Plan Early

Give yourself about 6 weeks to plan, as Germany has tight restrictions on where you can hold a deposition.

Location Restrictions

All Germany depos must take place on the U.S. Consulate grounds in Frankfurt. The consulate has limited appointment slots and may require extended lead times.

Conference Room Costs

Conference room plus consular fees in Frankfurt may exceed $1000 daily rate. Remember to budget accordingly. You may consider moving your depo outside of Germany, as neighboring countries have fewer restrictions.

Visa Requirements

U.S. passport holders may enter Germany for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.

Hague Evidence Convention

Germany is a member of the Hague Evidence Convention. Find out more about the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters.

Useful Links

U.S. State Department
Taking Voluntary Depositions of Willing Witnesses
Blog article
3 Key Factors For Successful Depositions in Germany
U.S. Consulate General
Frankfurt

Want more information on how to schedule a deposition in Germany? Download our 6-page PDF guide to depositions in Germany.

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Video tips

Let our experts walk you through the process of setting up a deposition in Germany.

How to set up a deposition in Germany

Kimberlee Castro, Global Deposition Expert with Optima Juris, gives a few tips on how to set-up a U.S. deposition in Germany.

How to swear in a witness abroad

Ian Hardy, President of Optima Juris, discusses essential tips and know-how to correctly administer the oath during an international deposition.

Case Study: Frankfurt

Ambassadors to Germany

Challenge
A U.S. court reporting agency needs to arrange several depositions in Frankfurt, but doesn't know where to start. Help!
Solution
Germany has strict requirements for foreign depositions, and they must take place at the U.S. embassy in Frankfurt. Using our contacts at the embassy, we were able to get the venue arranged and had a court reporter and videographer on-site and cleared for security. The depositions went off without any problems or complications!

Expert info, tips & advice

Sharing our over 17 years of international deposition experience with you.

Taking Voluntary Depositions of Willing Witnesses in Germany

We organize U.S. depositions in Germany several times per month. Germany is a special case for conducting depositions: officially,all depos you take in Germany must happen at the United States Consulate in Frankfurt.

More…
3 Key Factors For Successful Depositions in Germany

Although organizing depositions in Germany can have its challenges, we have found that by taking the right steps you can be sure to make it a success. Follow these basic guidelines and your next deposition in Germany will run as smoothly as it would in the U.S.

More…
Infographic: 3 Key Factors for a Successful Deposition in Germany

Planning a deposition in Germany can sometimes seem a little overwhelming. With all the rules and regulations it is easy to get lost in the mix. But have no fear! At Optima Juris we have been successfully organizing depositions in Germany for the past 15 years

More…

Essential international travel information for Germany

Currency

Germany uses the Euro. For more information on currency conversions visit XE. Before you leave, notify your bank, credit card company, or other financial institutions that you are going overseas. Avoid carrying cash and consider using traveler's checks or major credit cards instead (but make sure they are accepted at your destination before departing on your trip).

Useful Links

HOTELS
Agoda Germany hotel search
Hotels.com Germany hotel search
Lonely Planet Germany hotel search

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
Voltage and plug styles in Germany

TIME & DATE
Time & date in Germany

Weather

For the latest weather information in cities throughout Germany visit weather.com.

General tipping

To tip the cabbie, round up. In restaurants, leaving 10 percent is a reasonable tip for good service. Even a five percent tip is acceptable, especially if you've only ordered a beer or small item.

Holidays & observances

Imagine your reaction if your deposition had to be rescheduled because of a major local holiday when everything was closed. Don’t let that happen to your depo. You can see a complete list of holidays in Germany here: timeanddate.com/holidays/germany/.

Health

Check with your physician to see which shots are required and/or recommended for your trip to Germany. You can check online resources like the U.S. Department of State Germany country page or contact the German Embassy or Consulate for current entry requirements. The World Health Organization (WHO) can provide their recommendations for vaccinations and other travel health precautions for your trip abroad.

Major airports

BERLIN, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, BER

COLOGNE/BONN, Cologne Bonn Airport, CGN

DÜSSELDORF, Düsseldorf Airport, DUS

FRANKFURT, Frankfurt Airport, FRA

HAMBURG, Hamburg Airport, HAM

MUNICH, Munich Airport, MUC

STUTTGART, Stuttgart Airport, STR

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