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.

Since May 1, 2025, citizens can only apply for ID cards and passports with digital photos.

Do you want to apply for a passport?
Then you must make an application.
You must come in person.
You make the application with a member of staff from the city or municipality.
You write everything down.
The employee completes the form.
The employee takes your fingerprints.

Do you still need your old passport?

• Then you cannot extend your travel document.
• You will have to apply for a new passport.

A new passport takes 3 weeks to be ready.

You can get a passport faster.

• This is called an express passport.

You can get a temporary passport.

• This means:
  You get the passport immediately.
• This is only possible:
  If you need the passport within the next 3 days.
• You must provide proof of this.
  For example: with a flight ticket.

Would you like to collect your passport?
Have you taken your passport to your local Citizens' Registration Office?
You can collect your passport there.

• Biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer). Different regulations may apply abroad and a paper passport photo may still be accepted.
• 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 16 years of age:
  • Identity documents of the custodial persons present
  • if applicable, 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, document 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

You give the employee from the Bürger-Amt:
a digital photo of yourself.

The photo must be like this:

• The face must be from the front.
• You must not have a head covering in the photo.
• You must not have sunglasses in the photo.

You must show your identity card.

You must give the co-worker a personal status document.

Since May 1, 2025

You can:

• ID cards
• and passports

only with digital photos (photo images).