Starting in mid-2025, many official documents in Germany will become much more expensive. The government is raising fees for passports, ID cards, driver’s licenses, and even services like name changes and citizenship applications. The reason: prices haven’t been adjusted for inflation since 2011, and now the gap must be closed.
A passport will cost €112, up from €75.90, while a personal ID card will rise from €61.50 to €91. These increases are expected to hit family budgets hard, especially for those needing multiple documents.
Driver’s licenses will also get more expensive—jumping from €60 to €90. Car registration fees will rise even more, from €105 to €178, affecting many drivers across the country.
Some less common but important services will also become pricier. A name change will cost €567, and applying for German citizenship will cost €1,448 for approval and €163 to apply. These large increases reflect the 48.2% inflation rate over the past decade.
Even getting married will cost more, though not as much. The marriage registration fee will rise from €50 to €74.
For those who own weapons, a weapons license will increase to €175, and a weapons possession card will cost €110.
Officials say this fee hike is necessary to cover the rising costs of processing and paperwork. Most fees haven’t changed in over a decade, and this adjustment is meant to bring them in line with today’s economy. The new prices will take effect in summer 2025, giving people some time to prepare.
