Applying for a passport document if you lose your passport abroad

If you have lost your passport while traveling abroad or if it has been stolen, proceed as follows:

• Report the loss to the local police authority.
• Go to the German diplomatic mission abroad, including
  • the German embassy,
  • a German consulate general or
  • a German consulate in the country you are traveling to.
  • Honorary consuls if necessary.
• Once you have submitted all the necessary documents, a replacement passport valid for your return or entry into Germany can be issued directly on site if required.
  • If you apply for a new passport, the issuing process will take longer.
• If there is no German diplomatic mission in your destination country, the diplomatic missions of other member states of the European Union (EU) can also issue replacement travel documents.
  • You can only travel back to the EU with such a replacement travel document issued by the diplomatic mission or consular post of another EU member state.
  • A replacement travel document issued by another EU member state is only valid for a few days.

Locally responsible German diplomatic mission abroad

• You can find the German diplomatic mission responsible for you on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

• Report the loss or theft to the local police authority and the diplomatic mission abroad

• Proof of loss or theft reported to the police
• Fully completed application form
• current biometric photograph:
  • passport size (45 x 35 mm)
  • portrait format
  • frontal photo without border
  • usually without headgear
  • without covering the eyes
• Please contact the diplomatic mission abroad if you cannot prove your identity by presenting an identity document, for example
  • an existing German passport or identity card
  • a copy of it
  • a foreign passport or identity card
• Further documents may be required. Please inform yourself in advance at the diplomatic mission abroad.

If you would like to have a travel document issued as a passport replacement, this usually takes a few hours.

If you would like to have a temporary passport issued, this may take several days.

If you wish to have a new passport issued, this will take at least 4 weeks.

If the necessary consultation with the citizens' office at your German place of residence is delayed, the processing time may be longer. If you require an exit visa, the processing time may be delayed.

• § 7 Verordnung zur Durchführung des Passgesetzes (Passverordnung - PassV)
• § 9 Verordnung zur Durchführung des Passgesetzes (Passverordnung - PassV)
• § 10 Verordnung zur Durchführung des Passgesetzes (Passverordnung - PassV)
• § 15 Verordnung zur Durchführung des Passgesetzes (Passverordnung - PassV)

• Complaint or appeal against the decisions of the Federal Foreign Office
• Action before the administrative court

Some countries require the entry stamp in your passport as proof of legal entry when you leave the country. In this case, you must apply for an exit visa.

14.07.2025