German Legal Guide

This page covers German law (SBGG – Self-Determination Act). Content is primarily in German with key terms explained, as the legal information applies specifically to Germany.

Last updated: March 2026

Your Rights

The complete guide to the German Self-Determination Act (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz), your gender options, and everything you need to know.

The Self-Determination Act (SBGG)

The Gesetz über die Selbstbestimmung in Bezug auf den Geschlechtseintrag (SBGG) – the Self-Determination Act regarding Gender Entry came into effect on 1 November 2024 and replaced the Transsexuellengesetz (TSG), which had been in force since 1980.

The SBGG allows trans, intersex, and non-binary people to change their Geschlechtseintrag (gender entry) and first names through a simple declaration at the Standesamt (registry office) – without expert assessments, court proceedings, or medical diagnoses.

Historic success:

In the first year, over 22,000 people made use of the law. Experience shows that the implementation has been largely unbureaucratic and respectful.

Four Gender Options

German civil status law (Personenstandsrecht) recognises four options:

Person at the Standesamt (registry office) selecting No Entry on a futuristic display
♂

Male (männlich)

Assignment to the male gender

♀

Female (weiblich)

Assignment to the female gender

⚧

Divers (diverse)

Positive recognition of a third gender – confirmed by the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) since 2018

○

No Entry (Kein Eintrag / Streichung)

Leaving the gender assignment open – no positive gender designation. For people who identify as agender or genderless.

Difference: "divers" (diverse) vs. "kein Eintrag" (no entry)

Divers is a positive recognition of a third gender. The Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) confirmed in 2017 that more than two genders exist.

Kein Eintrag (no entry) means that no gender assignment is made – a deliberate blank. People who do not recognise the category of gender for themselves often choose this option.

According to the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court), there is virtually no substantive legal difference. The choice is primarily a matter of personal identity.

The Change Process – Step by Step

1

Registration at the Standesamt (Registry Office)

  • • Can be done orally, in writing, or online in some municipalities
  • • An informal letter is sufficient: name, date of birth, address, and your request
  • • Registration is generally free of charge
  • • Tip: The fastest route is via the Geburtsstandesamt (registry office of birth), as it can enter the change directly into the register
2

3-Month Waiting Period

  • • The statutory reflection period begins from registration
  • • During this time you can still change your planned first names
  • • The declaration must be made within 6 months of registration
  • • Missed the deadline? No problem – simply register again
3

Submit the Declaration in Person

  • • You affirm that the chosen entry matches your gender identity
  • • No justification required – neither for the Geschlechtseintrag (gender entry) nor for the name choice
  • • The Standesamt (registry office) is not allowed to question or verify the declaration
  • • After a change: a waiting period of 1 year before another change is allowed
4

Update Your Documents

  • • Request a certificate of the change (essential!)
  • • Renew your Personalausweis (ID card), Reisepass (passport), Führerschein (driving licence)
  • • Update your health insurance card
  • • Inform your employer, have references updated

⏱️ Waiting period: 1 year — After changing your Geschlechtseintrag (gender entry) you must wait at least 1 year before you can change it again. The period begins from the day of the declaration at the Standesamt (registry office). After that, another change (with a new 3-month registration) is possible at any time.

Who can use this law? People with German citizenship or an unlimited or renewable residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel).

Minors: From the age of 14, minors can submit the declaration themselves, but need the consent of their legal guardians. If consent is refused, the Familiengericht (family court) can override this.

Choosing First Names Freely

According to the BMI circular letter (Rundschreiben) from September 2024, the name choice depends on the chosen Geschlechtseintrag (gender entry). With "divers" you have complete freedom. With "kein Eintrag" (no entry / deletion) there is an important restriction.

⚧ With gender entry "divers" (diverse)

Those who choose the entry "divers" have complete freedom in name choice:

  • • Choose gender-neutral first names
  • • Choose feminine first names
  • • Choose masculine first names
  • • Form any combination
  • • Keep your current first names
  • • Change the number of first names

○ With gender entry "kein Eintrag" (no entry / deletion)

Those who have their gender entry deleted face a restriction on name choice:

  • ✅ Choose gender-neutral first names
  • ✅ A combination of at least one feminine AND one masculine first name
  • ⚠️ Keep current first names – possible if they are not clearly assignable to only one binary gender. In practice this is handled differently depending on the Standesamt (registry office).
  • ❌ Only feminine first names – not allowed
  • ❌ Only masculine first names – not allowed

Since no gender is recorded, the first names must not clearly indicate a binary gender – unless both directions are combined.

💡 Good to Know

  • • No obligation to justify your name choice
  • • No limit on the number of first names
  • • First names can still be changed before the declaration
  • • What matters is what is stated at the time of the declaration
  • • If problems arise: use the BMI circular letter (Rundschreiben) as a reference
  • • If necessary, involve the supervisory authority (Aufsichtsbehörde)
Futuristic Personalausweis (ID card) with the title Ser and the name Ferris Sakura Ehre next to a holographic Identity Pass

Costs

RegistrationFree
Beurkundung (certification, varies by Standesamt)15 – 60 €
Bescheinigung (certificate)12 – 19,50 €
New Personalausweis (ID card)37 €
New Reisepass (passport, age 24+)70 €
New Reisepass (passport, under 24)37,50 €

Examples: Hamburg: declaration 38 €, certificate 19.50 € | Berlin: declaration 15 €, certificate 12 € | Bremen: certification 51 €

Person with a glowing shield – symbol of legal protection

Your Protection

🛡️ Offenbarungsverbot (Disclosure Ban) – §13 SBGG

Your previous Geschlechtseintrag (gender entry) and first names may not be disclosed without your consent. Exceptions exist only in narrowly defined legal cases.

Violations are punishable by fines of up to 10,000 €.

⚖️ Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG (General Equal Treatment Act)

The AGG protects against discrimination based on gender and sexual identity – this explicitly includes non-binary, intersex, and trans people.

Protection applies in particular in employment and in everyday transactions.

⚠️ Known Protection Gaps

  • • No AGG protection for public-law actions (education, administration, police)
  • • Enforcing rights is often difficult in practice
  • • Professional associations have been calling for a comprehensive AGG reform for years

Practical Tips

1

Choose the right Standesamt (registry office)

The fastest route is via the Geburtsstandesamt (registry office of birth), as it enters the change directly into the register. At the Wohnort-Standesamt (registry office of residence), the declaration is forwarded first.

2

Secure a confirmation of receipt

Have the receipt of your registration confirmed with a date (e.g. by email), so the 3-month period is calculated correctly.

3

First names can be changed afterwards

The first names given at registration can still be changed before the declaration. Only what is stated at the time of the declaration matters.

4

Make sure to request the Bescheinigung (certificate)

Only with the certificate of change can you apply for new documents (ID card, passport).

5

Do not give any justification

You do not need to provide any justification for either the Geschlechtseintrag (gender entry) or the name choice. Follow-up questions from the Standesamt (registry office) are not permitted.

6

Seek advice

Counselling centres for trans/intersex/non-binary people can help with problems. If in doubt, involve the supervisory authority (Aufsichtsbehörde) of the Standesamt (registry office).

Current Developments 2025/2026

WARNING

Controversial Meldewesen-Verordnung (Registration Regulation)

The Bundesinnenministerium (Federal Ministry of the Interior) is planning a regulation that would store previous gender entries and first names indefinitely in the Melderegister (civil registration database) and automatically forward them to other authorities.

Since 1 April 2025, three new data fields have been active in the Melderegister (civil registration database).

Criticism: Professional associations, the Bundesdatenschutzbeauftragter (Federal Data Protection Commissioner), and civil society organisations warn that the regulation undermines the Offenbarungsverbot (disclosure ban) and effectively creates special registers for trans people.

The Bundesrat (Federal Council) has postponed the vote for now. However, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are already implementing data sharing with police authorities at the state level.

📋 Planned SBGG Evaluation

The coalition agreement stipulates that the SBGG is to be evaluated by 31 July 2026. Professional associations are calling for a human-rights-based evaluation rather than the currently planned one-sided focus.

You have the right to be yourself

The Self-Determination Act gives you the tools. Ser gives you the title. The rest is up to you.

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