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German VAT Registration: Documents Checklist by Country

Pick your country of company seat for the exact set of documents the German Finanzamt needs, what must be apostilled, what gets translated, and which tax office you'll be assigned to.

Your company-existence document

Your document checklist

    This is the typical set. The Finanzamt confirms the exact requirement case by case, and we confirm it with you during onboarding so you never over-apostille or pay for certifications you do not need.

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    The universal items every country needs

    Whatever your country of origin, three items are constant, and a fourth applies the moment your inventory sits in Germany:

    What an apostille is, in plain English

    An apostille is a single standardised certificate under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention that verifies the signature or seal on a public document so other member countries accept it without further checks. It replaces the older, slower consular legalisation. You typically need it on the document that proves your company exists, where the Finanzamt requests it. A passport copy and the power of attorney are usually not apostilled, and EU-issued documents usually need no apostille at all. Since 7 November 2023, China is a member, so Chinese company documents take a simple apostille instead of consular legalisation.

    For the full written guide, see documents for German VAT registration, by country.

    Free to cite with a link: Vaytax, "German VAT Registration Documents Checklist by Country", https://vaytax.com/german-vat-registration-checklist

    Frequently asked questions

    What documents does a UK company need?

    Certificate of Incorporation and Articles of Association (apostilled where requested), a passport copy of the director, and a signed power of attorney. Since Brexit you also need an EU EORI number to move stock into Germany; your GB EORI is not valid in the EU.

    What documents does a US company need?

    Your LLC formation document (Articles of Organization, or Articles of Incorporation for a corporation), your IRS EIN confirmation letter, a passport copy of the representative, and a signed power of attorney. Documents are typically apostilled.

    What documents does a Chinese company need?

    Your commercial register extract (business licence) and articles of association, both apostilled (a simple apostille since China joined the Convention on 7 November 2023), plus a passport copy of the legal representative and a signed power of attorney. Chinese documents are translated during onboarding.

    Do the documents need to be apostilled?

    Often yes for the company-existence document, where the Finanzamt requests it; usually not for the passport or power of attorney; and usually not at all for EU-issued documents. The exact set is confirmed during onboarding.

    We gather the list with you, then file it

    German VAT registration handled end to end by a licensed German tax advisor. €1,199/year all-in with registration included, or €79/month if you already have a German VAT number.

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