Passport for a Child
As of November 1, 2007, a child’s passport will be valid for a maximum of 6 years. It is possible to issue a child’s passport for a child up to 12 years old. Since the child’s passport becomes invalid at the age of 12, the child must have a regular passport as of that date.
Passport applications must be filed personally at the foreign mission responsible for your consular district during visiting hours. It is no longer possible to apply for a passport by mail.
If you are applying for a child’s passport for the first time, it may be necessary to provide a declaration of the child’s legal name. Information about declarations of legal names appears below on this page.
Due to the amended provisions regarding entry to the U.S., you should thoroughly consider applying for a German passport immediately instead of renewing a child’s passport.
Please also bear in mind that the child’s passport is not recognized by all countries. Before embarking on foreign travel, you should duly inquire whether the child’s entry and transit is even possible with a child’s passport.
You will need the following documents to apply for a child’s passport:
- Completed application form
- Fingerprints for children over six years old (fingerprints are taken at the time of application)
- Two identical, biometrically-compatible, recent passport photos
- Certified copy of the birth certificate
- Original current passport/child’s identification card or certified copy thereof (page with date and photo)
- Certified copies of the passports of both parents (page with date and photo)
- Certified copy of the parent’s marriage certificate (If parents were married in Germany, their family register)
- Certified copy of the valid U.S. residency permit (U.S. resident alien card, U.S. residency visa, or U.S. passport)
- Certified copy of the valid U.S. residency permit of the German parent
- Statement of consent from the absent parent, signature certified by a Notary Public (see below)
- If applicable, German naturalization document
- If applicable, US Naturalization Certificate with "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung"
- Passport fee
- American driver`s license or utility bill of the parents
Please Note: Although the information on this website has been prepared with utmost care, we can not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein.
