Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6Plus)

Apply for a passport

Description

The German passport allows you to enter over 170 countries worldwide as a tourist without a visa. You need a passport if you want to travel to countries outside the European Union (EU). If you have German citizenship, you can apply for a German passport.

The passport

is recognized both within the EU and outside the EU,
has a chip and is
and can be applied for by people of any age from birth.

Passport for children

Your child also needs a passport if you are planning to travel outside the EU.

Since January 1, 2024, passports for children are no longer issued. You can apply for a regular passport for your child.

Does your child still have a valid children's passport?

You can continue to use it until

the validity expires
the information no longer applies
the photo is no longer sufficient to clearly identify your child

Note: The children's passport is no longer recognized by all countries. Please check where your child's passport is recognized before you travel. Use the travel and security information from the Federal Foreign Office (AA).

Responsibilities

You can apply for a passport at the citizens' office in your place of residence. If you have more than one place of residence, the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence is responsible.

If there is an important reason, you can also apply for your passport at an authority outside your place of residence. This may incur additional costs for you.

If you live abroad or your passport has been lost abroad, you can apply for your passport at the German representation abroad.

Prerequisites

You have German citizenship.
You are present in person when you apply for your passport.
- If you are applying for a passport for your child or someone you look after, they must also be present when you apply.
for children under the age of 18:
- You have custodial rights.
There must be no grounds for refusing a passport. This includes, for example, the assumption that you are in danger of losing your passport by leaving the country.
- criminal prosecution,
- enforcement of a sentence or
- to evade a statutory maintenance obligation.

Required documents

biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
if available and not yet validated: Your previous
- passport
- temporary passport
- identity card
- temporary identity card
- Children's passport
your birth certificate, if applicable
if applying for a child under the age of 16:
- Identification documents of the custodial persons present
- if applicable, a declaration of consent and a copy of the identity card of the custodial person not present
- If applicable, proof of custody if only one person has custody of the child
If applicable, certificate with current name, for example
- birth certificate, marriage certificate, marriage certificate
- family register
- Declaration on the use of the name
Further documents may be required, for example
- in the event of loss due to theft: police report

Fees (costs)

Fee: 70,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs apply from the age of 24.
The fee (without surcharges) is doubled if:
- the passport must be issued outside official office hours or
- the application is not submitted to the local passport authority (municipality of the main residence).

Fee: 37,50 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs apply if you are under 24 years old.
The fee (without surcharges) is doubled if:
- the passport must be issued outside official office hours or
- the application is not submitted to the local passport authority (municipality of the main residence).

Fee: 32,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs apply to passport applications in the express procedure (surcharge).

Fee: 22,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs are additional if you apply for a passport with 48 pages instead of 32 pages

Fee: 31,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
Additional costs are incurred if you apply for a passport at a German mission abroad (embassy or consulate).

Fee: 6,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html

Fee: 15,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html

Deadlines

Your passport will lose its validity before the expiry date entered if

the personal details entered no longer apply to you or
your photograph is no longer clearly suitable for identification purposes. This may be the case in particular with passports for babies or very young children.

Period of Validity: 6 Years
For applicants under 24 years of age

Period of Validity: 10 Years
For applicants aged 24 and over

Processing time

Processing Time: 2 Weeks
Die Bearbeitungsdauer beträgt mindestens 2 Wochen.

Responsible body

Citizens' office

Passport authority (usually citizens' office) at the main place of residence
any other passport authority in Germany (additional costs may be incurred)
German representation abroad (additional costs may be incurred)

Procedure

You must apply for a passport in person on site:

Make an appointment at your local citizens' office.
Bring all the necessary documents with you to the appointment.
The official staff will fill out the application with you on site. All you have to do is sign the application.
Your fingerprints will be taken. These are usually the prints of your two index fingers.
- Your fingerprints are only taken for storage in the passport chip and are stored until you collect your passport from the Citizens' Registration Office. After that, your fingerprints are deleted and are only stored on the chip in your passport.
- Children under the age of 6 do not have to provide a fingerprint or signature.
Your Citizens' Registration Office will inform you when you can collect your passport. You can authorize another person of legal age in writing to collect your passport from the authority.
Alternatively, you can pay a fee to have the ID document sent by post to your home address in Germany and handed over in person at the front door.

Further information

As a rule, you can only have one valid passport issued. Under certain circumstances, however, you can also apply for a second passport. You must provide evidence of a reason for this.