Apply for a travel document (passport replacement) for foreigners from non-EU countries

• Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the immigration office. If you apply online, the immigration office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents to the appointment, if possible in the original).

When the travel document for foreigners is ready, you will receive information and can collect the document from the relevant office. If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible.

• You are a citizen of a non-EU country.
• You do not have a passport or passport substitute from your country of origin.
• You can prove that it is not reasonably possible for you to obtain a passport or passport substitute from your country of origin.
• You meet one of the following requirements:
  • You are either in possession of a residence title (residence permit, settlement permit, EC permanent residence permit) or are to receive this together with the travel document.
  • The travel document should enable you to leave the federal territory permanently.

You are in the asylum procedure and there is an urgent public interest in issuing the travel document, compelling reasons require this or it would mean undue hardship if the travel document is not issued to you and your asylum procedure is not jeopardized by the issuance of the travel document.

• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• Proof of identity and nationality (e.g. expired travel documents, certificates or affidavits)
• Current residence permit, travel document or current residence permit, if available

In individual cases, the foreigners authority may require less or further proof.

Cost amount:

• From the age of 24: 100.00
• Up to the age of 24: 97.00
• Temporary travel document for foreigners: 67.00
• Travel document without storage medium for foreigners up to the age of 12: 14.00
• Extension of a temporary travel document for foreigners: 20.00

Remark:

The issuing of travel documents is always subject to a fee (even when receiving social benefits).

The fee must be paid in full even if the application for the travel document is rejected.

• § 48 Aufenthaltsverordnung - Gebühren für pass- und ausweisrecht-liche Maßnahmen

Application deadline: The application should be received by the foreigners authority at least 8 weeks before the travel document is required.

Period of validity: The period of validity of the travel document for foreigners is linked to the validity of the residence document. The maximum period of validity is

• for children under the age of 12: 6 years, at the longest until their 12th birthday
• for persons aged between 12 and 24 at the time of issue: 6 years
• for persons who are 24 years or older at the time of issue: 10 years

Temporary travel documents are issued with a validity period of up to one year. In individual cases (for example, if the travel document is issued for the final departure from Germany), the validity is usually limited to a maximum of one month.

approx. 8

Further information on the processing time:

It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for Bundesdruckerei to produce the travel document.

• § 4 Absatz 1 Satz 1 Nummer 1 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) - Deutsche Passersatzpapiere für Ausländer
• § 5 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) - Allgemeine Voraussetzun-gen der Ausstellung eines Reiseausweises für Ausländer
• § 6 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) - Ausstellung des Reiseaus-weises für Ausländer im Inland
• § 8 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) - Gültigkeitsdauer des Reise-ausweises für Ausländer
• § 9 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) - Räumlicher Geltungsbereich des Reiseausweises für Ausländer
• § 11 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) - Verfahren der Ausstellung oder Verlängerung des Reiseausweises für Ausländer)

• Appeal against the decision of the immigration authority
• Legal action before the court named in the notice of objection if the objection is not upheld

Forms available: No

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance necessary: Yes

• There is no entitlement to the issue of a travel document for foreigners. It is always a case-by-case decision.
• Travel documents for foreigners contain the following visible information: Issuing authority, date of issue, period of validity, serial number, personal data of the ID card holder (surname and, if applicable, maiden name, first names, doctor's degree, date and place of birth, gender, height, color of eyes, place of residence, nationality, photograph and signature).
• As a rule, travel documents for foreigners are issued with biometric features, i.e. with an electronic storage and processing medium (exception: temporary travel documents and travel documents for children up to the age of twelve).
• Once travel documents issued with biometric features expire, a new travel document must be issued. Temporary travel documents can be extended under certain conditions.
• Processing media cannot be extended.
• Recognized refugees and stateless persons can also obtain a travel document.

Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can be issued an emergency travel document.

28.01.2022

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.