Sooner or later, most employees in Germany are asked for a “Führungszeugnis” – the official certificate of conduct. For international professionals with a criminal case in their past (or present), the document raises anxious questions: What exactly will my employer see? The answer is more reassuring than most people expect – if you know the rules.
What the certificate shows – and what it hides
The certificate of conduct is an extract from the Federal Central Register (Bundeszentralregister), issued on request for the person concerned. It does not show everything the register contains. Not included are: investigations that were dropped, acquittals, dismissals under §§ 153, 153a StPO – and, most importantly, a first conviction to a fine of up to 90 daily rates. For many people the certificate is therefore completely clean despite a closed criminal case. Employers never get direct access to the register itself; they only see what the certificate shows.
The 90-daily-rates rule
Under § 32 of the Federal Central Register Act (BZRG), a single conviction to a fine of not more than 90 daily rates (or imprisonment up to three months) is omitted from the certificate – provided the register contains no other conviction. This is why defense lawyers fight hard to keep penalty orders at 90 daily rates or below: the difference between 90 and 100 daily rates is the difference between an invisible and a visible conviction. How the amount of a daily rate is calculated and how to appeal a penalty order is explained in our guide to the German penalty order.
How long entries last
Visible entries do not stay forever. Fines and short prison sentences disappear from the certificate of conduct after three years, more serious sentences after five (§ 34 BZRG); sexual offences follow special rules. The register itself keeps entries longer – typically ten to twenty years (§§ 45 ff. BZRG) – but that full history is visible only to courts and certain authorities, not to employers. New convictions reset the clock for existing entries, which is one more reason to avoid a second visible conviction.
When and how employers may ask
German employers may request a certificate of conduct where they have a legitimate interest – common at hiring, routine in childcare, security, finance and public service. Jobs involving contact with minors require the extended certificate (erweitertes Führungszeugnis), which shows certain offences regardless of the 90-daily-rates rule. In interviews, employers may only ask about convictions relevant to the specific job, and questions about pending investigations are generally not permissible – the presumption of innocence protects you. If your residence status could also be affected by a conviction, see our overview Criminal proceedings and your residence status.
Frequently asked questions
Can my employer obtain my certificate without me?
No. Only you can apply for your certificate of conduct (online via the Federal Office of Justice or at the Bürgeramt). For public-sector positions there is a variant sent directly to the authority – but always at your request.
My case was dismissed – will it show anywhere?
Not in the certificate of conduct, and not in the central register either. Dismissals and acquittals are recorded only in internal prosecution databases, which employers cannot access.
I received a penalty order of 90 daily rates. Is my certificate clean?
If it is your first conviction and nothing else is registered: yes, the certificate remains clean. A second conviction, however, would make both entries visible – so the stakes of any new proceedings are higher. Get advice early; see all our English-language services at Criminal Defense in Bonn.
Note: This article describes the general legal situation in Germany and is no substitute for individual advice. If a pending case threatens your record, we are happy to assess your options in English: +49 228 504 463 36.
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense attorney in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: June 2026
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