Spending time abroad

Follow your dreams of travel. But whether you are planning a semester abroad, want to visit exotic destinations or will be travelling with children in tow, safety and health are important. Here you will find information for long, short or unusual stays abroad.

Services in Spending time abroad

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Application for the issue of a German death certificate in the event of a death abroad
You can apply for a German death certificate for a death that occurred abroad at the competent German registry office.
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Apply for a diplomatic passport or service passport
If you perform official duties for the Federal Republic of Germany abroad, you may be issued an official passport by the Federal Foreign Office under certain conditions. Depending on your activity, you may receive a diplomatic passport or a service passport.
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Apply for a national visa
If you wish to enter Germany for a longer-term stay, you must apply for a national visa.
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Apply for a passport
In many countries outside the European Union (EU), you need a passport to enter the country. If you have German citizenship, you can apply for a German passport.
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Apply for a passport due to change of other data
If you have a German passport and certain data changes, you must apply for a new passport.
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Apply for a passport replacement if you lose your passport abroad
If you have lost your passport abroad or it has been stolen and you wish to travel home or onwards, you must have replacement travel documents issued abroad. You can apply for these at the German diplomatic mission in the country you are traveling to.
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Apply for a passport with 48 pages
For frequent travellers, a passport with 48 pages can be issued.
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Apply for a second passport
If you can prove a legitimate interest, you can obtain a second passport.
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Apply for a travel document as a passport replacement for emergencies
If you realize shortly before departure that your passport has expired, you can, under certain conditions, apply for replacement documents at short notice as a German citizen.
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Apply for an emergency travel document for foreigners
If, as a foreigner, you discover shortly before leaving Germany that your travel documents have expired, you can apply for an emergency travel document under certain conditions.
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Apply for an express passport
The delivery time for a passport is usually at least 2 weeks. If you need a passport at short notice, you can apply for one using the express order procedure.
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Applying for a passport abroad
If you live abroad, you can apply for your German passport in person at a German mission abroad or, in some countries, at an honorary consular official.
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Applying for a passport due to a name change
Your name has changed and you do not have another valid identity document? Then you must apply for a new passport immediately.
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Applying for a visa for a short stay in Germany and the Schengen area
Citizens who require a visa for a short stay in Germany or the Schengen area must apply for one in good time before entering the country at one of the German diplomatic missions abroad.
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Applying for phytosanitary certificates for the export of plants and plant products to countries outside the EU
If you export plants, plant products or other objects to countries outside the EU, they must not contain any harmful organisms. As proof of this, you must apply for a phytosanitary certificate or a pre-export certificate or re-export certificate.
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Emergency aid for Germans abroad
Germans who find themselves in an emergency situation during their stay abroad can contact the nearest German diplomatic mission abroad.
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Enter your name in the crisis prevention list for Germans abroad
Germans who are abroad can register on the crisis prevention list of the Federal Foreign Office. This enables the responsible diplomatic mission abroad to contact you quickly in an emergency.
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Have the certificate for taking narcotics with you when traveling abroad notarized
If you wish to take prescribed narcotics with you on a trip abroad, you will need a notarized medical certificate. As a doctor, you will need your doctor's ID card and, if necessary, a permit from the country you are traveling to.
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New passport issue due to change of name on marriage or establishment of a civil partnership
A new passport is required after a change of name when getting married or entering into a civil partnership. A new passport only needs to be issued if the passport is still bein...
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Notarization of deaths abroad of Germans without domestic residence
If a German or a German national without a permanent residence in Germany dies abroad, you can have the death subsequently certified at the competent German registry office.
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Notarizing a death abroad
Duly issued death certificates from abroad are generally recognised in Germany. There is no obligation to subsequently certify the death.However, the subsequent entry in the deat...
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Notarizing deaths abroad for deaths on sea-going vessels
You can apply for the subsequent certification of a death on a foreign sea-going vessel in a German death register at the competent German registry office.
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Passport change
The data in your passport must always be up to date. If there are any changes, you must apply for a new passport: Change of name on marriage or establishment of a civil...
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Passport issue
The passport is available at the competent office where it was applied for.
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Passport issue for adults for the first time
The first issue of a passport must be applied for at the competent authority. Special conditions must be observed when issuing passports to minors for the first time.
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Passport issue for minors for the first time
The application of minors must be approved in writing by both parents (as long as they have joint custody). In the case of unmarried or divorced parents, consent can be given by...
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Passport issue provisional
A temporary machine-readable passport will only be issued if the time even for issuing an express passport (production time on working days within 72 hours) is too short and it...
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Passport notification
Every citizen is obliged to report the loss of their passport immediately. The responsible office is determined by the reason: Notification due to theft Report due to loss ...
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Passport notification due to loss
Have you lost your passport? Then you must report this.
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Passport report due to find
If your passport is found again after you have reported it lost, you must inform the competent authority and present it to the competent authority.
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Passport status query
You can find out the processing status of your passport from the relevant office.
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Passport theft report
You must immediately report the theft of a passport to the competent authority. There is no obligation to apply for a new passport. If a passport is still required, a new...
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Rent vehicles
Rent a car There are no special EU regulations for renting a car. s but you can still rely on your basic consumer rights when you rent a car in another EU country. Thes...
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Travel documents
Here you will find information on your rights and obligations when traveling abroad as well as on necessary travel documents for minors and on the loss or expiry of travel documents.
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View travel and safety information on the website of the Federal Foreign Office
Travel and safety advice for your destination can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.