Travel Documents for Children; Reporting Loss and Recovery

If your child’s identification document (e.g., child’s passport, passport, ID card) is lost, you, as the child’s legal guardian, are required to report this immediately to the passport office in your municipality (of residence). An identity verification check is required there.

You must also notify the passport office if the document is recovered. Since a new document is usually issued, this is essential to prevent any problems that may arise from the use of these identification documents.

If a criminal offense is suspected, contact your local police station (see “Reporting a Crime to the Police; Filing a Report” under “Related Topics”).

Failure to report the loss to the passport office, or reporting it late, constitutes an administrative offense that may be punishable by a fine.

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. Children’s passports were therefore only issued, renewed, or updated until December 31, 2023. The validity of children’s passports already issued remains unaffected by this change.

German citizens—regardless of age—can continue to apply for passports or identity cards valid for multiple years. Identity cards are recognized as travel documents within the EU and are sufficient for both adults and children. The passport allows for visa-free travel for tourism purposes to 190 countries worldwide and ranks among the top in international comparisons.

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

• What type of identification document can I have issued for my child who is a German citizen?

• Why is the children’s passport being phased out?

• What should I keep in mind regarding travel documents for infants and toddlers?

Link: https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/reisepass-faq.html;jsessionid=A489678D680A51F3181F3EF0DF1F72BA.1_cid504#doc16125526bodyText2

With 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 as of January 1, 2024. Therefore, children’s passports were only issued, renewed, or updated through December 31, 2023. The validity of children’s passports already issued remains unaffected by this change.

German citizens—regardless of age—can continue to apply for passports or identity cards valid for multiple years. Identity cards are recognized as travel documents within the EU and are sufficient for both adults and children. The passport allows for visa-free travel for tourism purposes to 190 countries worldwide and ranks among the top in international comparisons.

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

• What type of identification document can I have issued for my child who is a German citizen?

• Why is the children’s passport being phased out?

• What should I keep in mind regarding travel documents for infants and very young children?

Link: https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/reisepass-faq.html;jsessionid=A489678D680A51F3181F3EF0DF1F72BA.1_cid504#doc16125526bodyText2

Failure to report the loss to the passport/ID card authority, or reporting it late, constitutes an administrative offense that may be punishable by a fine.

Even if you report that your passport has been found, foreign authorities may not recognize a passport reported as recovered for use in their country or may confiscate it. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply for a new passport if your passport is lost or stolen.

If you intend to use your ID card as a travel document as well, it is recommended that you apply for a new one. This is because, even after reporting that the document has been recovered, using recovered documents can lead to travel difficulties, as other countries may not recognize them or may confiscate them.