UK Passport Renewal in Germany
British passport holders may renew their passport from their country of residence if they are living abroad. In this article, we are going to discuss how you can do so from Germany.
If you have any questions or concerns about renewing or replacing your British passport from Germany, or are looking for professional advice or assistance with your passport renewal application, reach out to us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online. One of our expert immigration advisers will be happy to help you.
UK Passport Renewal Overseas: How to Renew my British Passport in Germany?
A passport is not only a requirement for travelling abroad, it is also a very important official document proving the holder’s citizenship and national identity. However, unlike most other government-issued documents, passports usually come with an expiry date, and need to be renewed within a stipulated time frame.
British nationals living overseas do not require to return to the UK to renew their expiring (or already expired) passports. They may do so from their respective countries of residence. So, if you are a British passport holder living in Germany, you will be able to renew your passport from there. This is true for both adult and child passports.
In case your British passport is damaged, lost or stolen, you may also be able to apply for a replacement passport online from Germany. However, the process would be slightly different from a passport renewal application.
Additionally, if you have had a significant change of circumstances, such as a name change, a gender change or change of your appearance so much so that you cannot be recognised from your existing passport photo any more, you will have to apply for a new passport instead of a passport renewal.
However, if your passport was issued before Brexit, and is burgundy or has ‘European Union’ on the cover, you do not need to renew your passport unless it is expiring or has already expired.
Page Contents
- Overview of British Passport Renewal Overseas
- Digital Passport Photo Guidelines
- Renew British Passport Online in Germany
- Mail Your Previous Passport to the Home Office
- Renewing or Replacing Your Child’s UK Passport in Germany
- How Long Does It Take to Renew a British Passport From Germany?
- How Much Does it Cost to Renew a British Passport From Germany?
- Emergency Travel Documents
- Mistakes to Avoid on Application
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
UK Passport Photo Requirements for British Passport Renewal in Germany
Renewing an adult UK passport from Germany is an online process. You cannot use a paper form or renew through a post office. You will have to apply through the Home Office website instead. However, first you will need to get a digital photo, even if your appearance has not changed much since your previous passport.
This photo must not be taken more than one month before your passport renewal application date. There are a number of stringent photo guidelines from the Home Office which you must meet, so consider visiting a photo booth or shop to get your photo.
If you go to a photo booth, they can also provide you with a code for your digital photo. While filling in your online passport renewal application form, you may just input this code to get your photo automatically added to your application.
If you decide to have your photo taken at home instead, please follow the below guidelines:
- Your passport photo must be clear and in focus, a colour photo and unaltered by any computer software (such as photoshop)
- It should at least be 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
- The file size should at least be 50 KB, but not more than 10 MB
- You photo must be taken against a plain, light-coloured background and be in clear contrast to that background
- It should not have any other objects or people, or the ‘red eye’
- The photo must include your head, shoulders and upper body, and it must not be cropped
- You must also be facing towards the camera and looking straight into the lens while your photo is taken
- Your expression must be neutral with your mouth closed, eyes open and visible (avoid having any hair or such in front of your eyes)
- Do not wear a headgear apart from any religious or medical purposes
- Do not have anything covering your face
- Avoid wearing glasses while having your photo taken (if not possible, at least make sure they are not sunglasses or tinted glasses, and your eyes are not covered by the frames or any glare, reflection or shadow
- There should also not be any shadows on your face or behind you
How to Renew Your British Passport Online in Germany
Once you have your digital photo ready as per the guidelines, please go to the Home Office website to start your online passport renewal application process. You must have your digital photo (or the code if you have one) and other necessary documents and information ready with you, so as to fill in the online application form accurately and completely.
You will also have to pay the passport fees online at this stage. You can only use a debit or a credit card for the fee payment.
How to Send Your Old UK Passport for Renewal From Germany
At the end of your online application, the Home Office website will instruct you on how to mail your previous passport to the processing office in London. It will also provide the mailing address. Take a note of both if required.
The Home Office Passport Adviceline can be contacted through phone in case you need any help completing your passport renewal application online. You may call them on +44 (0) 300 330 0901 or text on +44 (0) 300 330 0808. This service is available during 8 AM to 8 PM UK time on weekdays (or 9 AM to 5:30 PM on weekends and public holidays).
The Home Office will send your new passport along with your old one after processing your application, to your German address via Royal Mail or courier.
How to Renew or Replace a Child’s UK Passport From Germany
If you are applying to renew your child’s passport from Germany, the process is similar except that the Home Office offers certain relaxations with regard to the digital photo requirements.
For example, if the passport renewal is for a baby under 12 months of age, they may not have their eyes open in the photo, and you may support their head with your hand (although your hand should not be visible in the photo). In addition, you must have them lying on a plain, light-coloured sheet while taking their photo from above.
Children under six years of age do not require to be looking straight at the camera or have a neutral expression. In any case, you will need to ensure that your child is on their own in the picture, and they are not using dummies or holding any toys.
Once your child’s digital photo is taken as per the Home Office guidelines, please follow the online application process as discussed above. Please, however, keep in mind that you will have to provide your child’s details on the passport renewal application form while submitting a renewal application on their behalf.
British Passport Renewal Processing Time From Germany – What to Expect
It may take three to four weeks to renew your British passport from Germany. However, please keep in mind that this time frame may vary if the Home Office asks you for additional information for processing your application, or advises you to submit a fresh digital photo. So, consider applying for an emergency travel document instead if you need to travel urgently.
UK Passport Renewal Fees in Germany – How Much Does it Cost?
The Home Office charges £94.50 to process a British passport renewal application from Germany for adults. The fee is £61.50 for a child. You may also need to pay an additional £19.86 as courier fee per application.
| Passport Type | Application Method | Cost (£) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Passport | Online | £94.50 | For individuals aged 16 or over. |
| Adult Passport | Paper Form | £107 | Fill in a paper application form. |
| Child Passport | Online | £61.50 | Requires a digital photo and supporting documents. |
| Child Passport | By Post | £74 | Fill in a paper application form; includes countersigning if under 12. |
Emergency Travel Document Information
If you need to travel urgently out of state as a British citizen with an expired or expiring passport, you have two options:
- Apply for an emergency travel document (ETD)
- Apply for a new passport with fast-track service
Applying for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD)
If you’re visiting Germany
You must visit Border Control for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). You will be required to submit:
- Certified copies of any available identity documents that were lost
- An official police report documenting the loss of your ID or passport
- A recent biometric photograph
- An Application form
- An Identity Check
- Evidence that confirms you’re a tourist or unable to delay your travel plans
- Travel tickets for the remainder of your trip, including flights, trains, buses, or boat routes
For a UK ETD or ‘Emergency Passport’
ETDs have a blue cover with “emergency passport” stamped on it. It costs £100 and typically allows you to travel out of the UK for up to five days from the issue date. It is typically valid for a single or return journey back to your country of origin (the UK in this case). You can travel through up to 5 countries on your return.
To apply for a UK ETD, you must submit:
- The ETD application form
- Passport sized photograph
- Police report (for stolen passports)
- Correct fee
- Form of personal identification
- Proof of travel
Fast Track Passports
The Online Premium Service ensures a decision two days after your passport appointment. It is only available for adult applicants and costs £222. However, you must still wait two days to book an appointment and may wait up to three weeks to get one. When using this service, you should get your passport around four weeks after applying, compared to around six to eight weeks without.
You can also use the 1 week fast-track service, which reduces the passport processing time (again, not the time to get an appointment). It costs £166.50.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Passport renewals can be rejected for several avoidable reasons. Your application should have run smoothly if you previously had a UK passport. You might have it denied either for mistakes or incomplete information in your application, or in rarer cases, you are not considered to be of good character or are deemed to be a serious criminal threat.
You may be rejected a British passport if you:
- Are prevented from leaving the UK due to bail conditions, have a court order restricting travel or are suspected of a serious crime
- Are not considered to be of good character
- You are suspected of wishing to use the passport for terrorist or criminal activities
Have provided incomplete or unverified details in your application such as, if:
- The details submitted may not match the details on your naturalisation certificate
- Your passport photo may not meet the requirements. It may be too dark, bright or reflective. It may also be rejected if you are wearing accessories like sunglasses.
- You forget to sign, have incorrect information or have not paid your fees, your application may be rejected.
How Can Total Law Help Renew Your British Passport?
Renewing your British passport from Germany is a fairly simple but time-consuming process. Please ensure your digital photo and other supporting documents meet the Home Office guidelines to avoid any unnecessary delay.
If you are unsure about any aspects of your British passport renewal process, speak to our expert immigration advisers at Total Law today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online. Apart from passport renewal, we can also help with your lost/stolen/damaged British passport. In case your circumstances have changed significantly, we will be happy to assist you with applying for a new UK passport from Germany.
Moreover, if you require an emergency travel document, our immigration specialists can guide you on how to apply for the same as well.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You will have to be physically in the UK to use the Online Premium or 1 week Fast Track services by paying extra to speed up your passport renewal process.
You will need a digital photo, your old passport, any current valid passports you may have from a different country (applicable for dual citizenship holders), and a debit or a credit card for processing fee payment.
Yes. You may track the status of your British passport renewal application by logging into the Home Office website. You will need to use the same email ID you provided while submitting your online passport renewal application.
The Home Office also emails or texts periodic status updates to the applicants to keep them posted.
