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Changing first and last names in Germany to become easier

Changing first and last names in Germany to become easier

,   and  ASMedia
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Changing first and last names in Germany to become easier
Changing first and last names in Germany to become easier

Changing Your Name in Germany: Simplified Process Coming Soon

Navigating the process of changing your name in Germany can be a challenge, but good news is on the horizon. The German government has proposed significant simplifications to this procedure, set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

New Regulations

At the end of August 2023, the cabinet submitted a new bill for consideration, aiming to simplify the name change process. On October 20, 2023, most of the recommendations on the bill were adopted by the Bundesrat.

These changes include the possibility of reversing a name change in the event of parents' divorce, allowing for both spouses and even children to use a double surname, and easing the process for stepchildren and children to revert to their birth names after a divorce.

Key Changes

Starting November 1, 2025, adults will be able to change their name simply by visiting the registry office. This is significant, as it allows for changes such as adopting one parent's surname, combining both parents' names, or shortening a double surname to one parent's surname.

With the implementation of these new regulations, adults in Germany will have more flexibility when it comes to changing their names. This includes changing one parent's surname to another, combining both parents' names, or shortening a double surname obtained at birth to one of the parents' surnames.

Enrichment Data:

While the provided sources do not mention any specific changes to name and surname regulations in Germany starting November 1, 2025, there are some relevant details about German ID cards and the name change process:

  1. In 2019, German ID cards underwent minor textual adjustments including a change in the information field regarding the surname and surname at birth[3]. Similarly, on August 2, 2021, German ID cards were adapted to comply with Regulation (EU) 2019/1157, which included changes such as the country code "DE" being shown in white in the blue European flag on the front and two fingerprints becoming mandatory[3].
  2. The process for changing one's name in Germany involves submitting an application to the relevant authorities, typically the local registry office, and providing necessary documentation such as a copy of the identity card/passport and a supplementary ID card from the German Society for Transidentity and Intersexuality e.V. or an extract from the civil status register according to §10 SBGG[1].
  3. The regulation regarding name changes in Germany is primarily governed by the Act on Self-Determination with regard to Gender Registration in Special Cases (SBGG), which allows for changes in official registers if no special reasons of public interest stand in the way[1].

For the most current and specific regulations regarding name and surname changes in Germany starting November 1, 2025, consult the latest updates from the German government or relevant legal authorities.

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