Leistungen A-Z

In principle, no one may hold more than one passport. However, if you prove a legitimate interest, you may be issued a second passport.

A second passport is generally valid for six years. If you have a temporary passport issued as a second passport, it is valid for a maximum of one year.

You must demonstrate a legitimate interest in possessing a second passport. This applies, for example, in the following cases:

• You travel extensively for business reasons and need a second passport due to time delays in obtaining visas.
• You wish to travel to a country where you may be denied entry because your passport contains entry stamps of certain other countries (for example, some Arab countries deny entry if your passport shows that you have been in Israel).

Caution. General reasons or frequent travel abroad alone are not sufficient as a legitimate interest. Likewise, the fact that your passport is already fully stamped with visa endorsements is not sufficient as a reason for issuing a second passport. Even if you were already in possession of a second passport, you must prove the reasons again when you are reissued. Whether your reasons are considered sufficient is at the discretion of the passport authority.

• previous passport or identity card
• a recent photo in the prescribed size and condition: some municipalities require two photos. If in doubt, check with your municipality or bring two photos as a precaution.
• written justification for the request
• proof of legitimate interest (for example, written confirmation from your employer, booking confirmations, airline tickets)
• if you are represented at the time of collection:
  • ID of the person collecting you
  • Power of attorney

Notes: In individual cases (in some cities always at the first issuance after a new move), additional documents (for example, civil status or citizenship certificates) may need to be submitted. The same applies to a further issuance if only a provisional proof of German citizenship (e.g. the registration certificate of the Federal Office of Administration) was presented at the time of the first issuance. You should enquire about this in advance at your municipality / administrative community.

• for a passport with 32/48 pages:
  • Persons who have reached the age of 24: EUR 59,00/81,00
  • Persons who have not yet reached the age of 24: EUR 37.50/59.50
• for an express passport: additional EUR 32.00 each
• for a temporary passport: EUR 26,00
• for a child passport: EUR 13,00

The fees are doubled

• if the passport has to be issued outside office hours, or
• if a passport, a provisional passport, a child's passport or an amendment to a passport is issued by a passport authority that is not locally competent (for example, the municipality of a secondary residence) at the applicant's own instigation.

• The second passport is issued only upon application. You must apply in person and state the reasons for your application in writing.
• In addition to the photograph, fingerprints are also stored on the electronic chip in the passport. Therefore, fingerprints in the form of the flat print of your left and right index finger will be taken when you apply.

Notice: In the absence of an index finger, insufficient quality of the fingerprint or injuries to the fingertip, the flat print of either the thumb, middle finger or ring finger will be taken as a substitute. Fingerprints will not be taken only if taking them is impossible for medical reasons that are not merely temporary.

• For minors (under 18 years of age), the passport application must usually be submitted by both parents - if both have custody (for more details, see the descriptions of the children's passport).
• You can authorize another person in writing to pick up the passport (the notification card from the administration usually already contains a form for this purpose). The authorized person must present the power of attorney and his or her own identification.

Validity of the second passport: 6 years

Passport authority of the municipal or city administration

§ 1 Passport Act (Passport Act)

§ 15 Passport Ordinance

• § 6 Passport Act (PassG)
• § 15 Passport Ordinance (PassV)

Anyone who attempts to cause a second passport to be issued by providing incorrect information may be fined up to 5,000 euros.

• Photo sample board (Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community)

Saxon State Ministry of the Interior