Apply for an emergency travel document for foreigners

You can apply for the emergency travel document in person or online at the border authority, for example at the airport from the Federal Police.

Personal application

• You go to the border authority and ask for an application form, which you fill in and sign.
• An identity check will be carried out on the spot. You will need to prove your identity and nationality or that of the person for whom you are applying for a passport replacement travel document.
• You must present a current biometric photo or have one taken on site at the authority.
• You must pay the handling fee in cash on site.
• You will then be given the emergency travel pass.

Digital application

• You can also submit the application online and send it to the border authorities for processing to speed up the procedure.
• To do this, fill out the application in the federal portal and send it off.
• After submitting your application digitally, you can contact the competent border authority.
• Before starting your journey, you must appear in person at the border authority to:
  • to sign the application,
  • to carry out an identity comparison,
  • present a recent biometric photograph or have it taken by the authority, and
  • to pay the handling fee.
• After that, you will be given the emergency travel pass.

Applications for emergency travel documents can be made:

• Nationals of a member state of the European Union (EU), the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and their family members entitled to freedom of movement,
• nationals of a state listed in Annex II to the EU Visa Regulation,
• Third-country nationals who are entitled to return to the above-mentioned states, i.e. holders of a residence title (Schengen visas of category C are excluded) or a long-stay visa to stay in Germany,
• civilian ship's personnel of a ship operating in maritime or coastal navigation or in navigation on the Rhine for shore leave, or
• civil aircrew for a stay on the aerodrome site, in the airport community or for a transfer to another airport to depart from there.

Other requirements:

• You can prove your identity and belong to the group of eligible applicants.
• The issuance of a regular passport or passport replacement by the own diplomatic mission or the aliens' registration office is no longer possible before the start of the journey or cannot be expected in time.
• No interests of the Federal Republic of Germany are affected.
• There are no safety concerns.
• The purpose pursued by a search notice, if any, is not impaired.
• The country of destination recognises the emergency travel document as a border crossing document.
• In the case of minors, the consent of all legal representatives must be obtained.

Notes:
For children, the emergency travel document can be applied for by the legal guardian or an authorised person. Independent application is only possible from the age of 18. If not both parents are travelling with the child, both custodial parents must agree to the trip. The situation is special for parents who are permanently separated and have joint parental responsibility: only the parent with whom the child usually resides may apply for the passport. The parents must provide credible evidence of permanent separation. This also applies if one of the parents with custody is permanently absent, for example if they have moved away unknown.

For application and collection you will need:

• Proof of your identity and nationality by:
  • expired passport or temporary passport or
  • expired identity card or temporary identity card
• when applying for a child:
  • expired children's passport or
  • Birth certificate (only if applying for a child)
• Proof of entitlement to long-term residence
  • German residence title in check-card format or
  • Residence permit of another Schengen State in check-card format
• current, biometric photo

Note: If this is not available, a photo will be taken at the authority. You will not incur any costs for this.

• § Section 4 paragraph 1 number 2 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
• § Section 13 (1) Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
• § Section 48(1)(5) Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
• § Section 49 (2) Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
• § Section 14 (2) Residence Act (AufenthG)
• § Section 69 (6) sentence 1 Residence Act (AufenthG)
• § Section 71 (1) and (3) no. 2 Residence Act (AufenthG)

On the pages of the Federal Police you will find a list of states that recognise passport replacement documents issued in Germany. Please note, however, that foreign border authorities may change this practice at any time at short notice.

• - List of states that recognise passport replacement documents issued in Germany on the Federal Police website

An emergency travel document is issued in individual exceptional cases.

• Online appointment allocation Foreigners Department