Information on the Verification of Nigerian Documents by the

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
Lagos , Nigeria
November 27th, 2014
Information on the Verification of Nigerian Documents by the
German Consulate General in Lagos
The legalisation of public documents was ceased in May 2000 due to a lack of security features in
Nigerian documents. It was replaced by a verification process in which Nigerian public
documents are verified by the German Consulate General in Nigeria upon request by a German
authority or court.
Please note that the authority in Germany is in charge of the process. You are therefore
kindly requested to contact the competent German authority for all enquiries (in most cases
the local marriage registry).
I) General information regarding procedure and costs
–
The applicant is asked to present the originals of the Nigerian documents plus one
readable photocopy each to the competent German authority (e.g. Marriage Registry,
Aliens Authority). Official translations are not required.
–
A verification fee of currently EUR 650,- (plus additional EUR 15,- postal rate) for a
global verification has to be deposited by the applicant to the competent German
authority.
–
For legal reasons, the Consulate General requires a formal declaration of the competent
authority in Germany stating that all costs that may arise from the verification procedure
will be taken over by the German authority (so-called “formlose
Kostenübernahmeerklärung”). Finally, at the end of the verification process, the German
authority will receive the invoice of the Consulate General along with a detailed report.
The Consulate General does not carry out the necessary investigations with its own staff.
Trustworthy and reliable Nigerian lawyers are charged with the investigations. The evaluation
and conclusion of the investigation reports, however, is done by a Consular Officer of the
Consulate General.
The Consulate General is in permanent contact with the German authority during the period of
the investigations. Applicants are kindly requested to refrain from enquiries to the
Consulate General regarding the state of the investigation. It is not possible to respond to
such requests due to the large number of cases being dealt with by the Consular Section.
The entire verification process may take approximately 2 - 3 months, starting from the time all
essential documents have been received by the Consulate General.
II) List of required documents and additional information
In order to initiate the verification process, the Consulate General requires to submit the
following documents and additional information:
•
Information on all known alias identities
•
Copy of the data page of the Nigerian passport of the applicant and a copy of the
residence permit as well as all departure and arrival stamps from and to Nigeria
•
2 colored passport photographs (please indicate name on the back)
•
Old photographs (also of family members and reference persons, if available)
•
Attestation of the hospital of birth or of the midwife who was present at the time of
birth, if available (otherwise state name and address of the hospital)
•
Baptism Certificate (otherwise, please state name and address of the church as well as
year of baptism)
•
Birth Certificate issued by the competent Local Government or certified true copy of the
registry of birth, in case the original birth certificate has been misplaced (birth occurred
before December 14th, 1992 and was duly registered); or Declaration of Age (for details
see III)
•
Death Certificate(s) (in case parents are deceased)
•
Affidavit of Family Status (Affidavit of Bachelorhood/Spinsterhood)
•
All Marriage- and Divorce Certificates (“Decree Nisi” and “Decree Absolute”) of
previous marriages, if applicable
•
Primary- and, if applicable, Secondary School Testimonials (otherwise name and
address of the schools and period of attendance)
•
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of any children of the applicant in Nigeria as
well as information about the other parent (including relationship, name, address and
telephone number) as well as information about custody of the children. If available,
please attach children's birth certificates
Upon availability:
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•
•
•
•
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Copy of the school's admission register
Printout of the WAEC results
University/Polytechnic degrees
Certificate of National Youth Service
Medical documents, e.g. vaccination cards
Certificates or membership cards from institutions or associations
Please be advised that the presentation of biographically seen old documents is essential
and of high importance, in order to establish the identity of a person.
For the verification of documents the following data and additional information must be
submitted on a separate sheet of paper and typed in English language:
•
•
•
•
•
Full names, addresses and phone numbers of parents, declarants of affidavits, all siblings
living in Nigeria and at least three independent reference persons in Nigeria (e.g.
neighbors, school friends, teachers etc.)
Last two residential addresses in Nigeria
Exact names of all schools attended in Nigeria and period of attendance
Exact names and addresses of all employers in Nigeria
Detailed descriptions for the a. m. addresses (all information must be typed or written in
block letter)
Following additional information is required for the verification of marriage certificates
only:
•
•
Photographs of the wedding ceremony (if available)
Full names, addresses and telephone numbers of the witnesses to the marriage
A directional map is required, if the given addresses are located in rural areas or small towns. In
some cases, additional information or documents may be required.
III) Information regarding Affidavits
According to Nigerian Law, affidavits deposed by persons who are illiterate or who are not in
full command of the English language must be endorsed with a so called “Illiterate Jurat”. In
such cases, the court has to consult an official interpreter who will translate the content of the
declaration to the illiterate declarant first. Subsequently, the interpreter has to sign on the
document, while the declarant himself signs with his finger print.
Declarations of Age must be deposed by the patriarch of the family. Generally, the father of a
person fulfils this function as long as he is still alive. Provided that the father of a person already
passed away, the brother or the oldest son will subsequently replace him with regards to his
function as the patriarch of the family. In case a person has no first-hand knowledge of the birth,
the Declaration of Age must indicate the source of information.
Please note:
All documents must be submitted as originals along with a set of copies to the competent
authority in Germany. In case the documents are repeatedly submitted without copies, the
Consulate General will be urged to bill the additional costs, which ultimately have to be paid by
the owner of the documents.
The German authority is kindly requested to make use of the official courier of the Federal
Foreign office for its mail to the Consulate General. Private persons are exempt from the use of
the official courier.
Please note that all documents have to be presented to the competent authority in Germany. Only
in exceptional cases and after previous agreement documents may be handed in personally at
the Consulate General.
Postal Address:
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
P.O. Box 72800 – Victoria Island
Lagos
Nigeria
Tel.: (+ 234 1) 280 9966
Fax: (+ 234 1) 280 9969
Fax: (+49 30) 1817 67232
Email: [email protected]

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