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Apply for passport

Service Description

In many countries outside the European Union (EU) you need a passport when entering and leaving the country. You must carry this with you and show it on request. The passport also replaces the identity card, although unlike the latter it does not contain the address of the holder.

The passport can be issued to children as young as 0 years old. If you are planning to travel abroad in the EU with your child, you should apply for a normal biometric passport instead of a children's passport, as the children's passport or identity card is not recognized in some travel countries, such as the USA. The child passport has a validity period of one year.

Temporary passport: In urgent cases, a temporary passport can be applied for at the same time as the (final) passport.

Multiple passportsIf there is a legitimate interest, it is possible to issue several passports for the same person (for example, if there are difficulties in entering other countries due to certain visa entries in the passport).

Biometric passport (ePassport):

Since November 1, 2005, so-called biometric passports (also called ePassports) have been issued. A chip is integrated in it, which - in addition to the personal data of the passport holder - also contains the digital facial image. The photos must therefore be "biometrically compatible. In particular, this means that the face is no longer shown in half-profile, but in frontal view. Since November 1, 2007, two fingerprints have also been stored digitally on the chip in the passport. (Detailed information on biometrics in passports can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior).

Biometrics in passports

Process flow

You must apply for the passport in person. The application is filled out on the spot with the processor. You only need to sign it. For the application, the submission of fingerprints is mandatory by law (flat print of the left and right index finger).

The passport will be sent by the passport producer to the applying citizens' office after production. You can then pick up the passport there.

Who should I contact?

  • to the passport office (Bürgeramt) of the city or municipality in which you are registered with your sole or main residence, or
  • to the administrative community that performs the task of passport authority.
  • You can also apply for a passport at any other citizens' office. In this case, you will have to pay a surcharge.

Requirements

The requirements for applying for a passport are as follows

  • You are a German citizen.
  • There must be no reasons for refusal, such as the assumption that you want to escape criminal prosecution, execution of a sentence or a legal obligation to support yourself by leaving the country.

Requirements for applying for a temporary passport:

  • The temporary passport may be issued and delivered immediately if the regular passport cannot be completed in time before the start of the journey, even by express procedure. The Citizen's Office may require appropriate proof, for example, airline tickets or other travel documents.
  • The validity period of the temporary passport shall be adapted to the purpose of travel and shall not exceed one year. The temporary passport does not contain an electronic storage medium (chip).

Which documents are required?

To apply for a passport, you will need the following documents:

  • a valid identity document (passport, identity card, children's identity card, children's passport),
  • a recent photograph in passport format (45 x 35 mm), portrait format, frontal view without borders, without head covering and without covering the eyes (biometric photograph),
  • if applicable, your previous passport (if you have one, even if it is invalid),
  • your birth certificate, if applicable,
  • when applying for a child: identification of the custodian present, if applicable the declaration of consent and a copy of the identification of the custodian not present, proof of custody in case of only one custodian.
  • With regard to the issuance of passports for minors after the age of twelve, please refer to the information on children's passports.

When issuing a passport for the first time or when moving into a municipality, additional documents such as civil status certificates or citizenship certificates may be required. Please inform yourself in advance at the responsible office.

What are the fees?

Passport

If you are under 24 years old, the fee is

  • for a passport EUR 37,50 ,
  • for an express passport EUR 69,50.

From the age of 24 the fee is

  • for a passport EUR 60,00,
  • for an express passport EUR 92.00.

The passport has 32 pages. You can also apply for a passport with 48 pages. In this case, you will have to pay a surcharge of EUR 22.00.

The surcharge is EUR 22.00 for an express passport.

The fee (without surcharges) is doubled if:

  • the issuance has to be made outside the official office hours, or
  • the issuance is not applied for at the locally competent passport authority (municipality of the main residence).

If you apply for a passport at a German embassy or consular mission, e.g. in case of passport loss, you have to pay EUR 21.00 surcharge

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Period of validity:

  • for applicants under 24 years: 6 years
  • for applicants 24 years and older: 10 years
  • temporary passport: maximum 1 year
  • Children's passport: The children's passport is valid for one year, but not longer than until the child reaches the age of 12 years

The validity of the passport cannot be extended.

From the completion of the twelfth year of life, the issuance of passports is mandatory; children's passports are then no longer permissible.

Please check in good time before each trip abroad whether your passport is still valid. In some countries, the passport must still be valid for at least three months upon entry.

Legal basis

What else should I know?

You must be present in person when applying for a passport so that your identity can be verified. If you cannot be present in person, only a temporary passport can be issued. The identity verification must then be done when the document is issued, otherwise the temporary passport will not be issued.

The temporary passport does not contain an electronic storage medium (chip).

In some countries, for example the USA, a normal electronic passport is required for visa-free entry.

If entry to these countries is to be made with a temporary passport, a visa is also required.

For some countries, a passport is also required for children (see children's passport).

Information about the entry requirements as well as further information about your destination can be found on the website of the German Foreign Office.

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.

Technically approved by

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

Professionally released on

15.10.2021

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

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