German passport
Encyclopedia
German passports are issued to nationals of Germany
for the purpose of international travel. A German passport is, besides the German ID card
, the only other officially recognized document that German (and most other EU
) authorities will routinely accept as proof of identity from German citizens. Besides serving as proof of identity and presumption of German nationality, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from German consular officials abroad (or other EU-members in the case that a German consular facility is absent). German passports are valid for ten years (for people older than 24) or six years (for people until the age of 24) and share the standardised layout and burgundy red design with other EU passports, albeit with a hard cover that is unique to Germany.
emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The word "Reisepass" (German
for passport) is inscribed below the coat of arms, while "Europäische Union" (German for European Union) and "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (German for Federal Republic of Germany) appear above.
German passports are normally 32 pages long; a 48-page version for frequent travellers can be issued on request.
The first two pages of a German passport are security laminated and the second page includes the following data:
The page ends with a 2-line machine readable zone, according to ICAO standard 9303. The country code is not DEU as is the standard country code for Germany (according to ISO 3166-1 alpha-3
), but D. This is the only country/citizen code which does not consist of 3 letters.
In November 2001, the so-called Identigram feature was added - a number of holographic security elements
, including a three-dimensional eagle, a holographic copy of the holder's picture (the so-called Holographic Shadow Picture), a holographic copy of the machine-readable zone, holographic microprinting
and kinematic elements.
, English
and French
.
) chip and 13.56 MHz loop antenna
embedded into the front cover page, in accordance with ICAO standards. The chip and antenna are not easily visually recognizable, but their presence is indicated using the ICAO biometric passport
symbol at the bottom of the front cover. It carries all the data printed in the passport, including a JPEG
file of the photo, protected by a digital signature
.
On 1 November 2007, several changes were made to the passport:
, by local municipal registration office
s. Applicants have to apply for a new passport in person and the data in newly issued passports is essentially an authenticated copy of the personal data found in locally stored registration documents. Passports are then manufactured centrally at Bundesdruckerei
.
If the necessity can be proven, more than one passport can be issued with overlapping validity (e.g. when travelling to Arab countries with an Israeli stamp in the passport, or when needed for professional reasons). In theory, a person can concurrently hold up to ten passports. The additional passports have six instead of ten years validity.
A German passport (32 pages, delivered within a month, issued to a person 24 years and older) costs 59 €. A passport for a person under the age of 24 which has a validity of six years costs 37.50 €. A 48 pages passport costs a premium of 22 €, express delivery a premium of 32 €.
A Child’s passport has sixteen pages (unlike the regular’s 32), of which eleven are designated for stamping and the others are used for a title page, instructions and personal information. The first page features the words “Child's Passport” in three languages: German, English and French.
Unlike a regular passport, the information pages in a Kinderreisepass are not security laminated (yet do have other security features) and have a different format. The information included is more or less the same, with the following differences: The type of passport is PC (Passport for children) instead of P (Passport). As in other passports, the main information page ends with a 2-line machine-readable code, according to ICAO standard 9303.
A Child’s passport serves just like any other passport, with the exception that it is not biometric (or e-Passport). As a result, travelling to the USA
, for example, requires a tourist visa in spite of Germany’s participation in the United States Visa Waiver Program
, if the Kinderreisepass is issued after 25th of October 2006. Alternatively, infants and children of any age are allowed to obtain a regular German passport (biometric) instead of a Child’s passport, which nevertheless has the advantages of low cost, short processing times and being issuable by honorary consuls (making them easier to obtain by German emigrants who live far away from a German embassy or consulate). Just like Provisional passports, Children passports are issued without being sent to the Bundesdruckerei GmbH, which is the main reason behind these advantages.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for the purpose of international travel. A German passport is, besides the German ID card
German identity card
The German Identity Card is issued to German citizens by the local registration offices ....
, the only other officially recognized document that German (and most other EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
) authorities will routinely accept as proof of identity from German citizens. Besides serving as proof of identity and presumption of German nationality, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from German consular officials abroad (or other EU-members in the case that a German consular facility is absent). German passports are valid for ten years (for people older than 24) or six years (for people until the age of 24) and share the standardised layout and burgundy red design with other EU passports, albeit with a hard cover that is unique to Germany.
Physical appearance
German passports have followed since 1 January 1988 the standard European Union passport design, with burgundy red cover and the German EagleCoat of arms of Germany
The coat of arms of Germany displays a black eagle on a yellow shield ....
emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The word "Reisepass" (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for passport) is inscribed below the coat of arms, while "Europäische Union" (German for European Union) and "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (German for Federal Republic of Germany) appear above.
German passports are normally 32 pages long; a 48-page version for frequent travellers can be issued on request.
Identity Information Page
- Photo of passport holder
- Type of document (P = passport)
- Code for issuing country (D = Germany)
- Passport number (9 alphanumericAlphanumericAlphanumeric is a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters, and is used to describe the collection of Latin letters and Arabic digits or a text constructed from this collection. There are either 36 or 62 alphanumeric characters. The alphanumeric character set consists of the numbers 0 to...
digits, chosen from numerals 0-9 and letters C, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, T, V, W, X, Y, Z. Thus, "0" denotes the numeral, not the letter "O".) - Surname (1)
- Given names (2)
- Nationality (3)
- Date of birth (4)
- Sex (5)
- Place of birth (6)
- Date of issue (7)
- Date of expiry (8)
- Authority that issued the passport (9)
- Holder's signature (10)
The page ends with a 2-line machine readable zone, according to ICAO standard 9303. The country code is not DEU as is the standard country code for Germany (according to ISO 3166-1 alpha-3
ISO 3166-1 alpha-3
ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes are three-letter country codes defined in ISO 3166-1, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , to represent countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical interest...
), but D. This is the only country/citizen code which does not consist of 3 letters.
In November 2001, the so-called Identigram feature was added - a number of holographic security elements
Security hologram
Security holograms are very difficult to forge because they are replicated from a master hologram which requires expensive, specialized and technologically advanced equipment. They are used widely in several banknotes around the world, in particular those that are of high denominations...
, including a three-dimensional eagle, a holographic copy of the holder's picture (the so-called Holographic Shadow Picture), a holographic copy of the machine-readable zone, holographic microprinting
Microprinting
Microprinting is one of many anti-counterfeiting techniques used most often on currency and bank checks, as well as various other items of value. Microprinting involves printing very small text, usually too small to read with the naked eye, onto the note or item. Microprint is frequently hidden in...
and kinematic elements.
Following page
The following page lists:- ResidenceHauptwohnsitzIn German-speaking countries, Hauptwohnsitz denotes the primary place of residence. In Germany and Austria, the concept of Hauptwohnsitz has special legal ramifications, primarily involving tax....
- HeightHuman heightHuman height is the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body standing erect.When populations share genetic background and environmental factors, average height is frequently characteristic within the group...
- Colour of eyesEye colorEye color is a polygenic phenotypic character and is determined by two distinct factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris....
- Religious nameReligious NameA religious name is a type of given name bestowed for a religious purpose, and which is generally used in religious contexts. Different types of religious names may be in use among the clergy of a religion, as well in some cases among the laity....
or pseudonymPseudonymA pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Languages
The data page/information page is printed in GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, English
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
RFID chip with biometric certificate
Since 1 November 2005, German passports had a contactless smartcard (proximity cardProximity card
Proximity card is a generic name for contactless integrated circuit devices used for security access or payment systems. The standard can refer to the older 125 kHz devices or the newer 13.56 MHz contactless RFID cards, most commonly known as contactless smartcards.Modern proximity cards...
) chip and 13.56 MHz loop antenna
Loop antenna
A loop antenna is a radio antenna consisting of a loop of wire, tubing, or other electrical conductor with its ends connected to a balanced transmission line...
embedded into the front cover page, in accordance with ICAO standards. The chip and antenna are not easily visually recognizable, but their presence is indicated using the ICAO biometric passport
Biometric passport
A biometric passport, also known as an e-passport or ePassport, is a combined paper and electronic passport that contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers...
symbol at the bottom of the front cover. It carries all the data printed in the passport, including a JPEG
JPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
file of the photo, protected by a digital signature
Digital signature
A digital signature or digital signature scheme is a mathematical scheme for demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document. A valid digital signature gives a recipient reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender, and that it was not altered in transit...
.
On 1 November 2007, several changes were made to the passport:
- Applicants also have to provide – in addition to the traditional passport data – scans of two fingerprints, which are added to the chip.
- The previously 9-digit, all-numeric, sequentially assigned serial numberSerial numberA serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
was replaced with a new alphanumeric pseudorandomly assigned higher-entropyEntropyEntropy is a thermodynamic property that can be used to determine the energy available for useful work in a thermodynamic process, such as in energy conversion devices, engines, or machines. Such devices can only be driven by convertible energy, and have a theoretical maximum efficiency when...
serial number, to increase the entropy of the serial number from the previous 35 digits to 45 bits. This improves the cryptographic key strength of the Basic Access ControlBasic Access ControlBasic Access Control is a mechanism specified to ensure only authorized parties can wirelessly read personal information from passports with an RFID chip. It uses data such as the passport number, date of birth and expiration date to negotiate a session key. This key can then be used to encrypt...
mechanism of the RFID chip by 10 bits, which makes a brute force attackBrute force attackIn cryptography, a brute-force attack, or exhaustive key search, is a strategy that can, in theory, be used against any encrypted data. Such an attack might be utilized when it is not possible to take advantage of other weaknesses in an encryption system that would make the task easier...
approximately 1000 times more expensive. - The validity period of passports issued to holders under the age of 24 increases from five to six years; older applicants receive a passport valid for ten years.
Issuing process
German passports are issued, just like German ID cardsGerman identity card
The German Identity Card is issued to German citizens by the local registration offices ....
, by local municipal registration office
Registration Office
A registration office commonly refers to a government agency that files compulsory information in the public interest.The most common type of a registration office is a companies registration office or a trade register office. In most countries, the trade and company register is freely accessible...
s. Applicants have to apply for a new passport in person and the data in newly issued passports is essentially an authenticated copy of the personal data found in locally stored registration documents. Passports are then manufactured centrally at Bundesdruckerei
Bundesdruckerei
The Bundesdruckerei is a German manufacturer for banknotes and stamps, identity cards, passports and visas, driving licences and vehicle registration certificates....
.
If the necessity can be proven, more than one passport can be issued with overlapping validity (e.g. when travelling to Arab countries with an Israeli stamp in the passport, or when needed for professional reasons). In theory, a person can concurrently hold up to ten passports. The additional passports have six instead of ten years validity.
A German passport (32 pages, delivered within a month, issued to a person 24 years and older) costs 59 €. A passport for a person under the age of 24 which has a validity of six years costs 37.50 €. A 48 pages passport costs a premium of 22 €, express delivery a premium of 32 €.
Child's Passport
A unique type of passport issued by Germany since 2006 is a Child’s Passport (in German: Kinderreisepass). Unlike a regular German passport, the Kinderreisepass does not include biometric features and lacks the insignia of the European Union at the top of the front cover. The exclusion of biometric information is due to the ongoing development of infants and young children and the low security risk they pose; nevertheless, the photo used in the passport does have to comply with biometric standards. All other features are similar to those of a regular passport: the burgundy red color and the German coat of arms engraved at the center of the front cover. Kinderreisepässe are issued for children up to twelve years of age and are valid for a six years period. When a child reaches the age of twelve, a regular passport must be obtained for international travel.A Child’s passport has sixteen pages (unlike the regular’s 32), of which eleven are designated for stamping and the others are used for a title page, instructions and personal information. The first page features the words “Child's Passport” in three languages: German, English and French.
Unlike a regular passport, the information pages in a Kinderreisepass are not security laminated (yet do have other security features) and have a different format. The information included is more or less the same, with the following differences: The type of passport is PC (Passport for children) instead of P (Passport). As in other passports, the main information page ends with a 2-line machine-readable code, according to ICAO standard 9303.
A Child’s passport serves just like any other passport, with the exception that it is not biometric (or e-Passport). As a result, travelling to the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, for example, requires a tourist visa in spite of Germany’s participation in the United States Visa Waiver Program
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S...
, if the Kinderreisepass is issued after 25th of October 2006. Alternatively, infants and children of any age are allowed to obtain a regular German passport (biometric) instead of a Child’s passport, which nevertheless has the advantages of low cost, short processing times and being issuable by honorary consuls (making them easier to obtain by German emigrants who live far away from a German embassy or consulate). Just like Provisional passports, Children passports are issued without being sent to the Bundesdruckerei GmbH, which is the main reason behind these advantages.
See also
- German identity cardGerman identity cardThe German Identity Card is issued to German citizens by the local registration offices ....
- Visa requirements for German citizensVisa requirements for German citizensAccording to the "Henley Visa Restrictions Index 2011," German citizens can travel to 172 countries visa-free / with visa on arrival.Germany is ranked 2nd in terms of travel freedom.-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:...
- Passports of the European Union
External links
- http://www.epass.de/
- http://www.bundesdruckerei.de/en/index.html
- German Passports in PRADO (The Council of the European Union Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online)
- Security features of the German passport (German)