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Your selected location: Emsland

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Issue of travel documents in the event of an emergency: travel document in lieu of a passport and emergency travel ID

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With an emergency travel document (travel document in lieu of a passport or emergency travel ID), you can leave and then return to Germany. In principle, it is only valid for the duration of the trip, but in any case not for more than 3 months (travel document in lieu of a passport) or 1 month (emergency travel ID). It is thus not a full substitute for a passport. A temporary passport may also be issued at short notice, at least on weekdays, by the relevant passport authorities.

Other countries are not obliged to accept an emergency travel document as a fully-operational travel document. Airlines may also refuse to carry passengers with an emergency travel document.

On the website of the Federal Police, there is a List of countries that fully recognise the travel document in lieu of a passport or the emergency travel ID, or recognise these documents in conjunction with photographic ID that has expired (for example, a passport or identity card). Please note, however, that the border authorities in other countries can change this practice at any time and at short notice.

There is no legal entitlement to the issue of a travel document in lieu of a passport or an emergency travel ID.

Legal basis

Which documents are required?

  • Proof of identity and nationality (usually done using the expired passport or ID card)
  • For non-nationals: proof of secure residence status (emergency travel ID)
  • In exceptional cases, you may also prove your identity by producing copies of the expired passport or ID card, or using your birth certificate in conjunction with any other official document containing a photograph (e.g. driving licence).

Requirements

  • It must be possible to establish the identity and German nationality or EU citizenship or the secure residence status of the person travelling.
  • There are no 
    • security concerns;
    • grounds for a ban on leaving the country; or
    • grounds for refusing to issue a passport;

and non-recognition by the country of destination is not known.

  • For minors, the consent of the legal representatives must be available.

What are the fees?

  • Travel document in lieu of a passport for German nationals during official working hours: EUR 8.00
  • Travel document in lieu of a passport for German nationals outside official working hours: EUR 16.00 
  • Emergency travel ID for non-nationals: EUR 18.00

Process flow

You must apply for an emergency travel document in person directly to the border authority (for example, to the Federal Police at the airport).

  • If you wish to receive your emergency travel document more quickly, you can transmit your personal and travel details electronically, in advance, to the relevant border authority. Usually they will then contact you.
  • You can also find more information on how to apply for a travel document in lieu of a passport on the Federal Police 24-hour hotline: +49 8006888000.

Processing duration

Typically, around 30 minutes.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

N/A

Applications / forms

  • Forms: N/A
  • Can I apply online? Yes
  • Do I need to do it in writing? Yes
  • Do I need to attend in person? Yes

What else should I know?

Emergency travel ID can also be issued for nationals of EU Member States, including Norway and Switzerland. For this, the fee is EUR 18.00.

Who should I contact?

Please contact the relevant border authority.

Federal Police 24-hour hotline:
Tel. +49 8006888000

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

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Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families