Applying for a passport document if you lose your passport abroad
Description
As a rule, you will need police proof of the loss or theft report from the German diplomatic mission in your destination country to apply for a new passport document.
You can then apply for a passport or passport replacement for your return or onward journey at the German diplomatic mission in your country of travel.
Depending on whether you want to return directly to Germany or travel to other countries, you will be issued either
- a travel document as a passport replacement, which is only valid for your return or entry into Germany,
- a temporary passport or
- a new passport.
If you wish to return to Germany, but the travel document for return is not recognized for the exit or transit of foreign countries or the validity period, which is limited to one month, is not sufficient, you can be issued with a temporary passport. This is also possible if you wish to continue your journey and not return directly to Germany. If even a temporary passport is not recognized, a new passport can be issued, if necessary in an express procedure.
If you have copies of your passport and possibly also your identity card with you on your trip, this will make it easier to establish your identity and issue a new passport or passport replacement if your passport is lost or stolen.
- Report the loss or theft to the local police authority and the diplomatic mission abroad
- Proof of loss or theft reported to the police
- Fully completed application form
- current biometric photograph:
- passport size (45 x 35 mm)
- portrait format
- frontal photo without border
- usually without headgear
- without covering the eyes
- Please contact the diplomatic mission abroad if you cannot prove your identity by presenting an identity document, for example
- an existing German passport or identity card
- a copy of it
- a foreign passport or identity card
- Further documents may be required. Please inform yourself in advance at the diplomatic mission abroad.
Fee: 52,00 EURPayment in advance: yeshttps://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/beantragung-kosten-abholung/02-gebuehren.htmlGebühr für Reiseausweis zur Rückkehr als Passersatz bei Beantragung einer Auslandsvertretung während der regulären Öffnungszeiten unabhängig vom Alter. Die Gebühr setzt sich zusammen aus der Grundgebühr für den Reiseausweis von 8,00 EUR und 44,00 EUR für die Beantragung an einer Auslandsvertretung.
Fee: 60,00 EURPayment in advance: yeshttps://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/beantragung-kosten-abholung/02-gebuehren.html
Period of Validity: 1 - 31 DaysDer Reiseausweis als Passersatz ist für die Dauer der Reise, höchstens aber 1 Monat gültig.
Period of Validity: 1 YearDer vorläufige Reisepass ist 1 Jahr lang gültig.
Period of Validity: 6 Years
Period of Validity: 10 Years
If you would like to have a travel document issued as a passport replacement, this usually takes a few hours.
If you would like to have a temporary passport issued, this may take several days.
If you wish to have a new passport issued, this will take at least 4 weeks.
If the necessary consultation with the citizens' office at your German place of residence is delayed, the processing time may be longer. If you require an exit visa, the processing time may be delayed.
- Complaint or appeal against the decisions of the Federal Foreign Office
- Action before the administrative court
If you have lost your passport while traveling abroad or if it has been stolen, proceed as follows:
- Report the loss to the local police authority.
- Go to the German diplomatic mission abroad, including
- the German embassy,
- a German consulate general or
- a German consulate in the country you are traveling to.
- Honorary consuls if necessary.
- Once you have submitted all the necessary documents, a replacement passport valid for your return or entry into Germany can be issued directly on site if required.
- If you apply for a new passport, the issuing process will take longer.
- If there is no German diplomatic mission in your destination country, the diplomatic missions of other member states of the European Union (EU) can also issue replacement travel documents.
- You can only travel back to the EU with such a replacement travel document issued by the diplomatic mission or consular post of another EU member state.
- A replacement travel document issued by another EU member state is only valid for a few days.
Some countries require the entry stamp in your passport as proof of legal entry when you leave the country. In this case, you must apply for an exit visa.
Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
14.07.2025
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
