When you apply for a passport, it usually takes several weeks to receive it. If you need it more quickly, you can apply for an express passport within 3-4 business days. If it's even more urgent, you can apply for a temporary passport. The temporary passport will be issued to you immediately after your application is processed.
Since May 1, 2025, there are new regulations regarding the required photo (passport photo):
From this date, you will no longer be permitted to submit paper-based photos. Instead, you will need an electronic photo. The photo must be provided digitally and transmitted to the relevant office via a secure cloud service. You can bring the QR code provided by a photographer. Alternatively, you can take the photo on-site. Further information can be found in the "Links" section.
More Information
Publisher
Hamburg
Last update or date of publication
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
- current biometric passport photo in electronic form
- You may no longer submit paper-based photos as of May 1, 2025.
- The photo must be provided digitally and transmitted to the responsible agency via a secure cloud service. You can bring the QR code provided by a photographer. Alternatively, you can take the photo on-site.
- Proof of identity, for example
- identity card
- old passport or child's passport
- Travel documents, if available.
- Proof of sole custody
- Consent form of the absent guardian and copy of proof of identity of the absent guardian
- Birth certificate (always required for first-time application)
If your name has changed, please provide: birth certificate, marriage certificate, or declaration of name use
If you wish to apply for a passport for the first time and have obtained German citizenship through naturalization, you will also need: Naturalization certificate
If you wish to register a religious or artistic name for the first time, you will also need: proof from the relevant authority that you are authorized to use a religious or artistic name (in Hamburg, the relevant authority is the Department of the Interior and Sport).
If you wish to register a doctorate for the first time, additionally: Proof of the doctorate
Preconditions
- You have German citizenship.
- You are personally present when submitting the application.
- It is no longer possible to issue an express passport in time.
- The minor is present in person.
- The minor has German citizenship.
- All persons with custody are present in person.
- If a person with custody cannot be present, their consent must be provided in writing.
- In the case of shared custody, the person with custody with whom the minor primarily resides (main residence) must be present.
- You provide an important reason why you are not applying for a passport at the office responsible for your main residence.
- The competent authority at your primary residence approves. Approval is obtained from the authority to which you intend to submit the application.
Hints
- You cannot enter the USA visa-free with the temporary passport.
- Your name as entered in your temporary passport cannot be changed subsequently.
- If you lose your temporary passport, you must report it.
The basic fee is EUR 26.00. The basic fee doubles if you apply for the certificate at a location other than your primary residence.
Basis for legal action
Passport Act (PassG)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pa_g_1986/index.html
Passport Administration Regulation (PassVwV)
https://www.verwaltungsvorschriften-im-internet.de/bsvwvbund_16122019_DGI220105713.html
Passport Ordinance (PassV)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/passv_2007/index.html
Legal Remedies
No
Related Links
Procedure
- You can make an appointment by calling 115.
- If you are not applying for your provisional passport at your primary residence, please clarify when making the appointment whether your reason for doing so will be accepted.
- You will appear in person at the appointment - if necessary together with all other relevant persons - and apply for the provisional passport by submitting the necessary documents.
- You pay the fee.
- The provisional passport will be issued to you immediately after processing on site.
Deadlines
Validity period: 1 year
You cannot apply for an extension of the validity of your temporary passport.
Processing time
Processing takes approximately 15 minutes. Your temporary passport will be issued to you immediately.