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Apply for child passport

Service Description

When traveling abroad, your child needs a travel document. For children, this can be done in various ways. This can be a children's passport, an identity card or, depending on the destination country, a regular passport.

A new children's passport for your child can be issued on application until the child reaches the age of 12 when applying for the first time,

  • if the validity of the old child passport has expired,
  • if your child's child passport has been stolen or lost,
  • if your child's name has changed, or
  • if entries - except for the information on place of residence or height - are incorrect or missing.

The child passport does not contain an electronic chip.

The children's passport is valid for one year, but at most until your child's 12th birthday.

An entry in the passport of the parents is no longer possible since 1.11.2007. Previous entries are invalid due to a European requirement since 26.6.2012. In this respect, children (from birth) need their own travel document (if necessary also passport or identity card) to cross the border in any case.

It is possible to extend the period of validity several times for one year at a time, up to your child's 12th birthday at the latest.

You apply for a child's passport in person and together with your child at the passport office at the child's main place of residence. You can also apply for a child passport at any other passport office in Germany or abroad. In this case, you will have to pay a surcharge on top of the fee.

Process flow

You must apply for the child passport in person with your child at a passport office.

  • You must apply for the child passport together with your child in person and present the required documents. Your child's personal appearance is always required, as his or her identity must be verified.
  • Both parents must apply jointly if you have joint custody. One parent may be represented by the other parent with power of attorney when submitting the application. Proof of custody is required if there is only one custodian.
  • The application will be recorded on-site by the caseworker. Your child must provide a signature if he or she is at least 10 years old. A signature by younger children is permitted. In addition, you may need to fill out the declaration of German citizenship.
  • The child's passport is usually issued directly by the passport office and given to you immediately. Otherwise, you will be notified as soon as you can pick up the child passport.
  • You can then pick up the child passport at the passport office or have it picked up by an authorized person. The authorized person must identify themselves to the passport office and present a power of attorney to pick up the passport.
  • You must hand over your child's old child passport when you receive the new child passport.

Who should I contact?

Please contact your passport authority.

Competent authority

In Germany, the following is responsible: the passport authority in whose district your child is registered; if there are several residences, the authority where the main residence is registered.

Abroad, the following is responsible: the Federal Foreign Office with the foreign missions designated by it in whose district your child usually resides.

Your passport application must also be processed by a passport authority that is not locally competent if you can show good cause for this.

Requirements

Applications for a child passport may be submitted by:

  • Custodial parents of children, if:
    • the child has German citizenship and
    • is younger than 12 years old

Other requirements:

  • Your child must be present for the purpose of identity verification when applying for the child's passport. If he or she cannot be present, the identity verification must be done when the document is issued or the child passport will not be issued.

Notice:
If your child's surname has not yet been determined after birth, it will not be possible to no child passport can be issued. This does not apply to cases where a surname is entered in the birth register, supplemented by the additional entry "surname not proven".

Which documents are required?

At the time of application, you must present:

  • A valid identity document of the child, such as:
    • Passport
    • child's passport
    • identity card
  • if no valid identity document is available (for example, when applying for the first time or if the old document is lost/stolen):
    • Birth certificate or an extract from the register of births at the registry office,
  • a current biometric photograph (frontal photograph)

Notice:
In exceptional cases, for example in the case of a permanent medical indication, deviations from this may be permitted. Further exceptions are permitted in the case of infants/toddlers.

  • If necessary, further documents of the child (information from your passport authority).

In addition, you must submit the following when applying for minors:

  • In case of joint custody of cohabiting parents:
    • ID of the custodian present as well as
    • the declaration of consent and
    • a copy of the ID of the custodian who is not present.
  • in case of joint custody of separated parents, the parent with whom the child usually resides is entitled to apply:
    • ID of the custodian who is present and, if applicable, the consent form; and
    • a copy of the identity card of the custodian who is not present.
  • if there is only one legal guardian:
    • ID of the custodian who is present, and
    • the proof of custody

What are the fees?

  • Fee for the application of a child passport: EUR 13,00

Notes:

The fee for issuing a child passport is doubled if:

  • the issuance is made outside the official office hours,
  • the issuance is requested at a passport office outside the child's main residence.

If you apply for your child's passport at a German embassy or consular post abroad (for example, as a German abroad), you must pay a surcharge of EUR 13,00.
The fee can be reduced or waived if you, as the applicant, are indigent (proof required).

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

A child's passport is valid for a maximum of 1 year, but no longer than your child's 12th birthday.

Notice:
A multiple extension of the validity period by one year each time, at the most until the 12th birthday of your child, is possible.

Processing duration

The child passport is usually issued directly by the passport office and handed over to you immediately. Otherwise, you will be notified as soon as you can pick up the child passport.

Legal basis

Applications / forms

  • Opposition
  • Action for annulment

Appeal

  • Forms: no
  • Online procedure possible: no
  • Written form required: yes
  • Personal appearance required: yes

What else should I know?

The child's passport does not contain an electronic storage medium (chip). However, some countries - for example, the USA - can only be entered without a visa if the passport contains a chip; a normal passport is required for the child to enter these countries without a visa.

If entry is to be made with a child's passport, a visa is also required.

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

Professionally released on

07.07.2023

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

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