There are tons of Germans in the United States of America interested in knowing how they can easily renew their German passport without having to travel down to Europe for this. Fortunately, you can easily renew your German passport renewed right there in the United States of America, as far as you are familiar with the simple process.
German passport renewal in USA cost around 81 Euros for adults, which must be paid in USD. The whole process is done either in the German Embassy in Washington DC or in any of the German consulates in different parts of America.
German Passport Renewal In USA – Cost & How
On how to renew your German passport in USA, before now, the manner this is done is by posting one’s application to either the German Embassy in the United States of America or one of the consulates in the country. From there, it will be processed, and you will receive your passport once they are done. However, there has been an upgrade, which every german living in the United States of America should be aware of.
Germany is now one of the countries making use of an ePassport. The method for this is that a microchip is placed into one of the physical passport pages of your passport. The microchip carries all necessary information about the person. It also contains their biometric data, including their photographs, fingerprints, and even their digital signature.
Although this new system (the use of an ePassport) will help ensure that your passport is less vulnerable to fraud (and it will also be much more credible), you now have to go through some more activities just to either make a new passport application or passport renewal. You should realize that applicants now must go in to verify their identity through fingerprints and the rest.
Some time ago, to renew your German passport in the United States of America, you simply have to post the necessary application forms. However, with this system, Germans have no choice but to go in person and fill out all application forms. You can head over to the German embassy that is located in Washington DC, or any of the 8 German consulates scattered around the country (in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco).
There is good news however, the government of Germany is obviously interested in making things easier for Germans here, and they keep taking certain reasonable steps. Since the United States of America is a pretty big country, they have created several other honorary consuls in different places in the country that can help handle passport stuff.
How To Renew Your German Passport In USA
First, applicants have the liberty to either go to any of the consulates in the country to grab the passport application form, or to download it in the comfort of their homes. Either way, you have to fill out the passport application form before any other meaningful progress could be made.
Nevertheless, it is usually advisable that you take your time to first download the passport application form while you are still in your place before going to the consulate, and get it filled out without rushing. Note that making avoidable mistakes could make the application process more stressful for you. You may have to start all over again should you allow errors. Hence, you should take your time to first download the passport application form and get it filled out when you are focused. Then, before stepping into the consulate, you are able to identify the information that you may not have readily available and search for them.
Aside from the application form, you must submit the supporting documents too. Everything must be in order, and if an applicant is left with just one, they will have to get it before their application can be processed.
Here are the required documents are:
- Your duly completed German passport application form
- Two passport-size photographs of yours taken recently (the two must be the same)
- Your original birth certificate (you should also come with a copy of this certificate)
- Proof of spousal relations, can be a marriage or death certificate.
- Your current German passport as well as a copy of the data pages
- Proof of deregistration from the applicant’s German place of residence as well as a copy of this
- A proof of U.S residency. You can submit your residency visa, a green card, or your U.S passport if you have one.
- A proof of your address in the United States of America. You can submit any acceptable utility bill or simply your driver’s license.
- Passport fee
Now, it is necessary to take time to emphasize the German passport photo requirements, as this is something that could make the process more stressful for you. If an applicant won’t use the correct photos in their application as specified by the Embassy, the entire application will be denied, and they will have to start again all over. To avoid wasting your time, you should be familiar with what they want and see to it that you follow their regulations so you won’t see your passport application stopped because of this reason.
Hence, make sure the photo is a a clear one professionally taken recently (within a few months), with a pale background. Ensure nothing covers your face when taking the snap, and also see to it that the background has no shadows or objects.
You are to face the camera head-on with your eyes facing the direction of the camera, and with a neutral expression. If you must put on headwear, it should be for religious purposes alone. Finally, make sure you don’t attach a damaged or old photo, and you won’t have issues on this front.
Simply hand over your application form and all supporting documents to the officials at the consulate, and they will finalize the process for you.
German Passport Renewal Fee
The German passport fee for adults is around €81. Kindly note that as far as you are processing your passport in the United States of America, the fee is payable in dollars according to the exchange rate on the day.
German Embassy And Consulates Address
You can only complete your passport renewal in person, at the German Embassy or any of the consulates.
- The German Embassy In Washington DC
Here is the official representation of the Federal Government of Germany in USA. If you reside in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, you should patronise the office for your passport renewal.
Address: 4645 Reservoir Road,
NW, Washington DC
- The German Consulate In Atlanta
This is the official representation of the government of Germany to the southeast of USA. If you reside in Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, this should be your go-to place.
Address: Marquis Two Tower – Suite 901
285 Peachtree Center Avenue, N.E
Atlanta
You can visit (by appointment only) from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
- The German Consulate In Boston
If you reside in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut (except Fairfield County), this is where you should approach to renew your German passport.
Address: Three Copley Place,
Suite 500, Boston.
- The German Consulate In Chicago
If you are in North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, and Illinois, you can easily get your passport renewal done here.
Address: 676 North Michigan Avenue,
Suite 3200,
Chicago
- The German Consulate In Houston
If you are in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana, you can get your German passport renewal done here.
Address: 1330 Post Oak Blvd.,
Suite 1850,
Houston
- The German Consulate In Los Angeles
For folks in San Diego, Imperial, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Utah, Nevada and Colorado, they can get their German passport renewed here.
Address: 6222 Wilshire Boulevard,
Suite No. 500,
Los Angeles
- The German Consulate In Miami
If you stay in Puerto Rico, Florida and the US Virgin Islands, you can get your German passport renewed here.
Address: 100 N. Biscayne Blvd.,
Suite 2200
Miami,
Florida
You must schedule an appointment if you will be attended to. Simply call: (+1)305-358-0290 or send an email to [email protected]
- The German Consulate In New York
For people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Bermuda and Connecticut (Fairfield County), they can conduct their German passport renewal here.
Address: 871 United Nations Plaza,
New York,
NY 10017
- The German Consulate In San Francisco
If you are in Alaska, North Carolina, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, as well as the American overseas territories (American Samoa, Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Midway, Johnston, and Palmyra Island), you can get your German passport renewal done here.
Address: 1960 Jackson Street,
San Francisco
Closing
German Passport Renewal In USA is not a tough affair. You should ensure you get your application form filled out appropriately, and turn it in at any of the German consulates in the United States of America (or even the Embassy in Washington DC), and they will help settle up the rest.
Related:
[catlist name=”USA”]