German ID Card and/or Passport

[new2waix]

I have just attained a German Certificate of Nationality (Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis). I currently hold a Australian passport and live in London.

To further confirm my German nationality, I have been advsied to get a German passport or ID card.

Which one should I get?

How long does it take to process?

As I understand it, the ID card can be used for travelling within EU and proof of EU nationality....

[Christophe]

Yes it can, and it has, I suppose, the benefit of being smaller than a passport and so therefore more easily carried around. To be honest, though, if it were I who was in your position, I'd be inclined to get the passport, since this can be used for travel outside the EU/EEA as well as within it.

Having said that, of course, an Australian passport is probably, in general, at least as useful as a German passport outside Europe - possibly more so, in fact!

[Marco 72]

Here is the relevant website of the German Embassy in London. It says you can't get an ID card abroad, but you can apply for a passport ("Die Beantragung von Personalausweisen ist im Ausland nicht möglich"). Unfortunately it takes 6-10 weeks for the passport to be issued, since they need to be printed in Berlin ("Der Druck der Pässe erfolgt bei der Bundesdruckerei in Berlin. Rechnen Sie bitte mit einer Bearbeitungsdauer von 6 bis 10 Wochen").

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

The embassy may well be able to issue short term emergency passports. You can then apply for the normal passport at your leisure. Worth the 50 euros (or whatever it is) in exchange for being paid.

[Marco 72]

You are right, it's possible to get a "temporary passport" which expires after one year, in case one can't wait 6-10 weeks. The procedure is explained here.

[johnsienk]

<original post deleted>.