Applying for a passport due to a name change

You must apply for a passport in person:

• Make an appointment at your local citizens' office.
• Bring all the necessary documents with you to the appointment.
• The official staff will fill out the application with you on site. All you have to do is sign it.
• When applying, you are required by law to provide fingerprints for storage in the document (usually a flat print of the left and right index finger).
  • Persons who have not yet reached the age of 6 do not have to provide a fingerprint.
• You will receive information from your Citizens' Registration Office as to when you can collect your passport.
• You can authorize another person of legal age in writing to collect your passport.

Passport office of the municipality or city administration

• You have German citizenship.
• Your name has changed.
• You do not have another valid identity document with the new name, for example an identity card.

You must not have any reasons for refusal, such as

• Failure to fulfill a legal maintenance obligation
• Endangering the internal or external security of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Assumption that you wish to avoid prosecution, execution of a sentence or a statutory maintenance obligation by leaving the country

A passport can also be withdrawn for the same reasons.

• old passport or other proof that you are a German citizen
• a current photo in the prescribed size and quality
• with
  • Marriage: marriage certificate
  • Divorce: certified copy of the change of name or civil status certificate
  • Registration of a civil partnership: civil status certificate
  • Dissolution of a civil partnership: certified copy of the change of name or civil status certificate
• optional, but recommended: Civil status certificate, for example marriage or birth certificate. This can be used to clarify any problems immediately, particularly with regard to the spelling and order of first names and surnames. This may also be relevant,
  • if your details have changed since the last certificate was issued or
  • when applying for the first time after moving to the city or municipality.

If in doubt, please check in advance on the website of the city or municipality or by telephone which documents you need.

Some cities and municipalities can exempt you from the fee if you can prove that you are in need. This may be the case, for example, if you receive social welfare or citizen's allowance. The cities and municipalities decide on a case-by-case basis. Please ask your passport authority whether and under what conditions a fee waiver is possible.

If you need a passport, for example because you do not have an identity card, you must apply for a new passport immediately.

• § 11 Paßgesetz (PaßG)
• § 15 Paßgesetz (PaßG)
• § 25 Paßgesetz (PaßG)
• § 5 Passverordnung (PassV)
• § 15 Passverordnung (PassV)
• § 17 Passverordnung (PassV)

• Complaint or appeal against the decisions of the passport authority to the superior authority or the State Ministry of the Interior
• Legal action before the administrative court

Express passport and temporary passport:
Is the regular processing time of 2 to 6 weeks too long for your travel plans? Then your passport office can issue your passport using the express procedure, provided it has the necessary technical equipment. You will receive passports produced using the express procedure within 3 to 4 working days.
You will only be issued with a temporary passport if you are unable to receive your passport in time using the express procedure. You will receive this immediately when you apply, so you do not have to wait for it.

Fingerprints:
If an index finger is missing, the quality of the fingerprint is insufficient or the fingertip is injured, the flat print of either the thumb, middle finger or ring finger will be taken instead. Fingerprints are only not taken if they cannot be taken for permanent medical reasons.

Old passport:
You may keep an old passport that has become invalid, for example as a souvenir. To do this, the passport authority must invalidate the passport.

Engagement:
If you are engaged, you can usually apply for your new passport or identity card with the new name after registering the marriage with a certificate from the registry office, at the earliest 8 weeks before the planned date of the marriage. This way it will be ready on the day of the marriage. After the marriage, you can collect your passport by presenting your marriage certificate.

30.11.2021

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.