U.S. citizens in Germany
Online notary for U.S. citizens in Germany
If a document or your ID is in German, tell us before booking so we can confirm it can be reviewed. You can sign in front of a New Jersey notary over secure video from Germany, for the documents the law allows. Sessions start at $40 plus the state notarial fee.
Local facts
Germany at a glance
- Capital
- Berlin
- Official languages
- German
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zones
- UTC+1 (CET), and UTC+2 (CEST) during summer
- Population
- 83,497,147 (Q3 2025 estimate)
- U.S. Embassy
- Berlin
- Apostille Convention
- Party since 13 February 1966
- U.S. consulates
- Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich
Sources: Wikipedia and its list of U.S. diplomatic missions, read October 2026.
Scheduling
New Jersey time and Berlin time
| In New Jersey | Berlin in winter | Berlin in summer |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| 1:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. |
| 5:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. |
Winter is a January date and summer a July date, computed from the IANA time zone database for Berlin's zone. Clocks change on different weeks in different countries, so we confirm the time in both places when you book.
Documents for use in Germany
Apostille or remote notary?
Wikipedia's table of Apostille Convention parties lists Germany as a party, with the convention in force there since 13 February 1966. A U.S. public document meant for use in Germany is normally authenticated with an apostille rather than by embassy legalization. The receiving office has the last word on what it accepts.
A document you sign from Germany and file in the U.S. is the remote notary case. A U.S. document going to an office in Germany is the apostille case. See apostille services.
How it works
From Berlin to a New Jersey notary
- Tell us the document and where you are. We check that it fits New Jersey's rules for a signer outside the United States.
- Book a video session. Bring an unexpired government photo ID and a device with a camera, a microphone and a stable connection.
- Sign on camera. We verify your identity online, you sign electronically in front of the notary, and the notary applies an electronic seal.
- Receive the notarized document. The session is recorded and kept as the law requires.
Embassy option
The U.S. embassy in Berlin
The U.S. Embassy is in Berlin. Wikipedia's list of U.S. missions also shows consulates in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich.
According to the U.S. State Department, embassies and consulates charge $50 per consular seal, expect you in person, ask that you not sign before your appointment, and do not provide remote or virtual services. Confirm current rules and availability on the embassy's own page.
Who qualifies
Does this work from Germany?
Most of the time, yes, provided the paperwork belongs to a U.S. matter and nothing local forbids it. The requirements do not change by country, so they sit together on one page with the rules and the document list. Tell us what you are signing and where you are, and we answer before you book. This is general information, not legal advice, and we do not know Germany's local law, so ask the office that will receive your document what it accepts.
FAQ
Germany notary questions
Can I get a document notarized online from Germany?
Usually. New Jersey lets its notaries serve signers outside the country for U.S. filings and U.S. property matters, as long as the act is lawful where the signer sits. We confirm fit for your document before any booking.
Does the U.S. embassy in Berlin notarize documents?
The U.S. Embassy is in Berlin. Wikipedia's list of U.S. missions also shows consulates in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich. The embassy section above covers the State Department's rules, and a video session is the alternative when you cannot get to a post.
What time are sessions for someone in Germany?
Germany uses UTC+1 (CET), and UTC+2 (CEST) during summer. A 9:00 a.m. session in New Jersey is 3:00 p.m. in Berlin in winter and 3:00 p.m. in summer. We book by appointment and confirm the time in both zones.
What if my document is in German or for use in Germany?
Documents in another language may need a translation, and the notary must be able to review the document and the ID. A document meant to be used inside Germany usually needs a local notary or the embassy, and often an apostille, instead of a New Jersey remote notarization. Germany has been an Apostille Convention party since 13 February 1966. Ask us before booking and we say plainly whether we can help.
What does it cost?
Sessions start at $40, and the state sets a separate notarial fee on top. You see the full total before anything is booked.
All countries · Remote online notarization · Apostilles for documents used abroad