With a declaration, you determine the details of your gender entry and your first names that best correspond to your gender identity. The self-declaration is sufficient. You do not have to give reasons for the change.

Gender details

You can choose between the following gender entry details:

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

In your declaration, you must confirm that

• the chosen gender entry or the deletion of the gender entry best corresponds to your gender identity and
• you are aware of the consequences of the declaration.

Details of the first name

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

For the gender entry "male", you can choose male first names or first names that can be assigned to both genders.

For gender entry "female", you can select female first names or first names that can be assigned to both genders.

If you choose not to enter a gender or select the gender entry "diverse", you can choose male, female and first names that can be assigned to both genders as well as any combination of these.

You can continue to use existing first names if they correspond to the selected gender entry.

You can also dispense with existing first names without replacing them if they do not correspond to the future chosen gender entry or add further first names.

Registration and submission of the declaration

You must register the submission of the declaration verbally (i.e. in person) or in writing at a German registry office in advance.

You can only make the declaration in writing at the same registry office after three months and no later than six months after registration.

You can only make your declaration in person. Representation is not possible.

The notarized or certified declaration only becomes effective once it has been received by the relevant registry office. The following order applies:

In principle, the registry office of the register of births responsible for you is responsible.

If your birth was not recorded in a German birth register, the registry office where the marriage register or civil partnership register is kept for you is responsible.

If this does not result in jurisdiction, the registry office of your current or last place of residence or your current habitual residence is responsible.

If this does not result in any jurisdiction either, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible for effective receipt.

Registry office I in Berlin

• In cases in which no entry is or can be made in a German civil status register, the validly received declaration will be entered in a register kept there.
• If you register and submit the declaration at another registry office in Germany, your declaration will be forwarded to the registry office responsible for receiving it.
• If you have your habitual residence abroad and are a German citizen, you can have your declaration notarized by a German diplomatic mission abroad. In this case, you must register the submission of the declaration in writing at the German registry office responsible for receiving the declaration.

The following applies to minors with limited legal capacity from the age of 14:

• If you are at least 14 years old, you can make your declaration yourself at the registry office.
• Your legal representatives, i.e. your custodial parents or a guardian, must consent to the declaration in person at the registry office. The consent can also be replaced by a family court.
• In the declaration to be submitted, you must also declare that you have been advised, i.e. that you are fully informed. You do not need to provide proof of this. Counseling is offered, for example, by
• Persons who have a professional qualification in psychology, child and adolescent psychotherapy or child and adolescent psychiatry,
• public or independent child and youth welfare organizations,
• peer counseling centers.

The following applies to minors under the age of 14 with limited legal capacity or minors who are legally incompetent:

• Only the legal representatives, i.e. the custodial parents or a guardian, can make the declaration at the registry office.
• A family court must approve the submission of the declaration by a guardian.
• Minors aged five and over must give their consent to the declaration and be present when it is made.
• When making the declaration, the legal representatives must also declare that they have received advice, i.e. that they are fully informed. They do not have to provide proof of consultation.

The following applies to legally incapacitated adults for whom legal guardianship has been appointed in this matter:

• Only the person appointed by the guardianship court to look after you in this matter can make 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.