Skip to content

South Africans in Germany
Facebook Instagram X-twitter Facebook Threads
Join our newsletter

Stay in touch – join our newsletter.

Birth Registration through VFS Global

There is a new, more convenient way to register the birth of a Child born to South African parents in Germany.
In addition to the traditional route through the Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, you can submit your application through the company VFS Global. For an additional service fee, you can now:

  • Start your application online
  • Book your appointment through their system
  • Submit your application documents at VFS (Berlin and Düsseldorf)
  • Have the Birth certificate couriered straight to your doorstep.

VFS Global is a commercial company working in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, South Africa, to operate an Application Centre that provides selected consular services to South African citizens in Germany. Visit VFS Global for full details

Who is eligible

Under Section 2(2) of the South African Citizenship Act (1995), a child born outside South Africa to at least one South African parent is a South African citizen by descent, if the birth is registered at a South African mission abroad (or with the Department of Home Affairs).

Registration of a Birth within 30 days

You can register your newborn child at the South African Department of Home Affairs via the VFS System. 
Newborns: must bring a certified copy of their German birth certificate when applying, or bring along the original with a copy, and have it certified at the VFS Offices

Registration of a Birth above 30 days

Kindly request to contact the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich to apply for registration of a birth above 30 days.

Current VFS Global locations in Germany

There are currently two VFS Global offices in Germany where you can complete your application for a South African birth registration.
Note – The Düsseldorf offices are currently not available. We will keep you updated

Berlin

Reach them through

  • Spaces Spittelmarkt GF, 1st Floor, Wallstr. 9, Berlin, 10179
  • +4991183799201
  • Online Form

Social Networks

Düsseldorf

Reach them through

  • Tonhallen Strasse 14-15, 2nd floor, 40211, Dusseldorf
  • +4991183799201
  • Online Form

Social Networks

✅ Documentation Requirements

When applying through VFS Global, make sure you prepare your documents carefully.
The most up-to-date list of required documents is always available on the VFS Global website.

That said, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • Original documents are required – every document you submit must be presented in its original form, along with a certified copy.
  • Translations matter – if your documents are not in English, you’ll need a sworn translation.
  • Legalisation or an apostille may be required for foreign birth, marriage, or divorce certificates.
  • If you bring your originals, the Application Centre can certify copies on the spot as true copies of the originals.

Always double-check your paperwork before booking your appointment — missing or uncertified documents can cause delays or rejection.

Unabridged Birth certificate

You can also apply for an unabridged birth certificate through VFS Global. (The old abridged version is no longer issued.)

✅ How to Apply via VFS Global — Step by Step

The complete list of required documents for a child’s birth registration can be found on the VFS Global website.
Under the Consular Services Type dropdown, select Birth Certificate and open the Documents Required tab. 

Additional details about who must be present and who should sign the application are available on the Department of Home Affairs website – Birth Certificates

  1. Pre-check your eligibility and gather your documents.
    Make sure you have all the required paperwork as listed on the VFS Global website.
    Double-check that originals, certified copies, and translations are in order before you start.
  2. Register online.
    Create a user account on the VFS Global site to begin your application process.
  3. Book your appointment.
    Log in to your account and select a date and time at one of the VFS Centres in Berlin or Düsseldorf.
    (Walk-ins are accepted, but booking online speeds things up.)
    Tip – if you want to book an appointment for an individual, you can see the available timeslots. If you try to book an appointment for more than one applicant, you will not see the available timeslots
  4. Download the relevant forms from the VFS Website, print them and fill them out
  5. Attend your appointment in person.
    Bring your original documents, application form, and pay the required fees. Additional details about who must be present and who should sign the application are available on the Department of Home Affairs website – Birth Certificates
    Your application is securely forwarded from VFS Global to the South African Department of Home Affairs for verification and issuance.
  6. Delivery or collection.
    Once the Birth certificate is ready, it will be couriered to your address (fees apply) or made available for pickup, depending on the service option you chose.
  7. Track your application.
    Use the online tracking tool or notification updates on your VFS Global account to monitor your progress.

Fees & payment

  • You will pay a service fee to VFS Global for processing your application. Select the Fees Tab on the Birth Certificate information page on the VFS Website for the latest fees
  • You will also pay the usual government application fee for the South African Birth Certificate itself.
  • A courier service within Germany is available. See the VFS Website for the costs. 

Processing times

“Processing time is approximately SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS as applications are forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria for processing.” – VFS Global.

Contact & further information

  • Visit the official VFS Global page for South African birth registrations in Germany for detailed instructions.
  • If you encounter issues (appointment backlog, document queries), contact the VFS centre directly via their listed phone or email.
  • For policy questions (e.g., eligibility, legal residency implications), reach out to the South African Embassy or Consulate responsible for your region in Germany.

Important: The Embassy/Consulate and VFS Global are two separate application channels. They do not share systems, appointments, or records.

  • The Embassy in Berlin and Consulate in Munich process applications directly via the traditional Department of Home Affairs system.
  • VFS Global manages its own online booking and submission system with offices in Berlin and Düsseldorf.

The only connection between the two is that all applications are ultimately processed by the South African Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.
Submitting through one channel does not affect or update any application made through the other.

Testimonials

My daughter was born in October 2025. We waited for her birth certificate from the Standesamt and had the international birth certificate Apostille.
Once it arrived I booked an appointment with VFS the Wednesday for Friday the 28th of November. So easy to book!
You can book one appointment, I booked for birth registration. You can do birth registration and passport in one appointment.
Documents copies of
- ID, birth certificate and passport of both parents x2
- Marriage certificate X2
- Copy of German birth certificate X2
None of this needed to be certified and we only needed copies. The gentleman who assisted us said he will certify the copies.
Take all original documents with to the appointment
Then we payed 35€ for DHL courier to our door for the birth certificate and another 35€ for the passport = 70€ courier for both. The other option is collecting it from VFS when it arrives. They will email you.
The service fee you pay is 50€ for birth registration and another 50€ for passport. Then the DHA fee's also apply for both. So prepare for some fee's when attending your appointment. A card machine is available!
We received a receipt and number to track our applications
Family van der Walt

Send us your Feedback about VFS

References

Related content

Applying for your South African Identity Document in Germany

Applying for a South African ID in Germany If you’re a South African citizen aged 16 or older and currently living in Germany, you can apply for your ID through the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate-General in Munich. This includes first-time applicants, those replacing lost or damaged IDs, citizens updating personal details, or women changing surnames after marriage. Green ID BOok When you apply at the South African Embassy or Consulate, you

Registering your child in South Africa while in Germany

Registering your child in South Africa while in Germany If you are a South African citizen living in Germany and have recently welcomed a child, it is essential to register your newborn with the South African Department of Home Affairs. This process ensures that your child is officially recognized as a South African citizen and can obtain a birth certificate and passport. South African citizenship by descent Under Section 2(2) of the South African Citizenship

SA Consular and Embassy services

Embassy Berlin Reach them through Tiergartenstraße. 18, 10785 Berlin +4930220730 +493022073190 berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za Social Networks SAEmbassyBerlin @SAEmbassyBerlin Website Consulate Munich Reach them through Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5, 80336 Munich +49892311630 49 89 231 163 53 munich.consular@dirco.gov.za Social Networks Consulate in Munich Website Honorary Consuls The Honorary Consuls are tasked with the promotion of the South African export trade, serve as contact persons for visiting South African business people, distribute general information on South Africa and represent South Africa

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email