From May onwards, the doctorate will no longer be available on ID cards as before. Do those affected now have to apply for new passports? We asked the Interior Ministry.
Berlin – Acquiring a doctorate requires a lot of work. Of course, the carriers then have this entered into their identity card and passport. However, this is exactly where a big change is coming. The Federal Ministry of the Interior, headed by Nancy Faeser (SPD), has responded to what appears to be confusing information in German passports. It is about entering the doctoral title before the last name in the identity card and passport. With the new regulation (printed matter 66/24 of February 7, 2024), the Ministry of the Interior has decided that the title will have its own field in the documents in the future.
The new regulation also affects service and diplomatic IDs as well as travel documents for foreigners, refugees and stateless persons. These aren't the only changes coming to passports.
Ministry explains new ID regulations: doctoral degrees cannot be read by machine during border controls
Apparently difficulties often arose with border controls in other countries. The problem was the usual use of the abbreviation “Dr.” in front of the last name in German ID cards. When asked by IPPEN.MEDIA, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior explained: “Since the two letters are often taken to be the first letters of the family name, but are not found in the name representation of the machine-readable zone,” this could lead to delays in border controls.
The change will stop confusion at border controls in the future. From now on there will be a separate data field “Doctoral degree” on the identification documents for German citizens with doctoral degrees.
Ministry ensures clarity at the borders: What awaits ID card holders with “Dr.” now?
But what does this mean for those affected who have their academic degree on their ID card? Do you now have to apply for new documents? The ministry also has a clear answer to this: “All applications for the issuance of a passport, identity card or travel document submitted from May 2, 2024 will be produced with the changed design. The validity of already issued passports, identity cards or travel documents remains unaffected by the design change.”
However, if you would like to exchange your document with the old design now to prevent future travel difficulties, the ministry spokeswoman advises you to apply for a new identification document. This will be possible at all municipal offices nationwide from May 2, 2024. It should be noted that existing visas and entry registrations are generally linked to the passport number. “They become invalid with a new passport and would then have to be applied for again,” the Interior Ministry continues.
Ministry of the Interior relies on digitalization: Numerous simplifications planned for all citizens
Incidentally, citizens will soon be able to obtain a new identification document more easily and quickly. This is the ministry's plan. “In the future, citizens will receive email reminders about the expiration of their documents upon request,” the Ministry of Homeland Affairs announces on its website. At the end of April 2025, the requirement to submit a paper-based passport photo will also no longer apply. To this end, self-service stations should be set up in authorities to capture photographs, fingerprints and signatures.
The following simplifications will also be implemented:
The possibility of direct postal delivery of passports and identity cards to the applicant's domestic registration address will be introduced from May 2025
The issuance of digitally generated change stickers will be simplified by eliminating the obligation to provide an official signature and date.
Source: Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland
Since the beginning of the year, the children's passport has been abolished and replaced by an electronic one. Therefore, parents now have to apply for something else in order to be able to travel with their offspring without hindrance. (sthe)