New passport issue due to change of name on divorce or dissolution of civil partnership

The passport is issued by the passport office of the municipal or city administration in which you live. For important reasons, you can also apply for the document in another municipality. This other passport authority will then first be authorized by the authority actually responsible for you to issue the passport. In this case, your fees will be doubled.

You can also apply for passports and temporary passports at German diplomatic missions abroad. This will also incur additional costs for you.

• Your name has changed.
• You must not have any reasons for refusal, such as
  • Failure to fulfill a statutory maintenance obligation
  • Endangering the internal or external security of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Assumption that you wish to avoid prosecution, execution of a sentence or a statutory maintenance obligation by leaving the country

• Biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
• upon marriage: marriage certificate
• after divorce: certified copy of the change of name or civil status certificate
• Registration of a civil partnership: civil status certificate
• Dissolution of a civil partnership: certified copy of the change of name or civil status certificate
• If applicable, other civil status documents, e.g. marriage or birth certificate

A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.

You must apply for a passport in person:

• Make an appointment at your local citizens' office. The authority in which your main residence is located is responsible.
  • For important reasons, you can also apply for the document in another municipality or at a German diplomatic mission abroad.
• Bring all the necessary documents with you to the agreed appointment.
• The official staff will fill out the application with you on site. All you have to do is sign it.
• The submission of fingerprints for storage in the document is legally required for the application
  • A flat print is usually taken of the left and right index finger.
  • Children under the age of 6 do not have to give a fingerprint.
• If you have already applied for a passport before the wedding: After the marriage, you can collect your passport by presenting your marriage certificate.
• You will receive information from your Citizens' Registration Office as to when you can collect your passport.
• You can arrange a collection date online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' offices. Alternatively, in many cases you can have the ID document sent to your home address by post and handed over in person at the front door.
• You can authorize another person of legal age in writing to collect the document from the authorities.

If you need a passport, for example because you do not have an identity card, you must apply for a new passport immediately.

• Is the regular processing time too long for your travel plans? Then your passport office can issue your passport using the express procedure. You will then receive your passport within 3 to 4 working days.
• A temporary passport will only be issued to you if you are unable to receive your passport in time before your planned departure date, even using the express procedure, and the destination country accepts a temporary passport as an entry document. You will receive this immediately when you apply, so you do not have to wait for it.
• You may keep an old passport that has become invalid, for example as a souvenir. To do this, the passport authority must invalidate the passport.

From May 1, 2025, photographs for official ID cards can only be transmitted digitally - or will be taken on site at the relevant authorities.

From May 1, 2025, photographs for official ID cards can only be transmitted digitally - or will be taken on site at the relevant authorities.

• Information on the German passport on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
• Information on passports and identity cards on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (AA)
• Information on the security of the destination country or transit country and on the required documents on the website of the Federal Foreign Office (AA)
• Photo sample board on the Bundesdruckerei website

• § Section 11 Passport Act (PassG)
• § Section 15 Passport Act (PassG)
• § Section 25 Passport Act (PassG)
• § Section 5 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Passport Act (Passport Ordinance - PassV)
• § Section 15 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Passport Act (Passport Ordinance - PassV)
• § Section 17 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Passport Act (Passport Ordinance - PassV)