Demand for German Passports Increases Ahead of Summer
A spokesperson for the German Ministry of the Interior has told iamexpat.de that the main reason behind the increase in the number of passport applications is German citizens’ wish to finally travel abroad without restrictions, as well as a pause in passport issuance during a certain period at the beginning of the pandemic.
“In addition, due to reunification in 1990, an increase in passport applications can be expected every ten years [as these passports expire],” the spokesperson has explained.
The same has also pointed out that the increase was supposed to happen during the two previous years, 2020 and 2021, but due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, German citizens have postponed applying for a passport up until now.
Another reason for the increase in the number of applications for passports is also Brexit. Before December 31, 2020, German nationals could travel to the United Kingdom with only an identification card. However, since the latter has left the European Union, German citizens now need a valid passport in order to be able to enter the territory of the UK.
According to the Federal Printing Office (Bundesdruckerei), the surge in the number of passport applications has caused a delay in the issuance of passports, increasing waiting periods from ten working days in January this year to 18 working days last April.
It is believed that the number of applications will fall to normal levels only in the following autumn, after the summer holidays.
The German passport is Europe’s most powerful, according to Henley Passport Index, as it enables German citizens to travel to 190 world countries without having to apply for a visa in advance. At the same time, regarding the world’s most powerful passports, Germany is listed immediately after Japan and South Korea, which share the first spot together.
A German passport is valid for a period of six years for citizens under the age of 24, whereas for those older, it is valid for ten years. When applying for a new passport, German citizens need to submit all relevant documents, including here a completed application form, biometric recent passport photos, birth certificate, previous passport (if the applicant had one), etc.
