Spending time abroad

You can apply for a German death certificate for a death that occurred abroad at the competent German registry office.

If you perform official duties for the Federal Republic of Germany abroad, you may be issued an official passport by the Federal Foreign Office under certain conditions. Depending on your activity, you may receive a diplomatic passport or a service passport.

If you wish to enter Germany for a longer-term stay, you must apply for a national visa.

In many countries outside the European Union (EU), you need a passport to enter the country. If you have German citizenship, you can apply for a German passport.

If you realize shortly before departure that your passport has expired, you can, under certain conditions, apply for replacement documents at short notice as a German citizen.

If you are a foreign national and discover shortly before you intend to leave Germany that your passport or passport replacement has expired, you can apply for an emergency travel document under certain conditions.

Do you need a passport at short notice and can't wait 2 weeks or more for a regular passport? Then you can apply for your passport using the express order procedure.

If you live abroad, you can apply for your German passport in person at a German diplomatic mission or, in some countries, at an honorary consular official.

Your name has changed and you are planning a trip to a country outside the EU? Then you need to apply for a new passport.

Citizens who require a visa for a short stay in Germany or the Schengen area must apply for one in good time before entering the country at one of the German diplomatic missions abroad.

If you export plants, plant products or other objects to countries outside the EU, they must not contain any harmful organisms. As proof of this, you must apply for a phytosanitary certificate or a pre-export certificate or re-export certificate.

Information on opening and using a bank account in another EU country - rights and restrictions.

Germans who are abroad can register on the crisis prevention list of the Federal Foreign Office. This enables the responsible diplomatic mission abroad to contact you quickly in an emergency.

Here you will find information on health insurance regulations for short or long stays in another Member State as well as your rights and obligations with regard to the European Health Insurance Card.

If you wish to take out liability or compulsory insurance in another member state, you will find the relevant information.

Has your name changed after the marriage? Then you must present your passport to the passport authority immediately. A passport with an old name is invalid.

Travel and safety advice for your destination can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Germans who find themselves in an emergency situation during their stay abroad can contact the nearest German diplomatic mission abroad.

If you would like to carry out research in another member state, you can find more information here about your rights and obligations during your work abroad.

Find out more about your rights when accessing and using the Internet and telecommunications and online services.

If you would like to apply for a tourist visa for the Federal Republic of Germany and are still abroad, please contact the German diplomatic mission in your country.

The Europe-wide Single Point of Contact network provides you with information on legal requirements and helps with the handling of procedures.

If you are moving to Germany from another member state, you will find the most important information on the obligation to register and the applicable deadlines here.

Here you will find information on your rights and obligations when traveling abroad as well as on necessary travel documents for minors and on the loss or expiry of travel documents.

If you would like to receive medical treatment in Germany, you will find information on your rights and obligations here.