1. Start with the Essentials: Completed Application Form

• Download the application form PDF (694 KB) and ensure all fields are accurately filled.

2. Capture Your Biometrics: Recent Passport Photos

• Include two identical biometric passport photos; avoid self-cutting.
• Refer to the Sample Photos for Passports PDF (550 KB) for guidance.

3. Establish Your Birth Details: Birth Certificate

• Provide your birth certificate indicating the exact place of birth.
• Note: If the US birth certificate only mentions the county, supplement it with a hospital-issued “proof of birth letter” specifying the town.

4. Marital Status Documentation: Marriage, Divorce, or Widowhood

• For married individuals: submit the marriage certificate.
• For divorced individuals: include the divorce decree.
• For widowed individuals: provide the death certificate of the spouse.

5. Retrieve Previous Identification Documents

• Submit your previous passport (data page with photo) or ID card.

6. Verify Your Residence Status: US Residence Permit

• Include a valid residence permit in the US, such as a US Resident Alien Card, US residence visa, US passport, US Certificate of Birth Abroad, or US Citizenship Certificate.
• Holders of a Green Card without an expiration date are also accepted.

7. Ensure Name Consistency: Name Declaration

• If your last name has changed, provide proof of name usage.
• Possible documents include a name declaration, German Naturalization Certificate, or US Naturalization Certificate with “Beibehaltungsgenehmigung.”

8. Proof of US Residence: Driver’s License or Utility Bill

• Present your US driver’s license or a utility bill in your name as proof of residence.

9. Additional Documentation as Needed

• Include any additional documentation relevant to your specific situation, such as a German Doctoratal Certificate.

10. Financial Considerations: Identity Card Fee

• Pay the required identity card fee.

11. Important Notice: Application Processing Requirements

• Ensure your application is complete with all necessary forms and supporting documentation.
• Failure to provide required documents may result in rescheduling your appointment and processing delays.

12. Special Note: Documentation for Previous Passport Holders

• Even if your last passport or ID card was issued at a different German mission in the US, resubmit the required documentation (excluding the deregistration certificate).
• Essential documents include birth certificates, name declarations, and marriage certificates.

13. Variances and Additional Requirements

• Acknowledge that differences may occur in each application due to the complexity of German passport and ID law.
• Be prepared for potential additional documentation requirements based on individual scenarios.