What does a German passport mean worldwide?
A German passport is one of the strongest passports in the world. One decisive reason for this is the visa-free status. The German passport performs very well in various internationally recognized rankings. The focus here is on visa-free travel and mobility with the national passport.
Henley & Partners Ranking
Since 2006, the consultancy Henley & Partners, based on the British Channel Island of Jersey, has been analyzing the visa regulations of all territories and countries in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
For each country, the IATA database follows a 5-step system to determine the exact number of points and the strength of the respective passport. This includes the entry requirements of the respective country when entering all other countries, and additional queries apply. Based on the queries, the score of each country is equal to the number of visa-free travel options for the citizen.
The top 5 for visa-free travel
At the top of the Henley & Partners ranking are Japan and Singapore with 193 points. Germany follows in second place with a visa-free score of 192, which equates to 83.7 percent out of 227 countries. South Korea and Spain follow in third place with a score of 191, followed by Finland, Luxembourg and Italy with 190 points each. 5th place is shared by the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden.
Countries with high visa requirements
Just as there are countries that do very well in the Henley & Partners ranking and where visa-free travel is easily possible, the opposite is also true. The country with the highest visa requirement is Afghanistan with a score of 27. Afghanistan is followed by Iraq with 29 points and Syria with 30 points.
In 4th, 5th and 6th place are Pakistan (32 points), Yemen (34 points) and Somalia (35 points). In 7th and 8th place are Nepal (score of 37) and Palestine (38 points). 9th place is shared by Libya, Bangladesh and North Korea with 40 points. Citizens of these countries very often need a visa to enter the country.
Arton Capital Passport Index
Another recognized ranking on the subject of mobility with passports and visa freedom is the ranking by the Canadian consulting firm Arton Capital. Rankings such as the Arton Capital Passport Index or the Henley & Partners Ranking are indicators of how strong a country's diplomatic relations are and how much trust is placed in the respective country and its inhabitants.
In the current Arton Capital Passport Index Ranking of 2023, the German passport is also in second place with a mobility score of 173. Germany shares this place with countries such as Sweden, Finland, Spain and France.
At the top of this ranking are the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a mobility score of 180. The last places in this ranking are also occupied by Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Freedom to travel and visa-free travel
One of the most important advantages of a German passport is the freedom to travel. Furthermore, the German passport has continuously developed into one of the strongest passports in the world over the past eleven years. The number of visa-free countries is constantly increasing and needs to be checked again and again.
What does freedom to travel mean?
Freedom of movement was laid down in 1948 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in accordance with United Nations Resolution 217 A (III). This definition can be found in Article 13, which includes the right of citizens to move freely within a state and to choose their place of residence freely.
This article also states that a citizen has the right to leave their country of citizenship and to return to that country at any time. Freedom of movement therefore means the ability to move freely both within and outside one's home country.
The acquisition of freedom to travel is also linked to the unenforceable right of residence. As a German, you can therefore no longer be deported to your country of origin. It also means that the stress with the Foreigners' office and the Federal Ministry for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has come to an end.
Which countries are visa-free with the German national passport?
A German passport gives you the opportunity to travel visa-free to many countries worldwide. However, there are different points to consider when entering a country and for the duration of your stay.
Travel visa-free in Europe
A German passport allows you to travel visa-free to all European countries except Russia. In all EU countries and in Turkey, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, an identity card is also sufficient for entry.
It is also possible for Germans to enter Belarus without a visa if they enter via the airport in the capital Minsk. In this case, you can stay in Belarus for 30 days without a visa. Germans traveling to Ukraine or Turkey can stay in the country visa-free for 90 days within 180 days.
You can travel to Georgia visa-free for 360 days with a German identity card. However, you should check with the airline whether an identity card is sufficient or whether a German passport is a better travel document. Georgian state regulations sometimes differ from the regulations of the respective airlines.
Visa-free travel to the USA, Canada or Australia
Visa-free travel to the UAE and Palestine
Visa-free travel to Morocco and China
In which countries can I get a visa on arrival with a German passport?
Visa on arrival in Ethiopia and the Philippines
Visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran
How does my Naturalization work?
In which countries can I apply for an e-visa as a German?
If you are traveling to India, Pakistan, Angola or Uganda, you can apply for an electronic visa online. For the respective countries, there are websites created by the government, as in the example of India, where you can apply for an electronic visa.
In which countries do Germans need a visa?
A German passport does not allow visa-free entry to all countries. In some countries you need to apply for a visa. If you want to travel to Syria, Russia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea, Mali, North Korea, Algeria or Libya, the visa on arrival principle and e-visa do not work. The visa must be applied for at the relevant embassy in Germany.
Visa for Syria and Russia
In the case of Syria, the government stopped issuing e-visas for foreign travelers by law in 2013. Accordingly, visas for Syria must be applied for via the Syrian embassy.
Russia is now following the same principle as Syria due to the war in Ukraine. German citizens must apply for a visa via the Russian embassy. Electronic visas, as was possible before the war, are no longer issued. The general rule for Russia is: the duration is 30 days and if you exceed this, you risk being banned from entering the country.
Visa for Eritrea and Afghanistan
A visa is also required when traveling to Eritrea, including for German citizens who also have Eritrean citizenship. If you are traveling with an Eritrean identity card, you will need an exit visa when you leave the country.
Citizens with both nationalities are regarded by the State of Eritrea exclusively as Eritrean citizens. Consular protection by the German embassy is not possible. It is therefore important to enquire about the entry and exit procedures at the Eritrean diplomatic mission abroad.
The following applies to travel to Afghanistan: German nationals must apply for a visa at the Afghan embassy in Berlin before traveling to Afghanistan. The visa can be issued for a one-off period of 3 months or a one-off period of 6 months.
Work permit and studies
In addition to the freedom to travel and the opportunity to travel to many countries without a visa, a German passport also brings great advantages in the field of work and study.
What a German passport brings you at work
A German passport gives you the freedom to choose your career. You have more choices than before Naturalization. This includes the fact that the Naturalization gives you access to a career as a civil servant.
The right to pursue a career as a civil servant is set out in Section 7 (2) of the Civil Service Act. According to this, you can only be appointed as a civil servant if you have German citizenship. Access to a career as a civil servant also gives you completely different financial opportunities and options and, above all, professional security.
Changing jobs within Germany, but also within the EU, is no problem for you and can work smoothly with a German passport. With a German passport, you will also have far fewer difficulties in setting up your own company and can take out a loan to set up your business even more easily.
A German passport has this advantage when studying
A German passport gives you freedom of movement within the EU member states. In addition to freedom of movement, you also have the opportunity to gain free access to study courses in other EU countries and can therefore choose much more freely where you study and also move your place of residence and center of life to the country of study. At the same time, you always have the option of returning to Germany and do not lose any rights.
What are the benefits of a German passport in Europe?
As a German citizen, you can change your place of residence within the EU, and the same applies to your place of work or study. This means you are free to choose your place of residence in the EU and avoid complicated administrative procedures. A German passport not only opens the door to German citizenship, but also makes you an EU citizen. You can then immediately access EU rights and obligations.
German fundamental rights
A German passport or German citizenship brings many rights and obligations for a new citizen. Elementary basic rights that were previously unavailable are now part of the new freedoms.
German citizenship defines a citizen's affiliation to the German state in accordance with Article 116 of the German Basic Law. German citizens are bound by certain rights and obligations that apply to them from Naturalization .
What are Germany's fundamental rights?
As a future German citizen, a German passport guarantees you basic German rights. You are on an equal footing with every other German citizen and enjoy the same rights. These rights include, for example, the freedom of assembly under Article 8 of the Basic Law. This means that you have the right to take part in political meetings and rallies.
Another fundamental right is the freedom of association under Article 9 of the Basic Law. This right allows you to form associations, societies and political parties. Article 11 of the Basic Law stipulates that, as a German citizen, you enjoy freedom of movement throughout Germany and may move freely without being tied to a specific location.
Article 12 of the Basic Law stipulates that you, as a German citizen, are free to decide on your profession, workplace and place of training and that no one can dictate to you in this regard.
An important basic right as a German is that you are entitled to vote when you receive German citizenship in accordance with Section 12 of the Federal Elections Act and can take part in local elections, European elections and Bundestag elections. You therefore have the opportunity to contribute to political developments in Germany with your vote.
Extradition abroad is also not possible as a German citizen under Article 16 of the Basic Law. This means that you no longer have to fear being deported from Germany to your home country.
What obligations does a German passport entail?
In Germany, fundamental rights are synonymous with fundamental duties. For example, it is also stipulated that you are allowed to develop freely; at the same time, as a German citizen, you must also grant this right to every other German citizen. The same applies to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Every German citizen is entitled to freedom of assembly, but no German citizen may carry a weapon.
Just as the German state protects your property, as a German citizen you are also obliged not to damage state property. In Germany, the separation of powers is divided into the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Only the state may exercise power within the framework of generally applicable laws. Private individuals are not allowed to do so.
What is a German passport?
A German passport is a sovereign travel document. It serves as a document for German citizens traveling abroad. The German passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world.
When it comes to the design and technical features of the passport, the Federal Republic of Germany must adhere to international standards. These include, for example, the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). As Germany is a member of the EU, legislation from 2004 also sets out requirements for uniform design patterns.
How much does a German passport cost?
The following only covers the costs for issuing a German passport. The costs for the naturalization procedure in Germany are significantly higher. The costs for the German passport are set out in the Ordinance on the Implementation of the German Passport Act under § 15 in the Fees section. From the age of 24, the German passport costs 60 euros. It is valid for 10 years.
From the age of 12-24, a German passport costs 37.50 euros. This passport is valid for six years. If you want to apply for these two passports using the express procedure, this costs an additional 32 euros on top of the above costs.
There is a children's pass for children under the age of 12, which costs 13 euros. The children's pass is valid for one year.
If you have applied for your passport outside your main place of residence in Germany, the costs are higher than if you apply at your main place of residence. For people aged 24 and over, a German passport costs 120 euros and 152 euros for the express application procedure. For people under the age of 24, the cost is 75 euros and 107 euros for the express application procedure.
Even if you apply for your passport abroad, the costs are higher than for a main residence in Germany. If you are over 24 years old, you will pay 81 euros and if you are under 24 years old, 58.50 euros.
Losing your German passport abroad will also be expensive. In this case, a new passport costs 141 euros if you are over 24 years old and 94 euros if you are under 24 years old.
Application at the main place of residence in Germany
Services | Persons aged 24 and over Total | Persons under the age of 24 Total |
|---|---|---|
Passport (international standard) | 60,00 EUR | 37,50 EUR |
Children's passport | - | 13,00 EUR |
Application outside your main place of residence in Germany
Services | Persons aged 24 and over Total | Persons under the age of 24 Total |
|---|---|---|
Passport (international standard) | 120,00 EUR | 75,00 EUR |
Children's passport | - | 26,00 EUR |
Services | Persons aged 24 and over Total | Persons under the age of 24 Total |
|---|---|---|
Passport (international standard) | 60,00 EUR | 37,50 EUR |
Children's passport | - | 13,00 EUR |
Application abroad for Germans living abroad
Services | Persons aged 24 and over Total | Persons under the age of 24 Total |
|---|---|---|
Passport (international standard) | 81,00 EUR | 58,50 EUR |
Children's passport | - | 26,00 EUR |
Application abroad for Germans living in Germany (e.g. in the event of loss/theft)
Services | Persons aged 24 and over Total | Persons under the age of 24 Total |
|---|---|---|
Passport (international standard) | 141,00 EUR | 96,00 EUR |
Children's passport | - | 39,00 EUR |
History of the German passport
The word passport has its origins in the French language. In French, the word passeport is used. The translated meaning is: "Go through the gate".
According to PM Wissen, the first information about the first passports in France, Switzerland and northern Italy dates back to the 15th century. At first, only soldiers received passports, later pilgrims and merchants received passports and during times of plague, every traveler had to carry a passport for identification purposes.
The first German law was the law on passports and dates back to 1867. The first German passports were introduced in the 1950s.
Until 1988, passports in the Federal Republic of Germany were green and then the current bordeaux red color was introduced. The background to this is that in 1981 all EEC member states agreed on a uniform bordeaux red color for national passports. This was to show that they belonged to the EEC.
The information in the German passport has changed over the years. The most important details are: First name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, date of issue, expiration date, height, eye color and place of residence.
Who is eligible for the German passport?
A German passport requires the Naturalization in Germany. These are set as follows:
1. You need a legal Residence permit (however, some Residence permit are blocked for Naturalization , § 10 Para. 1 No. 2 StAG). Depending on the requirements, you will receive the Naturalization after 3, 6, 7 or 8 years in Germany.
2. identity and nationality must be clarified
3. a commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law
4. oral and written German language skills at B1 level
5. a successfully completed naturalization test
6. independent livelihood for themselves and dependants
7. ensuring integration into German living conditions
8. no conviction for a serious criminal offense
If you would like to find out more detailed information about Naturalization , read the following blog article.
Summary and outlook for the future
All the advantages of German citizenship
To summarize all the advantages of German citizenship:
1. as a German, you can travel to many countries worldwide without a visa
2. the German passport is one of the strongest passports in the world
3. as a German you can enjoy the freedom to travel
4. as a German you are free to choose where you want to work
5. you have access to civil servant status as a German
6. you can vote as a German in elections in Germany
7. with a German passport you never have to worry about being deported
What does the future of German citizenship look like?
The Henley & Partners ranking and the Arton Capital Passport Index show that the German passport has made extremely strong progress in terms of importance in recent years. The good position in the rankings is no coincidence. The German passport, and with it German citizenship, has become increasingly important and the national passport has an extremely strong global significance.
The current German governing parties are planning to introduce a naturalization and asylum procedure similar to that in Canada. According to a report from the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, the Federal Minister of the Interior and the Federal Minister of Labor visited Canada at the end of March to find out more and gather information. It can therefore be assumed that the plan is to introduce an immigration system based on the Canadian model.
The aim of an immigration system based on the Canadian model should be: The immigration of foreign skilled workers. Additional new skilled workers are very important for the German economy.
Do you still have questions about the German passport?
FAQ - Most important questions and answers about the benefits of German citizenship
The German passport has a high reputation worldwide. It can be used to travel visa-free to many countries worldwide. It performs very well in prestigious rankings.
You can enter all EU member states visa-free with an ID card. You can also enter Ukraine, Turkey, Norway, the UK and Iceland visa-free with an ID card.
In addition to EU member states and all European countries except Russia, you can also travel to all South American countries, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Canada without a visa. In total, there are over 190 countries that can be traveled to without a visa.
You cannot travel to Russia, Syria or Afghanistan without a visa. Visa-free entry to Iraq or Iran is also not possible. When traveling to Iran or Iraq, entry is possible with an electronic e-visa.
With a German passport, you are free to choose your profession, employer and place of residence in Germany. This freedom of choice also applies throughout the EU. With a German passport, you have access to civil servant status and can pursue a career as a civil servant.
The basic rights with a German passport include freedom of assembly, freedom of association, the right to vote in elections in Germany and in European elections. In addition, with a German passport you can no longer be deported to your country of origin.
The German passport, if applied for in Germany from the main residence, costs 60 euros for a person older than 24 years. Germans younger than 24 and older than 12 pay a price of 37.50 euros.
