Travel Documents for Children; Application Process

CHANGE EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2026

Starting May 1, 2026, individuals under the age of 16 will no longer receive a PIN letter when applying for an ID card, , since they will not have reached the age of 16 by the time the document expires in connection with the eID function.

CHANGE EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2025

Pursuant to the Act on Strengthening Security in Passport, Identity Cards, and Foreign Nationals’ Documents of December 3, 2020, only digital photographs may be used when applying for official documents as of May 1, 2025, to prevent manipulated photographs from being introduced into the application process. As of May 1, 2025, the photograph can still be taken by a professional photographer, who must then upload the resulting photograph to a secure cloud. You will receive a printout of a Data Matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the agency can use to locate and download your photo from the cloud. Alternatively, the passport/ID card office may offer to take photographs electronically on-site at the office and integrate them seamlessly into the application process. To find out whether the office has equipment for taking photographs, please contact them directly.

For travel documents for children, the direct mailing option introduced on May 2, 2025, is not available.

CHANGE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2024

Under the Act on the Modernization of Passport, ID Card, and Foreign Nationals’ Documentation, which was published on October 12, 2023, the child’s passport was abolished effective January 1, 2024. As of January 1, 2024, no new children’s passports may be issued, renewed, or updated.

The validity of children’s passports that have already been issued remains unaffected by this change.

It has not been possible to include a child in a parent’s passport since November 1, 2007. Existing entries for children have been invalid since June 26, 2012, due to a European regulation. Consequently, children (from birth) must always have their own travel document to cross the border (“One person—one passport”).

For your child who is a German citizen, you can continue to apply for passports valid for several years or identity cards (which serve as electronic proof of identity for those aged 16 and older), regardless of the child’s age. Both are valid for 6 years for individuals under the age of 24. Identity cards are recognized as travel documents within the EU and are sufficient for both adults and children. The passport allows visa-free travel for tourism purposes to over 170 countries worldwide and ranks among the top in international comparisons.

It is advisable to base the choice of identification document for children on its intended use or travel patterns, since the requirement to carry identification does not apply until age 16.

Since an identity document is invalid if it does not allow for unambiguous identification, we recommend paying particular attention to ensuring that the photo is up-to-date to prevent problems when crossing borders, as a person’s appearance can change significantly during the document’s validity period, especially in the case of infants and very young children.

As of August 2, 2021, the names of all custodial parents may be entered in the passport (or provisional passport) of a minor upon a joint application by both parents if the minor’s last name differs from the last name of at least one custodial parent. This simplifies border checks when traveling across borders. However, for a parent traveling alone with a child, this entry does not replace the written consent of the second person with custody—which may be required and must be carried during the trip.

Jurisdiction

The municipality in which you or the child is registered at your or the child’s place of residence—or, if there are multiple residences, at your or the child’s primary residence—is responsible for issuing an identity card or passport.

For children born abroad, the diplomatic or consular missions with local jurisdiction over the place of birth are generally responsible for the initial issuance of a German identity document, regardless of whether the child’s habitual residence has since been transferred to Germany.

You canuse this link to schedule an appointment to apply for a new passport.

• A German national as defined in Article 116(1) of the Basic Law
• Submission of a formal application to the relevant municipality (in cases of joint custody by both parents, if they are living apart more than just temporarily, the application is generally submitted solely by the parent with whom the child usually resides, or by the parent with sole custody, the guardian, or the conservator).
• To verify their identity, the minor child must also appear in person at the passport/ID card office.

After you apply for a passport and/or ID card for your child, the Passport and ID Card Authority will commission Bundesdruckerei GmbH to issue the passport and/or ID card.

You will be notified as soon as the document is ready for pickup. Some municipalities offer an online service instead to provide information on the processing status. You can obtain more detailed information when you submit your application.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building, and Home Affairs, it generally takes at least two weeks from the date of application before an ID card or passport can be picked up at the citizens’ office. In some cases, however, it may take several weeks. Please apply for travel documents for children well in advance of your trip. For more information, contact your local passport or ID card office.

In urgent or emergency situations, a passport can be issued through the express process: If the express application is received by Bundesdruckerei GmbH by 12:00 p.m., the passport is generally ready for pickup at the passport office on the third business day following the application (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays).

Temporary Passport/Temporary ID Card: Issuance and delivery are possible immediately.

• a recent biometric digital photograph (front view)
• Old child's passport/old identification document or birth certificate
• in the case of parents living together who share parental responsibility,
  The application may be submitted by one parent with the written consent of the other parent; the passport authority should verify the other parent's signature
• If there is only one custodial parent: Proof of custody

Identification Card

• Applicants under 24 years of age: 27.60 EUR
• Temporary ID card: 10.00 EUR
• Fees are increased by 6.00 EUR if the photograph was taken by the ID card authority
• Fees increase by 13.00 EUR if the administrative action is performed outside of official business hours at the applicant’s request or by a non-competent authority
• Fees increase by 30.00 EUR for applications submitted by so-called “Germans living abroad” to – domestic identity card authorities that lack jurisdiction

Passport

• Before reaching the age of 24: 37.50 EUR
• Temporary passport: 26.00 EUR
• Fee increase of 6.00 EUR if the photograph was taken by the passport authority 
• Amendment to a passport/provisional passport (size only): 6.00 EUR (change of residence is free of charge)
• Surcharge for an express passport: 32.00 EUR

Doubling of fees:

• When issuing a passport, temporary passport, or making changes to a passport or temporary passport, if this is done outside of official office hours at the applicant’s request.
• When a passport (including those issued before the age of 24), provisional passport, or amendment to a passport or provisional passport is issued by an unauthorized authority at the applicant’s request.

Entry of legal guardians in the passport: 6 euros.

Application Process:

Applicants must provide proof of identity. If only one of the legal guardians is present, that person must present the other guardian’s
parent for the issuance of the identification document and a copy of the identification document (for signature verification).

Proof of Custody:

In the case of unmarried parents, the mother has legal custody by law. Married parents (even after a divorce)
generally have joint custody. If a different decision has been made, proof of this must be provided.

Unmarried parents who have submitted a joint custody declaration must present the
“Certificate of Joint Parental Custody” issued by the City Youth Welfare Office. The father is then registered as an additional legal representative.

Married or divorced parents who have been granted sole parental custody or the right to determine the child’s residence by court order
must submit the corresponding final and binding order from the local court or family court.