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Travel documents for children; application

You can apply for travel documents for a German child at the municipality.

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For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.
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Procedure details

!CHANGE AS OF 01.05.2025!

In accordance with the Act to Strengthen Security in Passport, ID and Alien Law Documents of December 3, 2020, only digital photographs are to be used for applications for official documents from May 1, 2025 in order to prevent manipulated photographs from being introduced into the application process. From May 1, 2025, the photograph can either continue to be taken by the photographer, who must upload the photograph to a secure cloud. You will receive a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authority can use to find and download your photograph in the cloud. Alternatively, the passport/ID card authority can offer to take photos electronically on site at the authority and transfer them to the application process without media discontinuity. Please contact the authorities to find out whether they have devices for taking photos.

CHANGE AS OF 01.01.2024

With the Act on the Modernization of the Passport, ID and Foreigners' Document System, which was published on 12.10.2023, the children's passport was abolished on 01.01.2024. Since 01.01.2024, no new children's passports can be issued, extended or updated.

The validity of children's passports that have already been issued remains unaffected.

Since 01.11.2007, it is no longer possible to enter the child in the parents' passport. Previous child entries have been invalid since 26.06.2012 due to a European regulation. In this respect, children (from birth) always need their own travel document to cross the border ("one person - one passport").

For your child with German citizenship, you can - regardless of age - continue to apply for passports valid for several years or identity cards (function for electronic proof of identity from the age of 16). Both are valid for 6 years for persons under the age of 24. Identity cards are recognized as travel documents in the EU and are sufficient for both adults and children. The passport allows visa-free travel for tourist purposes to over 170 countries worldwide and is one of the most popular in the world.

It is advisable to base the choice of ID document for children on their use and travel behavior, as ID is only compulsory from the age of 16.

Since an ID document is invalid if it does not allow a proper identification, we recommend paying particular attention to the up-to-dateness of the photo to prevent problems when crossing borders, as the appearance of babies and very young children in particular can change considerably during the period of validity.

Since 02.08.2021, the names of all custodial persons can be entered in the passport (or temporary passport) of minors upon joint application by both parents if the surname of the minor differs from the surname of at least one custodial person. This simplifies checks when traveling across borders. However, this entry does not replace the written consent of the second person with custody - which may be required during the journey - for parents traveling alone with their child.

Responsibility

The municipality in which you or the child are registered for your/their residence, or for your/their main residence if there is more than one residence, is responsible for issuing an identity card or passport.

For children born abroad, the local diplomatic mission responsible for the place of birth is generally responsible for issuing a German identity document for the first time, regardless of whether the child's habitual residence has been transferred to Germany.

  • German within the meaning of Art. 116 (1) of the Basic Law
  • Submission of a formal application to the relevant municipality (in the case of joint custody by both parents, if they are not only temporarily separated, generally by the parent with whom the child usually resides alone or by the parent with sole custody, guardian or custodian).
  • The minor child must also appear in person at the passport/ID office to verify their identity.

  • Current biometric digital photograph (frontal view)
    (Children's passports are now only issued with a photograph. This also applies to infants).
  • old children's passport/old identity document or birth certificate
  • in the case of parents who live together and have joint parental responsibility,
    the application may be made by one parent with the written consent of the other parent, and the signature of the other parent shall be verified by the passport authority
  • if there is only one legal guardian: proof of custody

You must apply for a passport or identity card for your child at the passport/identity card office responsible for the place of residence.

Identity card

  • Applicants under the age of 24: EUR 22.80
  • Provisional identity card: EUR 10.00
  • Increase in fees by EUR 6.00 if the photograph is produced by the authority if the authority uses PointID systems from Bundesdruckerei GmbH
  • Increase in fees by EUR 13.00 if the official act is carried out at the request of the applicant outside official office hours at the request of the applicant or by a non-competent authority.
  • Increase in fees by EUR 30.00 for applications made by so-called foreign Germans to - incompetent domestic identity card authorities

passport

  • before the age of 24: EUR 37.50
  • Temporary passport: EUR 26.00
  • Increase in fees by EUR 6.00 if the photograph is produced by the authority if the authority uses PointID systems from Bundesdruckerei GmbH
  • Amendment of a passport/temporary passport (only size and/or eye color): EUR 6.00 (change of place of residence free of charge)
  • Surcharge on passport for an express passport: EUR 32.00

Doubling of the fees:

  • When issuing a passport, temporary passport or changing a passport, temporary passport, if this is done outside official office hours at the request of the applicant.
  • When issuing a passport (even before the age of 24), temporary passport or change to a passport, temporary passport, if this is done by an incompetent authority at the instigation of the applicant.

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According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, it usually takes at least two weeks from the date of application until the identity card/passport can be collected from the Citizens' Office. In some cases, however, it can take several weeks. Please apply for travel documents for children in good time before you travel. You can obtain further information from your local passport/ID office.

In urgent and emergency cases, the passport can be issued using the express procedure: If the express application is received by Bundesdruckerei GmbH by 12:00 noon, the passport will usually be ready for collection from the passport authority on the following third working day (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays).

Provisional passport/provisional ID card: Issuance and delivery are possible immediately.

The Act on the Modernization of the Passport, ID and Alien Law Document System, which was published on 12.10.2023, will abolish the children's passport on 01.01.2024. Children's passports will therefore only be issued, extended or updated until 31.12.2023. This does not affect the validity of children's passports that have already been issued.

German nationals - regardless of age - can continue to apply for passports or ID cards that are valid for several years. Identity cards are recognized as travel documents in the EU and are sufficient for both adults and children. The passport allows visa-free travel for tourist purposes to 190 countries worldwide and is one of the most widely used internationally.

Answers to the following questions can be found in the FAQ section of the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI):

  • Which identity document can I have issued for my child with German citizenship?
  • Why should the children's passport be abolished?
  • What do I need to know about travel documents for babies/infants?

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  • Identity card; application
    Germans can apply for an identity card at their local authority.
  • Passport; application
    The passport or temporary passport is an official identification document for Germans, which is generally required for entry into or departure from the Federal Republic of Germany and can be applied for at the responsible municipality.
Status: 29.04.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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