The German Kinderreisepass (children's passport) has been abolished on 1 January 2024 due to not being recognised as an official identity document by several countries. For instance, it is not allowed to apply for the ESTA USA with a German Kinderreisepass. To avoid issues with international travel, the German government has decided to abolish this special passport for children.
German children's passport abolished
Germany was one of the few countries where special passports for children were issued. However, these passports were not biometric, meaning they did not contain a chip with the holder's biometric data. The Kinderreisepass was meant for children up to 12 years old and was valid for one year. The main advantage of this children's passport over a regular passport was its price. The children's passport cost only 13 EUR and could be extended for 6 EUR, while a regular passport costs 37.50 EUR per person.
Although Germans now have to pay more for a passport for their children, there are also advantages to applying for a regular passport, also for children. A regular passport is valid for longer and is considered a valid identity document all over the world. For example, an ESTA can be used with a regular passport to travel to America.
Digital chips as a safety measure
The German Kinderreisepass does not contain a chip, thus it is not biometric. Regular passports generally have a chip, on which biometric data, such as fingerprints, a photo of the holder and other personal data, are stored. This chip is an additional security measure, which makes forging passports more difficult and prevents identity fraud. Several governments do not accept the Kinderreisepass as a valid ID due to the lack of this digital chip. For example, the ESTA USA, the digital travel authorization for the United States, can only be applied for with a biometric passport.
Biometric passport necessary for ESTA application
The German Kinderreisepass is excluded from the US ESTA system. Travellers without a biometric passport need to apply for a US visa. For a US visa application, an appointment must be made at the American Embassy or Consulate, where biometric data can be recorded. Moreover, obtaining a visa can take several weeks or months. The ESTA, on the other hand, can be applied for online and is granted within 3 days on average.
Issues with trips to the US
Most travellers don't know that it is not allowed to apply for the ESTA with a Kinderreisepass. This may cause problems for German families planning a trip to the US, since travellers often find out that their child needs a US visa. In this case, most people submit an urgent passport application for their child and then apply for the ESTA. In fact, applying for a passport and then for the ESTA is simpler and faster than applying for a US visa.
Validity of the Kinderreisepass
Besides the risks linked to the lack of a biometric chip, the Kinderreisepass's validity also caused issues. For travelling to most countries, international travellers need a passport valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival. Since the German Kinderreisepass is only valid for one year, it is often not valid for international travel. Unlike the Kinderreisepass, regular German passports are valid for 6 years if the holder is not older than 24.
Children's passports already granted are still valid
Children's passports granted before 1 January 2024 will remain valid until the passport's date of expiry. However, it is not allowed to apply for the US ESTA with a Kinderreisepass. You can either apply for a visa for your child, or apply for a passport and then apply for the ESTA USA. Applying for a regular passport and then for the ESTA is generally the simplest and fastest option.