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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

For an area outside of Lower Saxony and foreign languages, some menu items and functions are not available. Please go to the service page of the respective country.

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Your selected location: Herzlake

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.

Passport issuance

Read aloud

The German passport allows you to enter over 170 countries worldwide as a tourist without a visa. You need a passport if you want to travel to countries outside the European Union (EU). If you have German citizenship, you can apply for a German passport.

The passport

  • is recognized both within the EU and outside the EU,
  • has a chip and is
  • and can be applied for by people of any age from birth.

Passport for children

Your child also needs a passport if you are planning to travel outside the EU.

Since January 1, 2024, passports for children are no longer issued. You can apply for a regular passport for your child.

Does your child still have a valid children's passport?

You can continue to use it until

  • the validity expires
  • the information no longer applies
  • the photo is no longer sufficient to clearly identify your child

Note: The children's passport is no longer recognized by all countries. Please check where your child's passport is recognized before you travel. Use the travel and security information from the Federal Foreign Office (AA).

Responsibilities

You can apply for a passport at the citizens' office in your place of residence. If you have more than one place of residence, the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence is responsible.

If there is an important reason, you can also apply for your passport at an authority outside your place of residence. This may incur additional costs for you.

If you live abroad or your passport has been lost abroad, you can apply for your passport at the German representation abroad.

Since May 1, 2025, citizens can only apply for ID cards and passports with digital photos.

Who should I contact?

You can apply for a passport at the Citizens' Registration Office at your place of residence. If you have more than one place of residence, the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence is responsible.

Requirements

  • You have German citizenship.
  • You are present in person when you apply for your passport.
    • If you are applying for a passport for your child or someone you look after, they must also be present when you apply.
  • for children under the age of 18:
    • You have custodial rights.
  • There must be no grounds for refusing a passport. This includes, for example, the assumption that you are in danger of losing your passport by leaving the country.
    • criminal prosecution,
    • enforcement of a sentence or
    • to evade a statutory maintenance obligation.

Since May 1, 2025, citizens can only apply for ID cards and passports with digital photos.

Which documents are required?

  • Biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer). Different regulations may apply abroad and a paper passport photo may still be accepted.
  • if available and not yet validated: Your previous
    • passport
    • temporary passport
    • identity card
    • Temporary identity card
    • Children's passport
  • your birth certificate, if applicable
  • if applying for a child under 16 years of age:
    • Identity documents of the custodial persons present
    • if applicable, declaration of consent and a copy of the identity card of the custodial person not present
    • If applicable, proof of custody if only one person has custody of the child
  • If applicable, document with current name, for example
    • birth certificate, marriage certificate, marriage certificate
    • family register
    • Declaration on the use of the name
  • Further documents may be required, for example
    • in the event of loss due to theft: police report

What are the fees?

Fee: 70,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs apply from the age of 24. The fee (without surcharges) is doubled if: - the passport must be issued outside official office hours or - the application is not submitted to the local passport authority (municipality of the main residence).

Fee: 37,50 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs apply if you are under 24 years old. The fee (without surcharges) is doubled if: - the passport must be issued outside official office hours or - the application is not submitted to the local passport authority (municipality of the main residence).

Fee: 32,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs apply to passport applications in the express procedure (surcharge).

Fee: 22,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
The costs are additional if you apply for a passport with 48 pages instead of 32 pages

Fee: 31,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html
Additional costs are incurred if you apply for a passport at a German mission abroad (embassy or consulate).

Fee: 6,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html

Fee: 15,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/__15.html

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Period of Validity: 6 Years
For applicants under 24 years of age

Period of Validity: 10 Years
For applicants aged 24 and over

Processing duration

Processing Time: 2 Weeks
Die Bearbeitungsdauer beträgt in der Regel mindestens 2 Wochen.

What else should I know?

As a rule, you can only have one valid passport issued. Under certain circumstances, however, you can also apply for a second passport. You must provide evidence of a reason for this.

Further information

Legal basis

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

Further Links

Read aloud

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.
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