Procedure descriptions

Passport - reapplying for a passport due to name change on divorce

Have you changed your name after the divorce? Then you must present your passport to the passport office as soon as possible. This is because a passport with your old name is invalid.

You must apply for a new passport in person. You need a passport, for example, if you

  • want to travel to countries outside the EU
  • Cannot fulfil your identification requirements with a valid identity card.

Forms/Online Services

Responsible department

The passport authorities in Baden-Württemberg are

  • the municipalities as local police authorities
  • the administrative communities, which perform or fulfil the tasks of the registration authority.

As a rule, the citizens' offices or citizens' registration offices fulfil the tasks of a passport authority.

The passport authority in whose district you are registered with your home, or your main residence if you have more than one home, is responsible for you.

Important:

Your application for a passport must also be processed by a passport authority in your home country that is not locally responsible if you can provide an important reason. A passport may only be issued with the authorisation of the locally competent passport authority. This also applies to German nationals residing abroad.

Details

Prerequisite

  • You have German citizenship.
  • Your name has changed, for example following a divorce.
  • There must be no grounds for refusing to issue a passport, such as the assumption that you wish to avoid prosecution, enforcement of a sentence or a statutory maintenance obligation by leaving the country.

Procedure

  • You must apply for your passport in person.
  • You must provide a formally valid signature and complete the declaration of German citizenship.
  • The submission of fingerprints (flat print of the left and right index finger) is required by law for the application. Note: If an index finger is missing, the quality of the fingerprint is insufficient or the fingertip is injured, another print will be taken instead. Fingerprints will only not be taken if this is impossible for permanent medical reasons.
  • When applying, you can have the photograph taken on site - depending on the equipment at the authority - or you can have the photograph taken in advance by a certified service provider (e.g. photographer or photo service at dm drugstores). The service provider will send you a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authorities can use to retrieve your photo from the cloud.
  • The passport isproduced centrally by Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.
  • You can collect the finished passport from the authority in due course. Depending on the municipality, you will be notified as soon as you can collect your passport. The notification information from the passport authority usually also contains a form for authorisation to collect your passport. This allows you to collect your passport yourself or have it collected by an authorised person. The authorised person must identify themselves to the passport authority beforehand and present the authorisation form.
  • You must hand in your old passport when you receive the new document. If you wish, you can take your cancelled old passport back with you as a souvenir.
  • From 1 May 2025, you can also select the "Direct delivery" option in the application process for a fee and receive the document delivered to your home address where it can be delivered. You must be at least 18 years old and submit the passport application to the authority at your place of residence within Germany. In addition, you must present yourself in person at the door of your home to the Postal delivery service with a valid German identity document (in this case: identity card or, if applicable, a second passport) and have the old passport cancelled when applying for the new passport. Residents of Büsingen (Hochrhein) and Helgoland cannot use the direct mail service.

Deadlines

Period of validity

The period of validity depends on your age:

  • under 24 years of age: Passport is valid for six years
  • from the age of 24: Passport is valid for ten years

It is not possible to extend the period of validity of the passport.

Required documents

  • old passport
  • Certificate of change of name from the registry office or certified printout from the marriage register with current name
  • a current biometric photograph

Please note:

  • The biometric photographs must comply with the relevant formal requirements. Assistance is provided by the Sample photo table for identity documents.
  • From 1 May 2025, only digital photographs will be accepted for passport applications. Depending on the equipment available at the authority, you can have the photo taken on site when you apply or you can have the photo taken in advance by a certified service provider (e.g. photographer or photo service at dm drugstores). The photo is then stored by the service provider in a secure cloud. You will receive a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authority canuse to retrieveyour photo from the cloud . During the transition period, a paper-based photo may also be accepted in exceptional cases and under certain conditions. Please contact your authority in advance to find out about the options available there!

Tip: Please enquire with the passport authority in advance about any other documents you may need to submit.

Costs

The fees for a passport for people aged 24 and over have increased as of 1 January 2024.

  • The fee for a passport with 32 pages for persons
    • aged 24 and over: EUR 70.00
    • under 24 years of age: EUR 37.50.
  • The fee for a passport with 48 pages (surcharge: EUR 22.00) is for persons
    • over 24 years: 92.00 EUR
    • under 24 years: 59.50 EUR.
  • The fee for a passport using the express procedure (surcharge: EUR 32.00) with 32 pages / 48 pages is for persons:
    • over 24 years: 102.00 EUR / 124.00 EUR
    • under 24 years: 69.50 EUR / 91.50 EUR.
  • The fee for a passport with 32 pages is doubled, if the issue is not applied for at the local passport authority. It is for persons:
    • aged 24 and over: EUR 140.00
    • under 24 years of age: 75.00 EUR.
  • The fee for having your photo taken at the authority using Bundesdruckerei's photo technology: EUR 6.00
  • The fee for optional direct mailing: EUR 15.00

Please note:

  • If you apply for a passport at a German embassy or consular mission, for example if you lose your passport, you will have to pay a surcharge of EUR 31.00.
  • You can also submit the application to a passport authority that does not have local jurisdiction. This authority must process your application if you provide important reasons. The authority may also charge a surcharge for this processing.
  • A different fee may be charged if the authority uses photo capture technology from a manufacturer other than Bundesdruckerei.

Processing time

It can take up to eight weeks from the date of application before you can collect your passport from the passport office.

It is recommended that you apply for your passport in good time before travelling.

If you need your passport more quickly, you can also apply for it using the express procedure. A surcharge is added to the fee for this.
If the express application is received on time, your passport will usually be ready for collection from the passport office on the following third working day (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays).

Miscellaneous

  • You must report the loss or theft of your passport in person at a passport office or police station as soon as possible. The passport authority will issue a report of loss on request.
  • You must also report the recovery of your passport in person at a passport office.

Legal basis

Passgesetz (PassG):

  • § 4 Passmuster; Verordnungsermächtigung
  • § 6 Ausstellung eines Passes
  • § 11 Ungültigkeit
  • § 15 Pflichten des Inhabers

Passverordnung (PassV):

  • § 15 Gebühren

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 16.05.2025