Berlin
Passport, ID card or children’s passport – certain documents are urgently needed when traveling with children. That’s what matters.
Traveling with children can be exhausting. Because for the little ones, all sorts of preparations have to be made. That also applies to them travel documents. But don’t panic, we’ll explain what you need to watch out for.
There are basically three different official documents for children to travel with: identity cards, children’s passports and normal ones passport. Depending on the holiday destination, a specific document is required – and there are also special features when it comes to renewing passports.
Children’s passport: The most uncomplicated document for holidays with children
The children’s passport has several advantages over the other documents. Initially, the exhibition only costs 13 euros. This makes the document the cheapest. In addition, the children’s passport will be issued to you and given to you when you apply. So you only have to go to the office once. the child passport is valid worldwide with few restrictions. Nevertheless, there are a few things to consider.
Basically, the child passport can be applied for from the birth of the child. It applies to children under the age of twelve, from the age of 12 children also need a normal passport or one identity card – depending on the destination. Child passports applied for since January 1, 2021 are valid for a maximum of one year. Children’s passports issued before this remain valid.
Always make sure that your child can still be clearly identified in the photo. If the child has changed significantly visually, they should child passport To update. Because changed facial features can invalidate the passport. Updating with a new image costs six euros.
Children’s passport: You need these documents
The children’s passport is issued by the responsible Registration office issued or updated by appointment. The prerequisite is that the child has German citizenship. The application can then be made by the legal guardians, the child must be present.
Additionally need a biometric passport photo, the child’s birth certificate and the identity documents of both parents are presented. If only one parent comes to the appointment, the other parent must agree in writing in advance. There is a simple form for this on the websites of the registration offices. The same applies to children’s identity cards.
There are exceptions for single parents and parents who are permanently separated: In the case of sole custody, the consent of the second parent does not apply. However, sole custody must be proven. In the case of permanently separated parents, only the parent with whom the child has its main place of residence may apply for the ID card. That also applies to the child identity card.
| State Achievement | child support |
|
recipient |
Legal guardians, in exceptional cases children themselves |
|
Height |
at least 219 euros per child |
|
duration |
from birth, up to the 25th birthday at most |
|
expenditure of the state |
A total of 47.6 billion (2021 in Germany) |
Normal passport: This is the difference to the children’s passport
the normal one passport for the child is only worthwhile with advancing age. Because unlike the children’s passport, it cannot be updated so quickly if the facial features of the little ones change. The fee for the passport for people under the age of 24 is 37.50 euros.
The main difference to the children’s passport is that the normal passport contains a chip on which fingerprints can be recorded. In some countries, entry with a child’s passport is therefore only permitted with an additional visa. This applies, for example, to trips to the USA. The children need either a normal passport or one child passport and a visa. In case of doubt, you can find out in which countries the children’s passport alone is not sufficient in the travel guide of the Federal Foreign Office.
Identity card for the child: It is more complicated for single parents
Suppose you are traveling to a country within the EU or to another country in the Schengen area. Then, just like for the parents, the child’s identity card is sufficient.
Although there is no identification requirement for children under the age of 16 in Germany, there is one identity card However, you can still simply apply for the child from birth. The card costs 22.80 euros and is also applied for at the registration offices. You need the same documents for this as for the various passports.
By the way: It used to be possible to simply enter the children in the parents’ passport. This proof are no longer valid – not even within the EU. (lro)
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