By submitting a declaration, you specify the information regarding your gender designation and first name that best corresponds to your gender identity. A self-declaration is sufficient. You do not need to provide reasons for the change.

Gender Information

You may choose between the following options for your gender designation:

• "female"
• "male"
• "diverse"
• No gender entry.

In your declaration, you must state that

• the selected gender designation or the omission of a gender designation best reflects your gender identity, and
• you are aware of the implications of the declaration.

Information on First Names

In your declaration, you must specify one or more first names that correspond to your chosen gender designation.

If your gender designation is “male,” you may choose male first names or first names that can be assigned to either gender.

If the gender designation is “female,” you may choose female first names or first names that can be assigned to either gender.

If you choose not to specify a gender designation or select “diverse,” you may choose male, female, and gender-neutral first names, as well as any combination thereof.

You may continue to use first names you have used previously, provided they correspond to the selected gender designation.

You may also choose to drop previously used first names entirely—provided they do not correspond to your future gender designation—or add additional first names.

Registration and Submission of the Declaration

You must first register your intention to submit the declaration either in person (by appearing in person) or in writing with a German civil registry office.

You may submit the declaration for recording only at the same civil registry office, no earlier than three months and no later than six months after registration.

You may submit your declaration only in person. A representative may not submit it on your behalf.

The certified or notarized declaration becomes effective only upon its valid acceptance by the competent civil registry office. The following order applies:

In general, the civil registry office responsible for your birth record has jurisdiction.

If your birth was not recorded in a German birth registry, the civil registry office where your marriage registry or civil partnership registry is maintained has jurisdiction.

If no jurisdiction results from this, the civil registry office of your current or last place of residence or your current habitual residence is responsible.

If jurisdiction still cannot be determined based on the above, the Civil Registry Office I in Berlin is responsible for the valid acceptance of the documents.

Civil Registry Office I in Berlin

• In cases where no entry is made or can be made in a German civil registry, the validly received declaration will be entered into a register maintained there.
• If you file and submit the declaration at another civil registry office in Germany, your declaration will be forwarded to the civil registry office responsible for receiving it.
• If you have your habitual residence abroad and hold German citizenship, you may have your declaration publicly certified by a German diplomatic or consular mission. In this case, you must submit a written notification of the submission of the declaration to the German civil registry office responsible for receiving it.

The following applies to minors with limited legal capacity who are at least 14 years of age:

• If you are at least 14 years old, you may submit your declaration in person at the registry office.
• Your legal representatives—that is, your parents with custody or a guardian—must personally consent to the declaration before the civil registry office. This consent may also be replaced by a family court order.
• In the affirmation you must provide with your declaration, you must additionally state that you have received counseling—that is, that you are fully informed. You do not need to provide proof of this. Counseling is offered, for example, by:
• Individuals who hold professional qualifications in psychology, child and adolescent psychotherapy, or child and adolescent psychiatry,
• public or private child and youth welfare agencies,
• peer counseling centers.

The following applies to minors under the age of 14 with limited legal capacity or minors without legal capacity:

• Only legal representatives—that is, parents with custody or a guardian—may submit the declaration to the registry office.
• A family court must approve the submission of the declaration by a guardian.
• Minors aged five and older must give their consent to the declaration and be present when it is submitted.
• In the affirmation accompanying the declaration, the legal representatives must additionally state that they have received counseling and are therefore fully informed. They are not required to provide proof of counseling.

For adults who lack legal capacity and for whom a legal guardian has been appointed in this matter, the following applies:

• Only the person appointed by the guardianship court to serve as guardian for this matter may submit the declaration on your behalf.
• The submission of the declaration by the person appointed as guardian in this matter must be approved by the guardianship court.