The validity of the German biometric passport is 6 years for applicants under the age of 24, otherwise it is 10 years. Please note: German biometric passports cannot be extended. Once invalid, you will have to apply for a new passport. Please be aware that you will have to re-submit all relevant documents as listed below for each application. Applications for passports can only be submitted in person at the Embassy, your responsible Consulate General, or some Honorary Consuls during opening hours after scheduling an appointment.
If you would like to apply with a Honorary Consul please check their regulations for fees and payment methods. During the appointment, your finger prints will be taken. Please bear in mind that due to privacy protection, the German Mission can only save the fingerprints for a brief period of time and will then delete them. The passports are printed at the Federal Printing Office in Berlin.
Please expect a processing time of about six to eight weeks. If a Name Declaration is required see below information , processing time can change considerably. The following documents are required in the original for the application:. We would like to point out that your passport application cannot be processed unless the aforementioned documentation is complete.
If you do not bring all of the required forms and supporting documentation, you may be required to reschedule your appointment and there will be a delay in processing your application. Even if you received your last passport at a German mission in the US, we ask you to submit the aforementioned documentation once more except for the deregistration certificate.
In particular, please also bring birth certificates, name declarations and marriage certificates. Your application cannot be processed without the required documents! This information refers to the majority of the cases occurring here. Due to the complexity of the German passport and German ID law and the diversity of possible scenarios, differences may occur in each application, and additional documentation could be required as needed.
