Service Finder
Child passport
Service Description
When traveling abroad, children must also show identification when crossing the border. For German children, a children's passport or a separate passport can be considered for this purpose. It is also possible to apply for an ID card for children (e.g. for travel within the EU).
The children's passport replaces the previous children's ID card. This has no longer been issued or renewed since January 1, 2006. The advantage of the children's passport is that it is more forgery-proof, which means that it is likely to be more widely accepted in other countries.
A child's passport is issued to minors up to the age of 12 and must contain a photograph regardless of the child's age. The child's passport is valid for six years, but no longer than until the child reaches the age of twelve. Children's entries in the parents' passport are invalid as of 26.06.2012 and no longer entitle the child to cross the border. As of this date, all children (from birth) must have their own travel document when traveling abroad. For parents as passport holders, however, the document remains valid without restriction.
The child passport can be extended until the child reaches the age of twelve. In this context, it must be provided with a current photograph.
The loss of the child's passport must be reported immediately.
- Personal appearance at the time of application by at least one parent or guardian (identity card or passport must be presented)
- personal appearance of children (regardless of age) also required
- The issuance of a child passport is only possible until the child reaches the age of 12.
- The validity period for children's passports is one year.
- The child passport is only valid for a limited period of time. Please inform yourself in advance at www.auswaertiges-amt.de about the entry requirements of the respective travel country. There you will also find further information about your travel country.
- You can find further information at www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit and on the corresponding page of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Who should I contact?
To the passport authority of the city or municipality where you are registered with your sole or main residence, or the administrative community that performs the task of passport authority.
Which documents are required?
- Identification documents of the person applying for a child passport for the child
- old child ID card, child passport or child passport (if available) and birth certificate of the child
- consent (declaration) of the legal guardians; proof of custody in case of only one legal guardian
- biometric photo (photo sample board Bundesdruckerei)
- basically 1 current biometric passport photo
- It is possible to take a biometric passport photo at the Bürgeramt using the "Speed Capture Station" photo machine at a price of 4.50 EUR. The machine can only be used to a limited extent by people wearing glasses and by people under 1.20 m tall. The photo will be used exclusively for processing your request and cannot be provided to you in printed or electronic form. When booking an appointment, please go to the photo booth on the 1st floor (new building, open-plan office for registration matters) in good time before your booked appointment. Please allow approx. 15 minutes for this. Further information on the "Speed Capture Station" photo booth .
- ID card or passport of all persons with custody rights
- Birth certificate of the child (original)
- old identification documents of the child (if available)
- if necessary: declaration of consent for documents of minors
- The issuance of a passport or children's passport for minors requires the application of both parents if they have joint custody, are married to each other and live together. Application by one custodian may be made if the written consent of the other custodian has been obtained. The signature on the declaration of consent is verified at the Citizen Service Office by means of a copy of the identity card or passport of the custodian who is not present, which must be submitted by the applicant.
- If one parent applies for the passport or children's passport alone in the case of parents who are not married to each other, the consent of the other parent and the custody decree should be submitted in the case of joint custody. Verification of the signature on the consent form is as explained above.
Required documents for updating the child's passport:
- current biometric passport photo of the child
- identity card or passport of the presenting custodial person
- the current child passport
Important
In cases of doubt, the passport authority may require additional documents (for example, custody orders, current civil status certificates, proof of German citizenship). In these cases, it may be necessary for you to appear in person a second time. We therefore recommend that you always bring any existing proof of custody with you!
Special features
Extension of the children's passport:
An extension is only possible as long as the child passport is still valid. Therefore, the latest date for renewal is the expiration date.
Updating the child passport:
The child passport can be updated during its validity period. This is done by attaching a new passport photo and updating the information on body size or eye color. The validity period is a maximum of 1 year from the date of updating.
What are the fees?
The fees are set out in Section 15 of the Passport Ordinance (PassV). Detailed information on this can also be obtained from the relevant office.
Fee 13,00 EUR for the new issue of a child passport
Fee 6,00 EUR for the renewal or updating of the children's passport
Legal basis
What else should I know?
The child must be present when applying for a child passport.
Children's passports without a photograph and children's ID cards issued before November 1, 2007, retain their validity as passport substitutes for the respective period of validity. As these are passport replacement documents, they are not recognized as travel documents by all states. Please find out before each trip abroad whether and under what conditions the country of entry recognizes these documents.
Children's passports that are machine-readable and have a digital photograph and were issued before November 1, 2007, retain their validity for the respective period of validity and are passports within the meaning of the Passport Act.
Information on entry requirements as well as further advice on your destination can be found on the Internet at http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/.
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.
The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.
Technically approved by
Thuringia Ministry of the Interior
Professionally released on
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
Competent Authority
Landeshauptstadt Erfurt, Stadtverwaltung - Meldeaufgaben
Visiting address
99084 Erfurt
