Urgent: Apply for a passport by May 23rd – expect longer waiting times!

Urgent: Apply for a passport by May 23rd – expect longer waiting times!

In the run-up to the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, which take place from July 14th to August 26th, 2025, numerous people are looking for valid passports and identity cards. The city of Recklinghausen recommends applying for these documents by May 23rd at the latest to avoid delays. However, processing times vary significantly depending on the city.

So reported derwesten.de that the current delivery time for passports in Essen is almost six weeks. We therefore appeal to citizens to submit an application as soon as possible. Duisburg also sees high demand, resulting in a similar turnaround time. Anyone interested should make an online appointment with the citizen service to avoid unnecessary waiting times.

Different processing times

There is no specific deadline for the application in Dortmund, but individual planning is recommended due to the same processing time of around six weeks. Bochum, on the other hand, has slightly shorter waiting times: Here the delivery time for passports is around five weeks, while identity cards can be provided in around three weeks.

A passport is required for anyone wishing to travel abroad. Loud service.duesseldorf.de A German passport offers visa-free entry to over 170 countries and a variety of benefits. When applying for a passport, children and young people under the age of 18 must also be accompanied by a person with legal custody and, as a rule, both parents must sign the application.

Important information about applying

From May 1st, 2025, only digital passport photos will be permitted, while paper-based photos will be accepted until July 31st, 2025. To apply, a current biometric photo, previous ID and possibly a civil status certificate are required. For minors, a declaration of consent from the legal guardian must be presented.

The fees for the passport are 70 euros (32 pages) for adults and 37.50 euros for people under 24 years of age. For cash payments of 10 euros or more, a processing fee of 1 euro is added. If you are in a hurry, you can use an express procedure for faster processing, but this will incur additional costs. The regular processing time is around 8-10 weeks, with the express procedure it is only 3-5 days.

The city of Essen and other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia advise submitting applications early to be on the safe side during the upcoming travel period. Public holidays and vacation periods could also lead to further delays. Good preparation and timely application are therefore essential.