Ramstein Passport Office
Location: Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Bldg 2106, Room 110
Hours of Operation: Business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We are closed on Wednesdays, Federal Holidays and USAFE-AFAFRICA Family Days. Special issuance passport applications are accepted on Mondays and Fridays, while tourist passport applications are accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Appointments and Walk-in Services: Please use Waitwhile to schedule an appointment for passport application acceptance. Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) are handled by appointment only; however, CRBA appointments must not be scheduled through Waitwhile. Please refer to the CRBA instructions below. All other services are available on a walk-in basis. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to 786fss.passports@us.af.mil or visit our office.
Advisory Notice:
All DoD ID card holders under SOFA status assigned to Germany are required to apply for passports and CRBAs through a military passport facility. Consular passport services are available only in emergency situations and must be coordinated in advance through a military passport facility.
Services Available to All DoD Personnel and Eligible Family Members):
Additional Services for DoD Personnel and Eligible Family Members Assigned to Ramstein Air Base and its GSUs:
Travel and Identification Documents Required for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Assignment to Germany:
DoD Military Personnel: CAC, PCS Orders & NATO Orders
Eligible Family Members of DoD Military Personnel: Special Issuance Passport (SIP) (Blue No-Fee) with SOFA Stamp or Certificate
DoD Civilians and Their Eligible Family Members: SIP (Red Official) with SOFA Stamp or Certificate
Non-US & Non-EU Citizen Family Members: Foreign Passport and SOFA Certificate See additional guidance in HELPFUL TIPS below.
Locally Hired DoD Civilians, DoD Contractors, and Certain U.S. Citizen Family Members: The PCS entry requirements outlined above do not apply to locally hired DoD civilians, DoD contractors, or their family members. They also do not apply to U.S. Citizen family members who are non‑command‑sponsored (unaccompanied) dependents of military or civilian personnel. Individuals in these categories are generally not eligible for a SIP and must instead obtain a tourist passport. These personnel may still qualify for a SOFA certificate, which then must be carried along with the tourist passport when traveling outside the local area and when entering or exiting Germany. Anyone not eligible for a SIP should contact their gaining passport office before traveling to Germany to request guidance on obtaining a SOFA certificate. Doing so helps prevent automatic registration in the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) upon arrival.
HELPFUL TIPS:
Entry requirements may vary depending on a family member’s citizenship. To obtain SOFA status in Germany, certain third country nationals must be admissible to the United States. Foreign family members may be required to provide proof of their legal status in the United States or obtain approval for familybased immigration before a SOFA card can be issued. For specific information regarding Passport and SOFA certificate requirements and instructions for Third Country National family members, please go to the Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG), select “Germany” and view the instructions located in Section I.A.6.b. Access to the FCG is only provided for U.S. Government-authorized use.
Family members who arrive in Germany in advance of their sponsor are not eligible for SOFA status or associated privileges and must comply with German immigration and registration requirements.
Entry Requirements for official TDY travel, deployments or certain PCS assignments may vary depending on the duration of the stay and the unit or location of the assignment. Please refer to the FCG for additional information.
Travel and Identification Documents Required for Leisure or Tourist Travel for Personnel Assigned to Germany:
DoD Military Personnel: Carry CAC, PCS Orders including NATO Orders, Tourist Passport and Leave Form. >>> Use all documents (except Tourist Passport) when departing and returning to Germany. Use Tourist Passport when entering and departing the country of destination.
Eligible Family Members of DoD Military Personnel: Carry SIP (Blue No-Fee) with SOFA Stamp or Card, DoD dependent identification card, and Tourist Passport. >>> Use SIP with SOFA Stamp or Card when departing and returning to Germany. Use Tourist Passport when entering and departing the country of destination.
DoD Civilians and Their Eligible Family Members: Carry SIP (Red Official) with SOFA Stamp or Card, DoD identification card, and Tourist Passport. >>> Use SIP with SOFA Stamp or Card when departing and returning to Germany. Use Tourist Passport when entering and departing the country of destination.
Non-US & Non-EU Citizen Family Members: Carry Foreign Passport and SOFA Card and DoD dependent identification card. >>> Use Foreign Passport and SOFA Card when departing and returning to Germany. Use Foreign Passport when entering and departing the country of destination. Third Country Nationals should consider obtaining a travel visa when on tourist travel within the EU or Schengen countries to prevent delays or denial of entry. Consult with the Passport Office on how to obtain a travel visa.
Locally Hired DoD Civilians, DoD Contractors, and Family Members Not Eligible for a SIP: Carry Tourist Passport and SOFA Card and DoD identification card. >>> Use Tourist Passport and SOFA Card when departing and returning to Germany. Use Tourist Passport when entering and departing the country of destination.
HELPFUL TIPS:
DoD personnel and eligible family members should obtain and use a tourist passport for leisure or tourist travel to other countries. DoD personnel and eligible family members assigned outside the United States may use SIPs for incidental personal travel between foreign destinations provided the foreign government concerned accepts the SIP for personal travel. Use of SIPs while on personal or leisure travel without prior coordination with the host country’s embassy or consulate may result in delays, potential entry denial, or possible financial burden.
Although not mandatory, DoD military personnel, DoD civilians and eligible family members on orders to Germany are strongly encouraged to carry a copy of their PCS orders, along with all other required documents, when traveling for leisure within the Schengen area, in case border agents ask for additional documents to verify their status.
New Entry/Exit System (EES): The EES is an automated system for registering non-EU nationals traveling for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180 day period), each time they cross the external border of any of the 29 European countries using the system, known as the Schengen area. DoD personnel and eligible family members entering Germany with the required entry documents listed above are exempt from registering in EES. Please be aware that documentation accepted by Germany as exempting a traveler from EES may not be accepted by other EU countries to exempt a traveler from EES. If you enter or exit the Schengen area through a country other than Germany, or using entry documents other than those listed above, border agents may register you in EES and start the automated short-stay clock. If an EES registration is made in error, please reach out to your servicing passport office for assistance.
Checklists/Guides for Passport Applications:
Special Issuance Passport Checklist – Official/Blue No-Fee/Diplomatic Passports
Tourist Passport Checklist DS-11 – First-time Applicants/Minors/Lost/Stolen
Tourist Passport Checklist DS-82 – Adult Renewals
FOR PASSPORT OUTREACH EVENTS ONLY – Tourist Passport Checklist
How to register your newborn - CRBA Guide
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and Newborn Passports: CRBA and newborn passport services are offered by appointment only. Please download and thoroughly review the “How to Register Your Newborn” guide above before beginning the process.
When you are ready to apply, create a MyTravelGov account using the link provided. The eCRBA system allows U.S. citizen parents to complete the CRBA application online, upload required documents, and submit payment before scheduling an appointment to present original documents at our office.
Do not contact the Consulate or schedule an appointment with them. If you have not received an appointment notification from our office within 14 days of submitting your eCRBA, please reach out to us so we can request a status update.
A tourist passport application for your newborn may be submitted during the CRBA appointment. The Special Issuance Passport application will be processed upon receipt of the CRBA certificate and requires the child to be command sponsored and enrolled in DEERS.
Both parents and the baby must be present at the appointment.
The $100 eCRBA fee is paid online when completing the application.
The $135 tourist passport fee must be paid through Pay.gov and the payment confirmation must be brought to the appointment. This payment method only applies to newborn passports.
Tourist Passport and Other Fees:
Tourist Passport Adult (Age 16 and older; first or replacement passport if lost or mutilated) $165
Tourist Passport Adult (Renewal) $130
Tourist Passport Minors (under age 16) $135
Consular Report of Birth Abroad $100 (payment online)
*We only accept money orders or cashier checks for tourist passport applications; no cash, credit cards, personal checks or online payment unless instructed differently by a passport agent.
Official Passport and Visas for Official TDY or Deployment Travel: Please see above Special Issuance Passport Checklist or contact your UDM or the Passport Office for guidance on official passports and visas. You may also visit the MPF One Stop Shop SharePoint Site and select “Passports” to find various guides, checklists and “memo in lieu of orders” or “expedite memo” templates.
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) Cards:
SOFA cards can be obtained in person during our walk-in hours by bringing below listed original documents for review. We may request additional documents if required.
USAF/USSF Military Family Members:
Civilians or Contractors and their Dependents:
Ramstein ID Cards Office
Location: Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Bldg 2106, Room 117
Hours of Operation: Business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We are closed on Federal Holidays and USAFE-AFAFRICA Family Days. We highly recommend scheduling an appointment to minimize your wait time and the impact to our daily operations.
Appointment-based customers are prioritized over walk-in customers. Please go to Waitwhile to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to 786fss.fspsidcards@us.af.mil or call DSN 314-480-2240 / Commercial +49 6371-47-2240.
Services Available to All DoD Personnel:
HELPFUL TIPS:
CACs and USID cards are typically renewed within 30 days of their expiration date or when personal information (such as name or grade) needs to be updated. Exceptions must be coordinated with our office prior to the visit.
All DEERS updates and transactions must be authorized by the sponsor; dependent family members cannot enroll or update other dependents on their own without proper documentation.
All vital documents required to enroll, disenroll, or update dependent family members, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or divorce decrees, must be original or certified copies. Foreign documents not in English must include a certified translation, and an Apostille may be required.
DD Forms 1172-2 are only valid for 90 days after signature of the sponsor or sponsoring agency.
DoD Civilians: They must bring a DD Form 1172-2 from their servicing personnel office or sponsoring agency. Local National (DoD OCONUS Local Hire) civilians should also bring an SF 50, AF Form 825, AE Form 690-70E, or other local HR form verifying their employment status (recommended, but not mandatory).
DoD Contractors: If requesting overseas privileges, they must bring a DD Form 1172-2 from their servicing personnel office (i.e. DOCPER) or sponsoring agency.
Dependent Family Members: Family members must be accompanied by their sponsor to obtain a USID card. Exceptions apply when the family member presents one of the following: a DD Form 1172‑2 signed by the sponsor and a DEERS verifying official or notary; a general or special power of attorney; or a digitally signed DD Form 1172‑2 generated through RAPIDS DoD Self‑Service (MilConnect).
Lost or Stolen ID Cards: Please provide a "lost/stolen ID Card" memorandum signed by your commander, first sergeant, or flight commander and the Law Enforcement Desk, along with two forms of photo identification. See below links. A copy of the memorandum can also be obtained from the MPF One Stop Shop SharePoint Site, our office, or your first sergeant. To access templates and additional resources, select and select "ID Cards" within the MPF One Stop Shop.
ID Card Lost Letter - Active Duty USAF/USSF
ID Card Lost Letter - Civilian or Contractor
ID Card Lost Letter – Retired or Sister Service Member
Please use the First Time CAC User Guide for initial CACs and CAC Replacement Guide for CAC renewals.
All CACs and USID cards must be registered in the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) to grant access to military installations. At the installation gate, your CAC or ID card will be scanned and automatically registered for entry. Local National or Foreign Affiliate personnel must first visit the ROB MC Visitor Control Center to complete manual DBIDS registration before accessing the installation.