Travel documents for children

The children's passport will be abolished on January 1, 2024, although previously issued children's passports will remain valid until the expiration date.

One reason for the abolition of the children's passport is that this ID document and in particular its period of validity are no longer recognized as an ID document by various countries worldwide and in some cases also within the EU.

The abolition is also intended to avoid the enormous expense for parents and the administration caused by the regular, annual reapplication or renewal of a child's passport.

Every child needs their own travel document. This also applies to the very youngest from birth. Even your baby, who is just a few days old, must be able to prove his or her identity if you want to travel abroad together. For travel within the European Union, an identity card is sufficient; for destinations outside the European Union, your child usually needs a passport.

The previous children's passport will be replaced by a uniform solution for passport documents for all age groups:

• When traveling within the European Union, Switzerland and the Schengen area, you can apply for an ID card for your child. The ID card is valid for up to 6 years for people under the age of 24.
• If you are traveling to a destination outside the European Union, you will need an electronic passport for your child. The passport with a machine-readable chip for storing biometric data is also available for babies and children under the age of 12. It is valid worldwide without restriction and is also the right travel document for trips to the USA. The passport is valid for a maximum of 6 years for people under the age of 24.

You can apply for all travel documents at the residents' registration office. Please note that the processing time for ID cards and passports can take between three and four weeks, as the Federal Printing Office is responsible for issuing the ID document. You should therefore apply for the documents in good time before you travel.

With an express application, it is faster, within 72 hours. However, the costs then double.

• Identity cards cost 22.80 euros until the age of 24. It is valid for 6 years and cannot be extended.
• A passport is required for long-distance travel. It costs 37.50 euros for people up to the age of 24. It is also valid for 6 years and cannot be extended.

To apply for an ID card or passport, take your baby or child to the residents' registration office in your place of residence. You will need the following documents:

• Your child's birth certificate
• A biometric photo of your child
• The identity documents of the mother and father
• If one parent does not come with you to the office, you will need the respective partner's declaration of consent.
• If you have sole custody, you must be able to prove this.

You need a biometric photo of your child. It is not easy to photograph an infant in accordance with the regulations, which is why the requirements are not as strict as for adults.

These are the requirements: Light background, no object in the picture, no pacifier, open eyes, no cap on the face, no grimaces, no second person in the picture. However, in the case of biometric passport photos for babies and children up to the age of 6, deviations are tolerated in exceptional cases. This applies in particular to the head position and facial expression.

Please note that the facial appearance of babies and small children can change quickly and identification is no longer possible before the expiration date. In this case, it is advisable to apply for a new ID document in good time before you travel. This will help you avoid problems when entering and leaving the country.

If you have not thought of a passport for your child, you can have a passport replacement document issued at any German airport. However, this ID is only valid temporarily and costs extra. The good thing is: nothing stands in the way of your vacation.