Online notarisation

Notarisation can also be carried out purely online as video notarisation for the following procedures:

  • The formation of a limited liability company (GmbH) or a limited liability entrepreneurial company (UG)
  • Unanimous resolutions for corporations (amendments to articles of association and capital measures)
  • Declarations of acceptance for increases in share capital
  • All registrations with the commercial register
  • All registrations with the register of associations
  • All registrations with the partnership register
  • All registrations with the register of cooperatives
  • All registrations with the register of companies

Outside of company law, online certifications are unfortunately not yet permitted by law.

The prerequisite is that the registered office of the company or the place of residence of a shareholder or the place of residence of a managing director is in Hanover.

Even when using online procedures, notaries must comply with particularly strict legal requirements regarding procedural security, data protection, confidentiality and identification of the parties involved. Online notarisation may therefore only be carried out using the online procedure provided by the Federal Chamber of Notaries. The parties involved require the following identity documents or passports:

  • a valid (German) identity card, an electronic residence permit or an EU citizen card with activated online ID function (eID) or a European eID and the corresponding ID PIN (available free of charge from the citizens‘ office if unknown or forgotten; responsible citizens’ service)
  • additionally, a valid passport for reading the photo if the identity card was not issued after 1 August 2021 (the date of issue is decisive, not the date of expiry)

Standard hardware is sufficient for participation in a notarised online procedure:

  • Computer or iPad (Apple) with webcam, microphone and speakers, current standard browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or Opera)
  • In addition, a smartphone with NFC technology (all current devices have this) and the free Notar app from Google Play or the Apple App Store

Details on the online notarisation process can be found at: online.notar.de