Since 1 October 2026, certificates of conduct (Führungszeugnisse) in Germany have also been available in digital form. A certificate of conduct provides information about whether a person has a criminal record. It is required, for example, for certain jobs or voluntary activities. People applying online through the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) can choose a digital certificate. It is provided as a PDF through their personal BundID account and has the same legal validity and evidential value as the printed version. The paper version remains available.
What Is Needed to Apply Online?
The digital certificate of conduct can only be requested through the BfJ’s online portal: https://www.fuehrungszeugnis.bund.de/. Applicants need a German identity card with the online identification function activated, an electronic residence permit or an eID card. An NFC-enabled smartphone (https://www.vodafone.de/featured/article/ist-mein-handy-nfc-faehig-176028) and a BundID account are also required. Anyone who does not yet have a BundID account can create one during the application process.
Digital Document Usually Ready Within Hours
According to the BfJ, the digital certificate is usually available within a few hours. The PDF can then be downloaded and, for example, emailed to an employer or printed out. A QR code allows the document’s authenticity to be verified. As with the paper version, the fee is €13. Currently, online applications for a digital certificate can only be paid for by credit card.
Not All Certificates Are Available Digitally
Certificates of conduct for private purposes, including those intended for employers, are available digitally. These include standard and extended certificates and, under certain conditions, European certificates of conduct. However, a certificate intended for submission to a public authority cannot be issued digitally. Anyone who does not want a digital document or does not meet the technical requirements can still apply for a paper certificate.
Sources:
Federal Office of Justice: Questions and answers about certificates of conduct
https://bundesjustizamt.de/DE/Themen/ZentraleRegister/Fuehrungszeugnis/Fragen/Fragen_node.html?docId=259056
Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection: Certificate of conduct
https://www.bmjv.de/DE/themen/rehabilitierung_resozialisierung/fuehrungszeugnis/fuehrungszeugnis_node.html
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