Renewing a Canadian passport from Germany

Hai, I need to renew my canadian passport it going to expire on March '06. B'cause I will be travelling in Dec i want to renew it in advance. Usually how long does it take to renew passport. Will they do it that early.
Any help is appreciated. Many thanks in advance

I dunno how long it takes but I do know that mine took two weeks to just get a name acknowledgement added (so I can use my married name). So I imagine a renewal is longer. I think she said they do it in Berlin for renewals or something. Also, someone mentioned that renewing it here meant not getting a machine-readable passport which is a real pain...but don't quote me. It is just what I heard.

The thing I don't like is that you are without passport and they then send it back through the post. But you have to sign for the package so that made me feel a bit better.

Just pop into the consulate on Tal and ask them. Or send them an e-mail. They are quick to respond. If you tell them your requirements, perhaps they can speed it up.

The hardest part is the exacting requirements. The passport photos of an exact size from a photo studio and the witness who has known you for 2 years and has a job in one of their recognised positions. If there's no one in Munich who has known you that long, the ambassador at the consulate can sign for you (for a fee).

They process and do passports at the Munich consulate, so it shouldn't take more than a couple weeks at the most. However, Blimeygirl is correct, the passport is not machine-readable, so you will take a wee bit longer getting through most customs. I haven't yet tried the States with my non-readable passport, so I don't know how long it takes with them or if you need to get fingerprinted. Most places it's no big deal.

I have to renew mine too! But my question is, is it just a small formality when you go to the KVR to put your old residency permit in the new passport? Or do you need to take all the froms again from your employer and that?

Info or experiences on that would be greatly appreciated!

Hello!

Renewed our passports a couple of years ago...via Berlin embassy...took about 2 - 3 weeks.

BUT note: YOU MAY NOT SMILE on the photo! They sent them back and asked us to reshoot!

Crap!

- Chris

I just received my shiny new Canadian passport yesterday - 48 pages and machine readable. It took about 3 weeks from the day I started to the day I received.

Process was pretty easy. Downloaded and filled in the passport form from Passport Canada (http://www.ppt.gc.ca/menu_e.asp) website and filled in. Went to the photo shop below Wormland and had the passport photos taken - this place was recommended by the Consulate - be sure to ask for a Canadian Passport compliant photo. Took the form and the pics to the canadian consulate on Tal Str and submitted my fee. They send to Berlin where it gets processed.

Don't stress if you don't have a "guarantor" - you can pay 30-something euros for someone at the munich canadian consulate to sign a form 'in lieu of guarantor'.

The whole thing including photos, forms, etc. cost about 100 bucks. The only downside was getting my updated German Visa at KVR. More paperwork involved because my old passport has the short form of my first name, and the new passport has the long version.

Good luck!

love the 48 page thing- I had to put an elastic in my passport so British customs would stop stamping on new pages everytime!

What I would really love would be a 10 year passport. 5 years sucks big time.

Okay, so the newest, latest news is- I sent my passport off for renewal (did mine in Berlin, as they do the machine readable ones), got the photo (Canadian standards at the Photo Shop across from Subway at the Rindermarket, City Photo I think its called.) and had my bosses (Dentists sign everything). So, I was expecting like 3-4 weeks right? No! I had that baby in my hot little hands about 10 days later. I was impressed.
So, now comes the easy part - or so I think... heading to the KVR to put the new stamp in my new passport. Seems they have changed some procedures, and you now need to take a photo with you (I didn't, I paid for 2 sets in machine, as the first time around, I was still reading the instructions and the photo shot, and its not acceptable as my eyes are not looking forward enough- so another 5 euro in to the machine). There is no form to fill out, but be prepared for a bit of a wait, you do have to see your Letter person on the 1st floor, and they type a bunch of stuff in the computer, and scan your photo, and then give you the form to go pay 10 Euro for the new stamp in your new pass. ( I tend to pass the time, trying to guess what countries all the other foreigners are from! ).

But the women I saw (not the first one that said my eyes are shifty) but the second one, even gave me all the forms I need for next september, when I am eligible to apply for 'unbefristed' residency. So, she was nice after all.

Is the passport machine readable. My passport expires March 2007 and I go to the US on business. Was in Houston earlier and the customs guy told me that Canadians will also need machine readable passports soon.

Berlin offers Machine readable passports, but the agency at the Consulate in Munich doesn't. But its no big deal to send it off, if you read my post took only 10 days from the day I mailed.

I was in the States in April with a non-machine readable Canadian passport. No problem, but they did say the law was going to change. I think you'll need to give a fingerprint if your Cdn. passport isn't machine-readable.

Does anyone know if this law has changed then yet?
Also just to clarify, when you take your passport to the Consulate on Tal to be renewed, do they send it to Berlin or process it there?
From what I am reading above you can get a non-machine readable passport here in MUC or send your stuff off to Berlin yourself for a machine-readable one?
I just want to be sure as I definitely need a machine-readable passport, those without do not cut it any longer, it's not worth the hassle as I often go into US when I am back home.

Munich is not set up for machine readable passports, but you can send it to Berlin, and it takes about 2 weeks. No problem, I did mine last year that way.
You NEED a machine readable for Flights into the US, if you drive across the boarder, its not yet required (will be in 2008).

I just got back from the States and don't have a machine readable passport. I had no problem, and wasn't asked to do the photo/fingerprint big brother crap.

did you fly or drive?

All flights into the US need a passport now, but the boarding crossing not yet.

Flew in to San Francisco.

I was checking in at the BA counter a couple of weeks ago and the customer services lady was on the phone re. a French non-readable passport holder wanting to enter the US. Apparently Canada is the only exception, and only non-readable passports with a valid Visa are allowed to enter.

Which reminds me that I really have to renew my Canadian passport and have a first one issued for hams junior, been putting it off for months.

I wanted the machine readable for the security, I have seen Passport guys get pissy with non readable, and you just never know, it all depends on their moods. Better be safe than sorry.

I know Canada and the US have special agreements, but even now, US citizens flying into the US have to have a passport, the boarders for driving are still open, but that will change 2008 (as I understood it).
I was home over christmas, and there were huge line ups at the Passport offices, as so many Canadians fly south for the winter, and before it was so easy, not needing a passport, just any ID.

I renewed my Canadian passport here in Munich back in 2003. I was flying to Prague in 2003, and back then Canadians needed a visa to enter CZ. My passport was to expire within 3 months. The CZ consulate wouldn't give me a visa because my passport needed to be at least valid for the next 6 months. I then went to the CDN consulate on Tal and asked then how quickly they could issue me a new passort. The consulate adviser back then was a cool guy and I knew him from before. He said it would take 48 hrs. and sure enough, 2 days later, I get a call that my passort was ready.

My passport is valid until 2008, but it's NON-machine readable. I however encountered no problems with customs getting into countries where I though there could be one, i.e. flying to the US in 2005 and driving from Canada to US in 2006, flying to Latvia and Lithuania in 2005.

Regards,
Jumpman Pro

As of 2007 they changed the laws about passports, ALL Canadians need one now to fly into the US, but you still don't need one to drive in, I repeat myself, you will though as of 2008.

Anyone have any recommendations for getting passport photos done in Berlin (preferably Prenzlauerberg or Mitte)?

call the Embassy, they have a list of accepted photo shops for Canadian Passports.

thanks, just phoned the embassy and they said that even the subway photo booths are ok as long as they meet the stated requirements (shadows, size...)

lucky then, I paid about 17Euro at a shop here in Munich for the proper req`s

I wonder if you can raise an eyebrow or smirk. I smiled too much on mine and they sent me back but I'd really like an evil glare or something... Anyway if you're doing it at a subway machine I bet you could take two sets and let them choose. I wish I'd thought of doing that when I had the chance.

When I renewed my passport in December, the woman from the consulate called me regarding my photos. I went in and she explained to me that in both photos, there was a bit of a shadow. I looked at it and, I swear, I thought she was joking. It was the faintest, lightest shade ever. Of course I didn't even notice it until she pointed it out. She said that once they send the application to Canada, these passport photos might not be acceptable. They would return the application and I'd have to get new pics done. It was my call to risk the photos not being acceptable and the application being returned. I told her that I wasn't paying another 15 euros to get new photos, and as long as I didn't have to pay another 70-something euros for the application again, then I'd risk it. My new passport came in 4 weeks later, and there was nothing to worry about.

I'd be surprised if you can get the photos done at a subway photo station. I would call again and double check with someone else if I were you. According to the information on the Passport Canada website section about photos:

Update:

The Canadian Consulate in Munich now has the capability to issue machine readable passports but will now only do so for emergency circumstances (e.g. lost or stolen passport).

All normal passport renewals must go through Berlin but if you have any question or need help filling out any of the forms the Consulate in Munich will help you.

came across this


I'm planning on traveling with my Wife to NYC in about 4 weeks and I have a non machine readable passport that is set to expire in less than six months so I'll think I'll apply for a new passport. Last time I renewed it was in Germany this time it's in Spain, hopefully they will issue me a new machine readable one in time, I'd hate to miss out on a trip to NYC paid for mostly by the company (just need to pay for the flight and the company pays for the rest - joining the wife on a business trip)