Applications to be submitted to the Federal Foreign Office may only be signed by the Head of Mission, the Deputy Head of Mission or a specially authorized diplomat or professional consular officer.

The following applications may only be signed by heads of missions, permanent representatives, chargés d’affaires or a specially authorized diplomat or professional consular officer:

• Protocol ID cards: issuance, renewal and return
• VAT/turnaround tax refund
• Registration or re-registration of motor vehicles
• Issuance of fishing, hunting or weapons licenses
  

The attached signature sheet must be completely filled out and sent to the Foreign Office - Department 703 with the original signatures and official seal (Annex Unterschriftsproben).

We ask that you only send a single form for all persons currently authorized to sign. In the event of changes (e.g. due to changes in personnel), all signatures must be obtained again from those authorized to sign and presented on a signature sheet. The Foreign Office assumes that only those delegates who are listed on the last sheet sent are entitled to sign. Previous signature samples lose their validity.

Without a current and complete signature sheet, the above-mentioned applications cannot be processed. Applications that are not properly signed, as well as incomplete applications, will be returned unprocessed. Only applications that are complete and properly signed by the applicant and an authorized person are considered to have been submitted within the deadline.

Certificates on your own behalf (e.g. the head of the representation signing your own application) are not permitted. In such a case, the application must be made by their representative or another specially authorized diplomat or professional consular officer.