Extend your passport: overview of costs, duration and important information

If your passport is about to expire and you are planning a trip abroad, you should immediately renew the document. We show you how it works and what it costs.

Extend your passport

You do not need a passport within the EU. If you leave the EU, in most cases your identity card is no longer sufficient.

• The passport is always issued for a period of 6 to 10 years. After that, the document becomes invalid. You must then apply for a new passport, an extension is not possible.
• You have to apply for the passport at the responsible citizens' office. In most cases, you have to make an appointment beforehand online or by phone.
• You need a biometric passport photo for the appointment. You will often find appropriate photo booths at train stations where you can get 4 passport photos for around 5 euros. Going to the photographer is not necessary.
• If you are under 24, the new passport is only valid for 6 years. From the age of 24, the document is valid for 10 years. This is because you don't change your appearance as quickly in old age.
• You should usually bring your old passport with you to your appointment. If you misplaced or lost your passport, it doesn't matter.

How much does a new passport cost?

• Due to the shorter validity, you only pay € 37.50 for the passport under the age of 24. Over the age of 24 you pay a whopping 59 euros.
• The passport has a processing time of around 3 to 4 weeks. If you can't wait that long, you can apply for an express passport for an additional 32 euros. This only takes a maximum of 4 days.
• If the passport does not arrive in time, you can still apply for a temporary passport before departure. If you travel a lot, you can get 48 instead of 24 pages for visa stamps for an additional 22 euros.