Apply for a second passport
Service description
As a rule, no one may hold more than one valid German passport. An exception is if you can prove a legitimate interest in a second passport.
A legitimate interest exists if, for example
- want to travel to a country that is likely to refuse you entry because your passport shows that you have stayed in certain other countries.
- work for an airline or a shipping line.
Whether your reasons are considered sufficient is at the discretion of the passport authority.
The following justifications are not sufficient:
- General request
- Frequent trips abroad
- the mere possibility that you will need a second passport in the indefinite future, for example for a planned trip around the world
If you already had a second passport, you will have to provide proof of justified reasons each time you apply for a new one.
If your passport is fully stamped with endorsements before it expires and you plan to travel again, you must apply for a new passport.
Procedure
You must apply for your second passport in person.
- Make an appointment at your local citizens' office.
- Bring all the necessary documents with you to the agreed appointment.
- The application will be filled out by the authority staff with you on site. All you have to do is sign it.
- The submission of fingerprints for storage in the document is required by law for your application.
- A flat impression is usually taken of the left and right index finger.
- Children under the age of 6 do not have to give a fingerprint.
- In the case of minors (under the age of 18), the second passport application must generally be submitted by all parents with custody rights.
- You will receive information from your Citizens' Registration Office as to when you can collect your second passport.
- You can arrange a collection appointment online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' registration offices. Alternatively, in many cases you can have the ID document sent to your home address by post and handed over in person at the front door.
- You can authorise another person of legal age in writing to collect the items.
Responsible office
The authority responsible for issuing a second passport is the passport office (mayor or mayoress) or the citizens' office in your place of residence.
Prerequisites
- You have a legitimate interest in holding a second valid passport. This applies, for example, in the following cases:
- You travel a lot for professional reasons and need a second passport to obtain a visa because you have planned and want to travel to other countries requiring a passport while applying for a visa.
- You wish to travel to a country where you are likely to be refused entry because your passport contains entry stamps from certain other countries.
- They belong to certain groups of people:
- the flying personnel of air carriers
- the seafaring personnel of maritime shipping companies
- Members of the civilian entourage and members of the NATO troop status whose passport contains a status certificate
- You have a legitimate interest in holding a second valid passport. This applies, for example, in the following cases:
Which documents are required?
- Previous passport or identity card
- Biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
- Proof of your legitimate interest, for example:
- Written confirmation from the employer
- Booking confirmations
- Flight tickets
- You may have to submit further documents, for example civil status certificates.
- If you wish to be represented at the time of collection, the representative will need the following information:
- your own identity document, i.e.
- Identity card
- Passport or
- preliminary versions
- Power of attorney
- your own identity document, i.e.
What fees are incurred?
The fees are doubled if you apply for the second passport outside of official office hours or at a passport authority that is not locally responsible.
A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.
Fee: 70,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/beantragung-kosten-abholung/02-gebuehren.htmlReissue of the second passport with 32 pages for persons aged 24 and over.Fee: 92,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/beantragung-kosten-abholung/02-gebuehren.htmlReissue of the second passport with 48 pages for persons aged 24 and overFee: 37,50 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/beantragung-kosten-abholung/02-gebuehren.htmlReissue of the second passport with 32 pages for persons under 24 years of ageFee: 59,50 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/moderne-verwaltung/reisepass/beantragung-kosten-abholung/02-gebuehren.htmlReissue of the second passport with 48 pages for persons under 24 years of ageFee: 6,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswgebv/BJNR147700010.htmlFee for passport photo if the authority uses the PointID photo system from Bundesdruckerei GmbH. If the authority uses photo systems from other manufacturers, the fee may differ.Fee: 15,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswgebv/BJNR147700010.htmlFee for shipping to your home addressFee: 32,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswgebv/BJNR147700010.htmlAdditional fee for a second passport using the express procedureFee: 26,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswgebv/BJNR147700010.htmlFee for a temporary second passportWhat deadlines do I have to observe?
second passport
Period of validity: 6 years
temporary second passport
Period of validity: 1 year
Processing time
The processing time is at least 2 weeks.
Deadline: 2 weeks
Legal basis
What else should I know?
Express passport and temporary passport:
Is the regular processing time too long for your travel plans? Then your passport office can issue you a second passport using the express procedure. Passports applied for using the express procedure are usually ready for collection from the authority after 3 to 4 working days.
You will only be issued with a temporary second passport if you are unable to obtain the second passport in time, even using the express procedure. You will receive this immediately when you apply, so you do not have to wait for it.
Short text
- As a rule, no one may hold more than one valid German passport
- Exception: applicant has a legitimate interest in a second passport
- for example:
- Country prohibits entry because the passport shows that another country was previously visited
- in the event of expected delays in issuing visas if other trips to countries requiring a passport are to be made at the same time
- Personnel from
- Airlines
- Shipping company
Further information
- Information on the German passport on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
- Information on passports and identity cards on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (AA)
- Information on the security of the destination country or transit country and on the required documents on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (AA)
- Sample photo panel on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
Issuing body
Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal- Apply for a second passport
Display of performance in the source portal
- Apply for a second passport
Typing
2/3Library entry status
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