We applied in person for first German passports for our U.S.-born children. Both parents were present. I had my German and U.S. passports; my wife had her U.S. passport. Our children did not yet have U.S. passports.
What we brought for the children
- Correctly completed child passport application
- Long-form U.S. birth certificate
- German-compliant passport photos
- Both parents present
- My German passport
- My U.S. passport
- My wife's U.S. passport
- Our marriage certificate
The German Missions' current checklist is broader than this firsthand summary and can require additional documents depending on nationality, name usage and citizenship history. Use the official list as the master checklist.
Our kids did not have U.S. passports yet
Our children did not yet have U.S. passports, and the Washington Embassy accepted their first German passport applications in our case.
The current published checklist for a U.S.-citizen child nevertheless lists proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship and a U.S. passport. So I would not turn our experience into a blanket rule that a U.S. passport is unnecessary. If your child already has one, bring it. If your child does not, check the mission's instructions and bring the strongest original U.S. birth/citizenship documentation you have.
Both parents and the child should plan to attend
The current German Missions guidance says both parents or all legal guardians and the child generally need to be present for a minor passport application. There are procedures for an absent parent, but they require the appropriate consent documentation.
We brought multiple uncut photo options
I took about five to ten photos of each child at home, selected the best compliant ones, placed them in my sizing template, printed several options and brought the sheets uncut. That gave us backups if one expression or crop did not look right.
One thing parents should check: name law
First-time child passport applications can involve German name-law questions. German law changed in 2025 for many children born abroad, and the exact effect depends on the family's circumstances. Check the current name-declaration guidance before assuming the name on a U.S. birth certificate will automatically be handled the same way in every case.
Official sources
- German Missions — passport for applicants under 18
- German Missions — name declaration for a child
- German Missions — passport fees
Our children's applications describe what was accepted in our cases in October 2026. They do not override the German Mission's published document list or an officer's ability to request additional records.