In many countries outside the European Union (EU), you need a passport to enter the country.
You must apply for a passport in person at the Citizens' Office at your place of residence or, if you have more than one place of residence, at the Citizens' Office at your main place of residence. You can also apply for a passport at any other citizens' office if there is an important reason and you can prove it.
In this case, you will have to pay a surcharge.
The passport has a chip. Your personal data, document data, photograph and fingerprints are stored there. The data can only be accessed by public authorities.
The passport can be issued to children from birth.
The passport normally contains 32 pages. If you wish - for example if you travel a lot - you can also obtain a passport with 48 pages. In this case, a surcharge will be added to the fee.
Please note that your passport becomes invalid if, among other things
- the period of validity has expired,
- Entries are missing or incorrect (with the exception of your place of residence),
- it is no longer possible to establish your identity correctly or it has been altered.
If you need your passport more quickly, you can also apply for it using the express procedure.
In this case, a surcharge will be added to the fee.
If you need a passport immediately and it is unlikely that it will be possible to issue a passport using the express procedure by the time you travel, a temporary passport can be issued. The passport authorities may require the presentation of suitable evidence.
Note: Many countries require passports to be valid for up to six months after the end of the journey.
You should therefore find out about the current entry requirements of your destination country and the required passport documents in good time before travelling.
Information on this can be found in the travel and security advice issued by the Federal Foreign Office.
Responsible authority
The passport authorities in Baden-Württemberg are
- the municipalities as local police authorities
- the administrative communities, which perform or fulfil the tasks of the registration authority.
As a rule, the citizens' offices or citizens' registration offices fulfil the tasks of a passport authority.
The passport authority in whose district you are registered with your home, or your main residence if you have more than one home, is responsible for you.
Please note:
German nationals with their main residence abroad (Germans living abroad) can apply for a passport at the diplomatic mission abroad in whose district sthey usually reside. The responsible diplomatic mission abroad is determined by the Federal Foreign Office.
Your application for a passport must also be processed by a passport authority in Germany that is not locally responsible if you can provide an important reason. A passport may only be issued with the authorisation of the locally competent passport authority. This also applies to German nationals residing abroad.