Confirming Letter (Bestätigungsbrief)

A Confirming Letter, often referred to as a Bestätigungsbrief, is an official document issued by a German registry court, chamber, or notary, confirming to a foreign authority that a specific entry—such as the existence of a GmbH, current management, or articles of association—is properly registered in the commercial or association register. The Confirming Letter serves as an additional proof of authenticity in cross-border legal and business transactions when a simple register extract is insufficient or when an apostille or legalization is explicitly required. Particularly in international company formations, bank compliance, tenders, or visa applications, authorities often request a Confirming Letter to verify the authenticity of German documents. The document is requested directly from the competent registry court; it includes a file number, date, official stamp, and signature. In purely German commercial register procedures, the term plays little role, whereas in the association register, the so-called confirmation note exists as an equivalent. By combining the confirmation letter, certified translation, and apostille, companies meet all formal requirements for secure international document transactions.