Apply for a second passport

In principle, no one may hold more than one passport. However, if you can prove a legitimate interest, you may be issued with a second passport.

In principle, no one may hold more than one passport. However, if you can prove a legitimate interest, you may be issued with a second passport.

A second passport is generally valid for six years. If you have a temporary passport issued as a second passport, it is valid for a maximum of one year.

Passport authority of the municipal or city administration

• previous passport or identity card
• a current photo in the prescribed size and quality: Some municipalities require two photos. If in doubt, ask your local authority or bring two photos with you as a precaution.
• Written justification for the application
• Proof of legitimate interest (e.g. written confirmation from your employer, booking confirmations, flight tickets)
• if you are represented at the pick-up:
  • ID of the person collecting you
  • Power of attorney

Notes: In individual cases (in some cities always for the first issue after a new arrival), further documents (e.g. civil status or citizenship certificates) may need to be submitted. The same applies to a further issue if only provisional proof of German citizenship (e.g. the registration certificate from the Federal Office of Administration) was available at the time of the first issue. You should inquire about this in advance at your municipality / administrative community.

You must prove that you have a legitimate interest in holding a second passport. This applies in the following cases, for example:

• You travel a lot for professional reasons and need a second passport due to time delays in obtaining visas.
• You wish to travel to a country where you are likely to be refused entry because your passport contains entry stamps from certain other countries (for example, some Arab countries refuse entry if your passport shows that you have been in Israel).

Attention! General reasons or frequent trips abroad alone are not sufficient as a legitimate interest. Likewise, the fact that your passport is already fully stamped with endorsements is not sufficient as a reason for issuing a second passport. Even if you were already in possession of a second passport, you must prove the reasons again when a new passport is issued. Whether your reasons are considered sufficient is at the discretion of the passport authority.

§ 1 Passport Act (Passport Act)

§ 15 Passport Ordinance

• The second passport is only issued on application. You must submit the application in person and explain the reasons for your application in writing.
• In addition to the photograph, fingerprints are also stored on the electronic chip in the passport. Therefore, fingerprints in the form of a flat impression of your left and right index finger will be taken when you apply.

Please note: If an index finger is missing, the quality of the fingerprint is insufficient or the fingertip is damaged, the flat print of either the thumb, middle finger or ring finger will be taken instead. Fingerprints are only not taken if they cannot be taken for medical reasons of a more than temporary nature.

• In the case of minors (under the age of 18), the passport application must generally be submitted by both parents - provided that both are entitled to custody (for more information, see the descriptions of the children's passport).
• You can authorize another person in writing to collect the passport (the notification card from the administration usually already contains a form for this). The authorized person must present the power of attorney and their own ID.

Validity of the second passport: 6 years

approximately 2 to 6 weeks

Passports produced using the express procedure require three to four working days for processing. If the application is received by the Bundesdruckerei by 12 noon, the express passports will be delivered to the relevant authority within two working days (excluding public holidays and weekends).

A temporary passport is issued immediately upon application.

• for a passport with 32/48 pages:
  • Persons who have reached the age of 24: EUR -70/92 Euro
  • Persons who have not yet reached the age of 24: EUR 37.50/59.50
• for a passport using the express procedure: an additional EUR 32.00 each
• for a temporary passport: EUR 26.00

The fees are doubled,

• if the passport has to be issued outside official office hours or
• when a passport, a temporary passport, a child's passport is issued or when a passport is changed by a passport authority that is not locally responsible (e.g. municipality of a secondary residence) at the applicant's own instigation.

Anyone who attempts to obtain a second passport by providing false information can be fined up to 5,000 euros.