The certificate is a selection from the federal central register made under fixed rules, not a copy of it. Knowing the difference pays: the content can be checked in advance and free of charge, which beats finding out at the same moment as your employer.
What appears on the certificate and what does not
The certificate does not contain everything. Minor penalties are left out under certain conditions, entries are deleted over time — and the content can be checked in advance.
✓ Verified: 01/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
Before changing jobs I requested the register disclosure for myself, simply to know what was in it. That brought more peace of mind than the certificate did.
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Lea recommends:
If unsure, look at the disclosure before an employer requests the certificate. Learning about an entry first is far better than learning about it second.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does everything appear on it? ▾
No. The law provides that certain entries are not included in the standard certificate: minor penalties stay out where there are no further entries. An empty certificate therefore does not mean the register holds nothing.
How can I check the content in advance? ▾
Through a free disclosure from the federal central register, which shows more than the certificate. It is made available for inspection under a specific procedure explained when you make the request.
Are entries deleted over time? ▾
Yes, periods apply after which entries are no longer included and are later deleted. The periods depend on the type and severity of the penalty, so there is no blanket answer to how many years it takes.
Do convictions from other countries count? ▾
Convictions handed down abroad against people resident in Germany are entered under certain conditions. Anyone with such a history is better off clarifying the effect before an employer asks for the certificate.