Giving birth in Germany: preparation and registration

1. Hospital, birth centre or home birth

A hospital offers immediate access to obstetric and neonatal medical services. A birth centre or home birth offers a different setting but requires an individual suitability discussion and a transfer plan.

Ask your clinician and midwife about your own circumstances; this guide cannot recommend a setting.

2. Register and prepare

Facilities set their own registration process. Ask when to register, when to call before travelling, which entrance to use after hours and what a companion needs.

1. 1

   Contact the facility

   Confirm registration and what to do when labour may have started.

2. 2

   Prepare documents

   Commonly requested items include IDs, eGK, Mutterpass and civil-status documents; confirm the exact list.

3. 3

   Pack for discharge

   Arrange suitable clothes and a lawful child restraint for travel by car.

4. 4

   Plan support

   Confirm midwife/postnatal follow-up and transport before the due date.

3. Immediately after birth

The U1 newborn examination is carried out immediately after birth. Other newborn screening—including hearing and metabolic screening—follows within its official time window and consent process.

The facility supplies the child examination booklet (Gelbes Heft) and documentation or tells you how follow-up is arranged.

4. Register the birth

A birth must be notified to the responsible Standesamt within one week. For a hospital or birth-centre birth, the facility normally sends the notification. For a home birth, the attending professional supplies confirmation.

The exact civil-status documents depend on whether parents are married, foreign certificates and whether parentage recognition is needed. Ask the Standesamt early about originals, translations or legalisation.

5. The first administrative sequence

Obtain the required birth-certificate copies, notify the child’s health insurer, and then complete benefit and employer/leave applications. Tax ID processing follows civil registration and should not replace time-sensitive applications.

1. 1

   Birth registration

   Ensure the Standesamt has the notification and documents.

2. 2

   Health insurance

   Apply for newborn coverage and keep confirmation.

3. 3

   Kindergeld and Elterngeld

   Prepare separate applications; retroactive rules differ.

4. 4

   Residence documents if needed

   Non-German families should check the child’s nationality and residence process with the competent authority.

6. When care cannot wait

Use the personalised instructions from your maternity unit or midwife. For life-threatening emergencies call 112. For urgent non-life-threatening medical help, use the responsible practice/unit or 116117.