vacation time - Why does the Bundesdruckerei take weeks to print passports?
## How can the exceptional high demand be explained?
For a regular passport, one currently has to reckon with a waiting time of eight weeks. The Federal Printing Office has been working at its limit. According to the Federal Interior Ministry, various factors play a role:
- People travel more again and have booked more trips outside the EU. The numbers exceed the levels before the Corona pandemic in some cases.
- Passport requirement in the UK due to Brexit.
- Corona catch-up effect: During the pandemic, there were no travel possibilities and no appointments at the local authorities for applying for the corresponding documents.
- Aftereffects of German Unification in 1990: At that time, millions of passports with a validity of ten years were newly applied for. Every ten years, there is therefore a wave of new applications. The Corona pandemic caused this wave in 2020 to fall out – and it is coming now with a delay.
How many passports does the Federal Printing Office produce per year?
The demand has been continuously increasing since 2018 – with the exception of the Corona years 2020 and 2021. According to the Federal Interior Ministry, 3.91 million passports were produced in 2018, while there were already 5.26 million in 2023. Already between January and May 2024, almost 2.6 million passports had been printed.
How many passports can be produced in optimal conditions?
Temporarily, up to 600,000 pieces per month. This is achieved, as the Federal Interior Ministry reports, through "internal personnel adjustments". If the need is particularly large, the printing plant switches to three-shift operation. In addition, printing is sometimes done at weekends – with employees who voluntarily work overtime shifts. "These ad-hoc measures can only be the exception", the Ministry notes.
Why can't the Federal Printing Office simply hire more people and machines?
That's not that simple. The production of documents that are subject to numerous security requirements is not trivial. In addition, personnel and machinery are fine-tuned over years to keep production costs at an acceptable level. According to the Ministry, the production of passports could be produced and delivered according to contract terms up to March 2024. Machines were already ordered before the end of the Corona pandemic. Changes are expected to be "medium term".
How can I get a passport quickly now?
With an "Express Passport". It should be ready for pick-up within three working days. For the special service, a surcharge of 32 Euro applies, which is added to the costs for a regular passport. The fees for this amount to 102 Euro for people over 24 years old. People under 24 years old pay 37.50 Euro basic fee for the regular passport. However, this document is only valid for six years instead of ten. Caveat: The appointment scheduling for applying at the responsible local authority can be a time-consuming process.
Are "Express Passports" still obtainable within a few days?
Yes. According to the Ministry, the delivery rate was still at 99.9% in May 2024.
And if the time doesn't even allow for an "Express Pass"?
A "Provisional Passport" can be issued in this case. It costs 26 Euro, but is only valid for a maximum of twelve months and does not contain a chip for biometric data. It is essential to check whether the respective country accepts such a provisional passport. Don't forget to include a biometric photo.
When would be a good time theoretically to apply for a new passport?
In late summer after the major travel wave and in the fall, the application numbers at the Federal Printing Office are particularly low. This doesn't help much now. Rather a tip for next year.
During the summer vacation, many individuals may opt to apply for a new passport due to the low application numbers at the Federal Printing Office. Despite the high demand for passports, news headlines often highlight the exceptional wait times for a regular passport, exceeding eight weeks. Some individuals might consider applying for an "Express Passport" to expedite the process, although it comes with an additional fee. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of waiting, and in such cases, a "Provisional Passport" can be issued as a temporary solution. Despite the challenges faced by the Federal Printing Office, the Federal Interior Ministry continues to strive to deliver passports according to contract terms, even in the wake of the Brexit passport requirement and the aftereffects of German Unification.
