Purpose of stay does not matter for statelessness travel document

For the travel document for stateless persons, it does not matter why you are in Germany. The purpose of stay is irrelevant. The validity period of your residence permit is also irrelevant for this.

Provisional travel document with a short residence permit

Is your residence permit valid for less than one year? Then you will receive a provisional travel document. However, upon request, you can also receive the more expensive biometric travel document.

Children of Palestinians born in Germany are stateless

Was your child born in Germany and are you of Palestinian origin? Then your child is legally deemed stateless. The child can receive a travel document for stateless persons. You do not need to register your child with UNRWA.

Issue New Travel Document

Find out how to get a new travel document for foreigners, refugees, or stateless persons after yours has expired.

At a glance

How do you get a new travel document?

You hold a travel document for foreigners, for refugees, or for stateless persons? Travel documents cannot be extended. After expiry, you must therefore apply for a new travel document.

The validity period depends on the type of travel document and your age. A travel document for foreigners is valid for up to 10 years (from 24 years), up to 6 years (12 to 24 years), or until the 12th birthday (under 12 years). Travel documents for refugees and stateless persons are valid for a maximum of 3 years. A travel document must not be valid longer than your residence title.

A travel document for foreigners may be issued to you if you cannot reasonably obtain a passport from your country of origin. For recognised refugees and stateless persons, the unreasonableness is generally assumed.

The new issuance is only possible in person with an appointment. Please send the appointment request preferably 10 weeks before your current travel document expires.

Requirements

Who qualifies?

You hold a travel document (for foreigners, refugees, or stateless persons) and need a new issuance after expiry
For a travel document for foreigners: You can demonstrably not reasonably obtain a passport from your country of origin. For recognised refugees and stateless persons, the unreasonableness is generally assumed.

Additional requirements

You already hold a residence title or are to receive one together with the travel document. You need your primary residence in Berlin.
The new issuance is only possible in person with an appointment. Send the appointment request via the contact form preferably 10 weeks before your current travel document expires.

How to apply

Send an appointment request via the contact form to the responsible department at the State Office for Immigration — preferably 10 weeks before your travel document expires

Gather all necessary documents: previous travel document, biometric passport photo, and proof of primary residence

Attend your appointment in person and bring all documents

Done! You will receive your new travel document

Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more

100,00EUR

Travel document for foreigners from 24 years

Travel document for foreigners from 24 years (subsidiary protection/resettlement refugees)70,00 EUR
Travel document for foreigners up to 24 years97,00 EUR
Travel document for foreigners up to 24 years (subsidiary protection/resettlement refugees)38,00 EUR
Travel document for refugees or stateless persons from 24 years70,00 EUR
Travel document for refugees or stateless persons up to 24 years38,00 EUR
Digital passport photo at self-service terminal on site (additional)6,00 EUR

Good to know

Your travel document for stateless persons is generally valid for all countries. The authority may not restrict the geographic scope. This is an important difference from the travel document for foreigners.

Bei Ausstellung eines Reiseausweises für Staatenlose besteht grundsätzlich keine Veranlassung für eine Beschränkung des räumlichen Geltungsbereichs (vgl. § 4 des Anhangs zum StlÜbk).

VAB A.3/A.23/D.58/A.104c/A.24, S. 49-828

Are you stateless and have a travel document? Then you do not have to apply for renaturalization in your former home country. Your entitlement to the statelessness travel document remains valid.

Selbst wenn die Betroffenen die Staatenlosigkeit durch einen Antrag auf (Wieder-) Einbürgerung in zumutbarer Weise beseitigen können, ändert dies an dem Anspruch auf Ausstellung des Staatenlosenausweises nichts. Die Ausländer sind zum Stellen eines entsprechenden Antrags nicht verpflichtet.

VAB A.3/A.23/D.58/A.104c/A.24, S. 49-828

The authority decides on a case-by-case basis whether you receive a travel document for foreigners. You have no automatic entitlement to this. You must prove that you cannot obtain a passport through reasonable means.

Die Erteilung eines Reiseausweises liegt im Ermessen der Behörde. Die Ausstellung eines Reiseausweises für Ausländer setzt in jedem Fall voraus, dass das Erlangen eines Passes oder Passersatzes unzumutbar ist.

VAB A.3/A.23/D.58/A.104c/A.24, S. 49-828

Contact & Responsibility

Find responsible department

The responsible department depends on your surname and/or nationality.

First letter of surname

Report waiting time

Help the community by sharing your recent experience with appointment wait times.

Comments

Ratings and reviews from the community.

Something wrong? Help us improve this page.