You will have to wait at least two weeks for a regular passport. An express passport takes around three to four working days. If this is not fast enough for your travel plans, you can apply for a temporary passport. You will need to provide the Bürgeramt with a reason for this.
You will receive the temporary passport immediately upon application, so you do not have to wait for it.
The temporary passport does not contain an electronic storage medium (chip). Therefore, your fingerprints will not be recorded.
In some countries, such as the USA, visa-free entry is only possible with a passport that contains a chip. If you want to enter these countries with a temporary passport, you will therefore also need a visa.
You can find out about the current entry requirements for your destination country and the required identification documents from the U.S. Department of State.
Starting May 1, 2025, we will only be allowed to use digital photos for passport and ID card applications that are taken at a certified photo studio or drugstore (where you will receive a code) or directly at a self-service kiosk at a municipal office. These terminals are currently available at the Citizen Service Center in the Stadthaus in the Kaiserstrasse area and at the Altstadt and Hartenberg-Münchfeld local government offices.
Photos taken at the Citizen Service Center can be retrieved by all local administrative offices within 14 days. Photos taken at the Altstadt and Hartenberg-Münchfeld local administrative offices are available for only 96 hours and are then automatically deleted.
Application
- In
person: We require a signature and fingerprints.
- For minors: Parents must generally be present.
- It is not mandatory for both parents to be present. A written consent form from the absent parent is also sufficient.
- For parents living together, we require a written consent form from the absent parent.
- For parents living apart, we do not require a written consent as long as the absent parent agrees to the child’s habitual residence (the child living with the parent making the application).
- For unmarried mothers, we generally assume sole custody.
- For unmarried fathers, we require proof of granted custody.
- For children:
- They must be present when the application is submitted, regardless of the child’s age.
- Children aged 10 and older must sign the application themselves. Signatures by younger children are permitted.
- Fingerprints are not taken from children under 6 years of age; this is done only after they turn 6.
- We generally issue passports to individuals aged 12 and older.
- However, issuance for individuals between 0 and 18 years of age is also possible, as the national ID card is not recognized in some countries.
Issuance
We issue the temporary passport immediately.
Validity
: The validity period is 1 year.
Note
: Please check the relevant entry requirements (e.g., from the U.S. Department of State). A temporary passport is not sufficient for transit flights through the United States.
Processing will take place immediately.
