If a German office has asked you for a police certificate (Führungszeugnis), for an American that means your FBI background check. Germany wants it to cover the whole country, which is why a state check won’t do. It also needs a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State and, in most cases, a German translation. We take care of all of it: your fingerprints, the FBI request, the apostille and the translation, whether you’re in Los Angeles or already living in Germany.
What Germany Asks For
Restoring German citizenship (§ 15 StAG). If you’re applying to restore German citizenship as a descendant of someone persecuted under the Nazi regime, the German government’s application package says that, when requested, applicants aged 16 and over must send a current police certificate covering the whole country. For applicants in the U.S., it names the FBI certificate. It has to be an original and no older than 6 months (see the § 15 application package on germany.info). Because it’s requested later in the process, it helps to know the steps in advance, so you can turn it around within the 6 months once they ask.
Doctors, dentists and pharmacists (Approbation). If you’re applying for a German medical license, the licensing offices ask for a criminal record extract from each country you’ve lived in. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, that’s every country where you lived more than 6 months in the last 3 years, and it can be no older than 3 months when you submit it (RP Baden-Württemberg). The Bezirksregierung Köln asks for one if you haven’t lived in Germany for the last 5 years. Translation rules vary by office, and some require a translator sworn in Germany, so tell us which office you’re applying to.
Nurses and other health professions. Recognition offices for nursing and other health professions also ask for proof of good conduct.
How We Handle It
If you’re in Los Angeles, we take your fingerprints at our office or wherever suits you, and submit them to the FBI electronically. The FBI sends the report straight to you; you forward it to us, and we take it from there. We submit it to the U.S. Department of State, collect the apostille, prepare the German translation, and get everything back to you ready to hand in.
If you already live in Germany, you don’t need to fly home. Get fingerprinted on FD-258 cards at your local police station and mail them to us. We submit them to the FBI in person, handle the apostille and translation, and ship the finished documents to you. See FBI Background Check Apostille Abroad.
The apostille can be translated too. The apostille certificate itself can be translated into German along with the FBI report, so the office receives the whole document in German.
For every step in detail, see our step-by-step guide to getting your FBI background check apostilled. For other U.S. documents going to Germany, such as birth certificates, diplomas and powers of attorney, see Apostille for Germany.
Common Questions
Can I use a California background check?
No. Germany wants a police certificate that covers the whole country, and for Americans that’s the FBI check.
How recent does it need to be?
It depends on the office: no older than 6 months for citizenship restoration, and often no older than 3 months for Approbation. Check what your office asks for.
Does it need an apostille?
Yes, a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State, because the FBI is a federal agency.
I live in Germany. Can you help?
Yes. Get fingerprinted on FD-258 cards at your local police station and mail them to us. We handle everything from there.
Do you translate it into German?
Yes, the FBI report and the apostille certificate.
Ready to get started? Call or text (310) 526-0200, or message us on WhatsApp.
Benötigen Sie ein FBI-Führungszeugnis mit Apostille für Deutschland? Rufen Sie uns an oder schreiben Sie uns: (310) 526-0200.
