Passport; notification of loss and recovery
Brief description
If your German passport cannot be found or has been lost, you must report the loss. If you find the document again later, you must also report this.
Description
If you lose your passport or temporary passport, you are obliged to inform the passport authority of your (residential) municipality immediately.
The passport authority must also be notified if the document is found again. As a new document is/was usually issued, this is essential. It is also recommended that you apply for a new passport in order to prevent problems when using it.
If a criminal offense is involved, contact the local police station (see "Reporting a criminal offense to the police" under "Related topics").
Legal basis
- § Section 15 Passport Act (PassG)
Obligations of the holder
- § Section 25 Passport Act (PassG)
Administrative offenses
- § Section 15 Passport Act (PassG)
Further links
Notes
If a report is not made to the passport authority or not made in good time, an administrative offense is committed which can be punished with a fine.
Despite a report on the recovery of the passport, foreign authorities may not recognize a passport reported as recovered for use in their country or may confiscate it. It is therefore recommended that you apply for a new passport if your passport is lost or stolen.