Amt für Schulentwicklung.
More about Cologne (2)Show less
The Amt für Schulentwicklung forwards complete requests to the city archive and names the successor school, where you apply for the copy: at least four weeks, according to the city.
Both offices are in the Güterhaus, Peter-Huppertz-Straße 7, 51063 Köln; the Schulamt asks for an appointment. For non-municipal schools, the city does not answer; the school or its successor organisation is responsible.
Frequently asked questions: certificate lost in Köln
What can I do if I have lost my school certificate?
Request a copy from the school that issued it. According to the city of Köln, lost or destroyed final and leaving certificates are replaced free of charge. If the school has closed, the Schulamt or the Amt für Schulentwicklung is responsible, by type of school. We find the office and write the request.
What does a replacement certificate cost in Köln?
According to the city, the copy is free at municipal schools in Köln. With us you pay 49,90 euros for finding the office, the request with all details and your ID copy, and follow-up until it arrives. The copy itself stays free.
How long does the school keep my certificates?
According to the city of Köln, final and leaving certificates are kept for 50 years. Interim reports are kept for ten years, and only the schools themselves copy them. For an old qualification, we first clarify which office still has records.
How long does it take to get a certificate copy?
For a closed comprehensive school, Realschule, Gymnasium or vocational college, the city of Köln states at least four weeks, as the request goes via the city archive. For requests to the school, no time is published. We follow up if nothing arrives.
My school no longer exists – where do I get my certificate?
Closed municipal Hauptschule or special needs school: the Schulamt for the city of Köln; comprehensive school, Realschule, Gymnasium or vocational college: the Amt für Schulentwicklung, in writing or by email. Both are in the Güterhaus, Peter-Huppertz-Straße 7. Non-municipal schools: the successor organisation.
Can I still get my certificate after 30 years?
According to the city of Köln, final and leaving certificates are kept for 50 years, so 30 years is within the period. Interim reports are kept for ten years only. Whether your record still exists, only the school or the office can say.
Official sources
- Stadt Köln – Zeugnisabschrift, read on 22.10.2026
- Stadt Köln – Schulamt für die Stadt Köln (Anschrift, Öffnungszeiten), read on 22.10.2026
- Stadt Köln – Amt für Schulentwicklung (Anschrift, Öffnungszeiten), read on 22.10.2026
Reviewed by M. Gabal on 26.10.2026
Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix fills in, submits and tracks the request. We do not give legal advice and do not assess your individual case.