Travel documents for children; application

Status query ID card

  • Brief description

    You can apply for travel documents for a German child at the local authority.

  • Description

    CHANGE AS OF 01.05.2026

    From May 1, 2026, persons under the age of 16 will no longer receive a PIN letter when applying for an ID card, as the age limit of 16 years will not be reached during the period of validity of the document in connection with the eID function.

     

    CHANGE AS OF 01.05.2025

    In accordance with the Act to Strengthen Security in Passport, ID and Alien Law Documents of December 3, 2020, only digital photographs have been used for applications for official documents since May 1, 2025 in order to prevent manipulated photographs from being introduced into the application process. Since May 1, 2025, the photograph can either continue to be taken by the photographer, who must upload the photograph to a secure cloud. You will receive a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authority can use to find and download your photograph in the cloud. Alternatively, the passport/ID card authority can offer to take photos electronically on site at the authority and transfer them to the application process without media discontinuity. Please contact the authority to find out whether it has photo capture equipment.

    Direct mailing, which was introduced on May 2, 2025, is not possible for travel documents for children.

     

    CHANGE AS OF 01.01.2024

    The Children's Passport was abolished on 01.01.2024 with the Act on the Modernization of the Passport, ID and Alien Law Document System, which was published on 12.10.2023. Since 01.01.2024, no new children's passports can be issued, extended or updated.

    The validity of already issued children's passports remains unaffected.

    Since 01.11.2007, it is no longer possible to enter the child in the parents' passport. Previous child entries have been invalid since 26.06.2012 due to a European regulation. In this respect, children (from birth) need their own travel document to cross the border ("one person - one passport").

     

    For your child with German citizenship, you can - regardless of age - continue to apply for passports or ID cards valid for several years (function for electronic proof of identity from the age of 16). Both are valid for 6 years for persons under the age of 24. Identity cards are recognized as travel documents in the EU and are sufficient for both adults and children. The passport allows visa-free travel for tourist purposes to over 170 countries worldwide and is one of the most popular in the world.

    It is advisable to base the choice of ID document for children on their use or travel behavior, as ID is only compulsory from the age of 16.

    Since an identity document is invalid if it does not allow a proper identification, we recommend that you pay particular attention to the up-to-dateness of the photograph to prevent problems when crossing the border, as the appearance of babies and very young children in particular can change considerably during the period of validity.

    Since 02.08.2021, the names of all custodial persons can be entered in the passport (or temporary passport) of minors upon joint application by both parents if the surname of the minor differs from the surname of at least one custodial person. This simplifies checks when traveling across borders. However, this entry does not replace the written consent of the second person with custody - which may be required during the journey - for parents traveling alone with their child.

     

    Responsibility

    The municipality in which you or your child are registered for your home or, if you have more than one home, for your main home, is responsible for issuing an identity card or passport.

    For children born abroad, the competent diplomatic mission abroad for the place of birth is generally responsible for issuing a German identity document for the first time, regardless of whether the child's habitual residence has been transferred to Germany.

     

     

  • Prerequisites

    • German within the meaning of Art. 116 para. 1 of the Basic Law
    • Submission of a formal application to the relevant local authority (in the case of joint custody by both parents, if they are not only temporarily separated, generally by the parent with whom the child usually resides alone or by the parent with sole custody, guardian or custodian).
    • The minor child must also appear in person at the passport/ID office for identity verification.

  • Required documents

    current biometric digital photograph (frontal view)

    old child's passport/old identity document or birth certificate

    for parents living together who have joint parental custody,

    the application can be made by one parent with the written consent of the other parent, whereby the signature of the other parent should be checked by the passport authority

    for only one custodial parent: proof of custody

  • Costs

    Identity card

    • Applicants under the age of 24: EUR 27.60
    • Provisional identity card: EUR 10.00
    • Increase in fees by EUR 6.00 if the photo was taken by the identity card authority
    • Increase in fees by EUR 13.00 if the official act is carried out at the request of the applicant outside official office hours at the request of the applicant or by a non-competent authority
    • Increase in fees by EUR 30.00 for applications by so-called "foreign Germans" to - incompetent domestic identity card authorities

    Passport

    • before the age of 24: EUR 37.50
    • Temporary passport: EUR 26.00
    • Increase in fees by EUR 6.00 if the photo was taken by the passport authority
    • Change of passport/temporary passport (size only): EUR 6.00 (change of residence free of charge)
    • Surcharge for an express passport: EUR 32.00

     

    Doubling of fees:

    • When issuing a passport, temporary passport or changing a passport, temporary passport, if this is done outside official office hours at the request of the applicant.
    • When issuing a passport (even before the age of 24), temporary passport or change to a passport, temporary passport, if this is done by an incompetent authority at the instigation of the applicant.

  • Legal basis

  • Further links

  • Procedure

    After applying for a passport and/or ID card for your child, Bundesdruckerei GmbH will be commissioned by the passport and ID card authority to issue the passport and/or ID card.

    You will be informed as soon as the document is ready for collection. Some municipalities provide an online service for information on the processing status instead. You will receive more information when you apply.



  • Processing time

    According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, it usually takes at least two weeks from the date of application until the identity card/passport can be collected from the Citizens' Office. In some cases, however, it can take several weeks. Please apply for travel documents for children in good time before you travel. You can obtain further information from your local passport/ID office.

    In urgent and emergency cases, passports can be issued using the express procedure: If the express application is received by Bundesdruckerei GmbH by 12:00 noon, the passport is usually ready for collection from the passport authority on the following third working day (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays).

    Temporary passport/temporary identity card: Issuing and handing over is possible immediately.

     


Responsible departments