When leaving their children with a total stranger, parents need to feel confident that the person is trustworthy. As a professional nanny or babysitter, one of the most important documents you should always have at the ready is a copy of your clean criminal record. This is also called your “certificate of conduct” or, in German, Führungszeugnis. But how do you apply for your Führungszeugnis?
Also called a “police clearance” in English, applying for your Führungszeugnis is easy. It costs €13 and can usually be done entirely online.
Here’s how to get your police clearance in Germany
First, you’ll need to have your electronic ID handy, or your eID. This is usually a feature of your European ID or German visa. Note—if your visa is more than a few years old and you’ve never used your eID before, you may need to apply for a new eID. More details on how to do that below.
Once you’ve got your ID, head to this website if you live in Berlin: https://www.fuehrungszeugnis.bund.de/. If you don’t live in Berlin, you’ll need to apply via your city’s application portal.
Select this option:
Then, you’ll have two more options to choose from:
Make sure you select “für mich selbst”. This means that you are applying “for yourself” rather than “for official reasons”. The “official reasons” are those that have to do with German court or probation, not employment. If you’re applying for your job, this counts as personal reasons rather than official ones.
How long does it take to receive your Führungszeugnis?
After a successful application process, your Führungszeugnis will be delivered by post to your address. This might be as fast as one week, or up to two months or more.
How to apply for a Führungszeugnis if your eID isn’t working?
For EU citizens
If you already have a valid EU ID or passport, but don’t have a valid German ID yet, you’ll have to get one. You can apply for your eID at any Bürgeramt in your local area. Find the list of Berlin Bürgerämter (offices) here.
Don’t forget to bring the following documents with you: a biometric passport photo, your current passport, your Anmeldungbestätigung.
For non-EU citizens
If the eID associated with your visa is malfunctioning or isn’t able to be activated for whatever reason, you’ll have to apply for a new one. Contact the Landesamt für Einwanderung here. You will need to know which letter branch of the Landesamt für Einwanderung you’re associated with: A, B, or E. Find the full list of options here.
Once you know which branch to contact, write a message explaining that your eID isn’t working. Then, after one or two weeks, you should receive a reply scheduling a meeting where you can apply for a new eID. This meeting may be months in advance, so be sure to start this process as soon as possible if you need your Führungszeugnis quickly.
Having a valid Führungszeugnis from the last 3 years is a requirement to work with Lighthouse Nanny. If you’d like to join our nanny pool but are missing this piece of paperwork, start the application process today! That way, you can receive your first family placement as quickly as possible.
