General Information

Have you lost your passport or had it stolen, and do you need to return to Germany urgently?

To return to Germany, you can be issued a “travel document serving as a passport substitute” (RAP). If you can provide certified photocopies of your lost identification documents, the document can be issued immediately. Without these copies, the relevant German citizens’ office must generally be consulted to verify your identity. If your ID has been lost or stolen, you must submit a police report of the loss.

Please note that in most cases, proof of identity must be requested from Germany. To contact the appropriate authorities, we strongly recommend that you visit the office as soon as possible!

Please note that for the issuance of a travel document for minor applicants, both parents must give their consent. If only one parent has custody, additional proof of this is required (e.g., custody order, death certificate of the other parent).

The general regulations governing the issuance of passports for adults or minors apply to the issuance of a new biometric passport or child’s passport following loss.

Validity of Identification Documents

A travel document for return is valid for a maximum of four weeks after issuance and allows entry into Germany. The document cannot be used to travel on to other countries. However, it is also valid for the transit area.

Documents Required for the Application

Please note for your appointment: You must bring the original documents with you.

• Application form (adults) or application form (children)
• A copy of a current German identification document
• Identification documents of the legal guardians (if applicable)
• Report of lost passport from the local police authority
• 2 recent biometric passport photos
• Authorization from the absent parent for travel documents for children

Fees

You can find a current overview (only availabe in German) of the fee schedules here.

The fees for issuing a new passport are set in euros worldwide, although payment must be made in the local currency (Nigerian naira). The conversion is based on the current exchange rate, which you can inquire about at the Embassy or Consulate General.

At the Embassy in Abuja, payment can be made either in cash or by international credit card (in euros, U.S. dollars, or British pounds).

At the Consulate General in Lagos, payment can be made in cash or with local bank cards via POS (in naira).

Appointment Booking

Once you have gathered all the required documents, you can book an appointment through our central appointment scheduling system.

You can book an appointment here for the Embassy in Abuja and here for the Consulate General in Lagos.

If you are unable to attend a booked appointment and wish to cancel or reschedule it, please notify us via our contact form.