Reihenfolge der Vornamen ändern

If you have more than one first name, you can have their order changed by making a declaration.

You can have the order of several first names changed since November 1, 2018, without giving reasons. The prerequisite for this is that your name is subject to German law. This includes not only German nationals, but also persons entitled to asylum, foreign refugees and stateless persons.

The only exception: in the case of first names with a hyphen, such as Hans-Peter, the order determined by the parents must be retained.

Note: If you would like to have your first name changed for important or serious reasons, this can only be done via a change of name under public law. Changing the spelling and adding or omitting first names is otherwise still not permitted in official documents.

• valid official photo ID (identity card, passport)
• for stateless persons: travel document or entry of the aliens' registration office in the passport or passport substitute
• for homeless foreigners or persons entitled to asylum: entry of the foreigners authority in the passport or passport substitute
• for foreign refugees: Entry of the foreigners authority in the passport or passport replacement.

If you require any further documents, please contact the authority to which you are submitting the declaration in advance.

• You have German citizenship.
• You are entitled to asylum, a foreign refugee, a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a quota refugee.

Varies from state to state.
In Lower Saxony, fees of 30 euros are charged for the certification or notarization of a declaration on the order of the first names by the registry office.

You must declare the change in the order of your first names in writing:

• Check with your local authority whether you should have the declaration certified or notarized and whether an appointment needs to be made.
• Then go to the office responsible for you with all the necessary documents and arrange for the order of your first names to be changed.

Note: As soon as this change has taken effect, you will need to have various documents (e.g. ID card or passport) changed accordingly. You must apply for these changes yourself.

generally at short notice, depending on the specific individual case

• First name change of order
• Since November 1, 2018: change of order of several first names possible without reason; except:
  • Add or omit first names,
  • no change of order for hyphenated names (example: Hans-Peter).
• Prerequisite: Name must be subject to German law, which is the case with
  • German nationals,
  • persons entitled to asylum,
  • foreign refugees and
  • Stateless persons.
• Responsible: Registry office of the place of birth, the place of marriage, the place of the establishment of a civil partnership, the place of residence, as well as other offices authorized for public certification.

Registry office of the place of birth, the place of marriage, the place of establishment of a civil partnership, the place of residence, as well as other bodies authorized to provide public certification.

Registry office of the place of birth, the place of marriage, the place of establishment of a civil partnership, the place of residence, as well as other bodies authorized to provide public certification.

• Forms: none
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes