This is the fork where time gets lost: who issues the replacement depends on which document is missing. German papers come from the registration office, a foreign passport only from your consulate — and where one genuinely cannot be obtained, a separate German document exists.
Getting replacements: different routes per document
A German ID is replaced by the registration office, a foreign passport only by your country’s mission. Where a passport genuinely cannot be obtained, a German substitute document exists.
✓ Verified: 01/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Bürgeramt / Bürgerbüro
Municipal authorityEvery town runs its own Bürgeramt. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.
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› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I assumed the German authority would issue me a new passport. It does not — only the consulate can, while the authority handles the residence permit.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Ask about a provisional document straight away. While the real one is being made, without paper in hand it is hard even to open an account or sign a contract.
Useful Tools
- Lingoking documents
Certified translations for German authorities: upload a scan, the translation arrives by post.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who reissues a German ID card? ▾
The registration office where you live. You will need an application, a biometric photo, the loss confirmation and the fee; where time is short, an expedited version and a provisional document exist.
What if a foreign passport is lost? ▾
Only your own country’s mission can issue it — German authorities cannot. Procedures and timescales depend on the country, which is why that visit follows straight after the police.
What if a passport cannot be obtained at all? ▾
German law provides a travel document for foreigners who objectively cannot obtain a passport from their own state. The immigration office issues it, and the requirements are strict: the impossibility must be substantiated.
Does my residence permit need updating after a new passport? ▾
Usually yes: the electronic residence permit is tied to the passport, so after replacing it the data must be brought into line. That is a separate appointment and a separate fee.