Citizens' Advice Bureau recommends: Apply for a passport in good time

The vacation season is approaching and with it the number of applications for passports is increasing. To avoid any nasty surprises just before the vacations, the Citizens' Office recommends that citizens check the expiration date of their travel documents and apply for a new passport in good time if necessary.

Last year, the Bundesdruckerei's production time for passports was already extended from Easter into the summer vacations to around eight to ten weeks. In 2024 alone, 5,718 passports were applied for in the months of April to August, with 11,218 documents applied for in the year as a whole. In 2023, there were 3,187 applications in the same period and 7,351 in the year as a whole. "The high demand for passports is due to the abolition of children's passports from 1 January 2024," explains Franziska Reinig, Head of Department at the Citizens' Office. "We are also expecting a similarly high number of applications for 2025."

If the passport you have applied for does not arrive in time for your trip, the Citizens' Office can help in many cases. Depending on the vacation destination, it is possible to apply for a temporary passport or an express passport. However, the Citizens' Office would like to point out that this is not always possible. Some countries do not accept temporary passports. To avoid having to rely on an express passport at short notice, which is associated with additional costs, the Citizens' Office advises citizens to apply for a new passport in good time.

Information on the minimum validity of passports can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise für Ihr Reiseland - Auswärtiges Amt). It is advisable to obtain information there in advance to avoid problems when entering the country.

When applying, the applicant must appear in person; this also applies to underage children. The following documents are also required:

• valid ID (passport, identity card, child ID, child passport)
• current photo in passport format 45 x 35 millimeters, portrait format, frontal shot without border, without headgear and without covering the eyes (biometric photo)
• Previous passport, if applicable
• Birth certificate, if applicable
• When applying for a child: ID of the custodial parent/guardian present, if applicable the declaration of consent and a copy of the ID of the custodial parent/guardian not present, proof of custody if there is only one custodial parent/guardian.
  Applicants can have their biometric passport photo taken directly in the waiting area of the Citizens' Office at the photo terminals.

From May 1, 2025, printed passport photos will no longer be accepted. All passport photos must be submitted electronically from this date. The photo terminals in the Citizens' Office are already available for this purpose.