German Embassy, London Review

They never answer the phone, even during the ridiculously short working hours.

My passport got taken by the British Border Force because it was reported lost back in Germany. I had gotten it back again and informed all the German officials - however the Border Force still took it away, because it was still in their system when I arrived in London. I visited the embassy Monday morning. They handled everything perfectly, were super friendly and I got a temporary passport to fly back. It took me around one hour, all in all, to get a new one.

Very helpful with my 92 yo mother and let me join her in a private room with chairs and flexible with paperwork

I visited this embassy yesterday to have my passport renewed. Absolutely everyone I spoke to was super polite and extremely helpful. Best embassy I've dealt with by a long shot.

3 months to get an appointment to renew your passport + another month to wait for your passport. Temporary or emergency passports only get issued in cases of death in the family (proof is also needed for this). If you're don't get organized at least 4 months before your passport expired it is impossible to get a travel document. My summer holiday is down the drain :-(

Absolutely terrible they just messing around they don't even know what kind of document they going to ask you what ever their shows on the website it's all about lie i'm going to take them to court wasting my money wasting my time terrible terrible terrible

Really the last one. If you are really in a country where you have no overnight accommodation, no more money, the second night has to look for a hotel, hoping to get out tomorrow, is on your feet over 31h and then from this "employee", one gets disgusting removal. We wanted us to be helped. That we get an overnight stay somewhere in a hotel. It would not have been the money that was missing. You can also overdraw credit cards, no! The problem was that London was fully booked due to the airport crash. You are laughed at and said that you are not a credit institution. After long, derogatory discussions, I replied that I don't want money either, but help or support to sleep somewhere. There was another condescending answer, We don't have any hotels under our hands either. I guess I misunderstood the meaning of a message. I hope that the woman I spoke to on the phone comes in a situation that also makes you despair. Thanks for nothing! I'm sorry that I disturbed you on a sunny Sunday in Germany with a round of cake and coffee, but I don't have to explain the definition of help and your job !? Or at least a courtesy training session, but I hope in the future you will not be so derogatory and condescending towards other people. I would also give zero stars if I could! MkfG D.B.

For the evaluation of Ina: With "H.E." Wittig on board can only get worse - overbearing, vain and not very efficient (own experiences).

A catastrophe. I, a German citizen, am stranded in this country because the embassy (1) won't pick up its phone, (2) the phone won't even ring, (3) the machine service guide me though the options and then hang up. I have been trying for weeks.

All staff have been extremely nice and helpful! It is true, however, that it has an unwelcoming station atmosphere.

I left Germany taking with me the fear of the dreaded red tape as an abiding memory. Thirty years on and having travelled to some 80% countries in the world I have had many dealings with Germany's embassies all over the globe. Every single time the guys there have been super friendly, efficient, kind and helpful - in emergencies well beyond the call of duty. They seem to be far more flexible and friendly than any of the authorities back in Germany. Every time I need their help - for whatever reason - they just turn out to be super stars! We are so lucky to have our embassies.

I would like to say a big thank you to all the kind and very helpful staff ! In no time I had a temporary passport and could travel home in a personal moment of crises. They were a ray of kindness and understanding !

A huge thank you to the German Consulate for processing my customer's visa application within 2 days after we asked them to do so because it was very important for her to travel on a certain day. The Consulate representatives were highly professional and extremely helpful. Danke sch n!

Very poor customer service
We had an appointment at 3pm, and waited an hour to be called.
When it was finally over and wanted to pay, we discover the credit card payment does not work, so had to go out to town to get cash!
Oh and it is IMPOSSIBLE to contact them by phone. They either never pick up or it is busy for hours. I tried for over a month to talk to someone there.
I m very disappointed

fast response within 24 h via email with very detailed information!

Had a very friendly staff!
Fast processing.

I was pleased to not have to wait in an overcrowded waiting room! The German embassy have really lived up to the new normal standard!

I contacted the German embassy London to try and get German citizenship through descent. Their process was very fast and within 1 month of initially contacting them I had an appointment at the embassy and had my application for citizenship accepted. I was able to pick up my passport a couple of weeks later. I received 5* service from everyone I spoke to at the embassy and had no problems.

I applied my passport renewal with a express service it meant to come in 3 weeks but never arrived, i got a flight tomorrow. Guess i have to cancel it because of the "fantastic express service" that never arrived.

Very efficient and fast, if you have of course all the correct paperwork with you. Thanks and see you in 10 years again

Very helpful and kind staff. I felt a little apprehensive, because it was my first time in Central London since March, but I felt save.

Great experience security was a bit obnoxious but it's there job . The service inside was immaculate as we were sorted out in 10 minutes great place

nightmarish bureaucracy. Don't expect them to be helpful in any way.

Perfectly organised quick service and thanks to current circuit next to no wait time

They should make waiting room for people it's hard to wait outside in cold for your turn especially if you're with children.

Great experience. Very friendly service, many thanks.

Typical German! Does not get any competent information. Three requests by e-mail remained unanswered. That immediately reminded me of a song by Reinhard Mey: An application for an application form. If one depends on this message, then one is abandoned. More German is not possible!

Good straight forward service. Plenty of on street parking at Belgrave Square (maybe due to covid).

The passport service was quick and efficient. Personnel should be mindful of insulting other "customers" to each other when their microphones are switched on... we can hear you! Also, they only take cash or CREDIT cards, no debit, so make sure you have the right means of payment. It would have been nice to be informed of this beforehand.

The best of the embassy I have ever been,polite people,decent ,serous of their job,not waisted people time.

Lovely and friendly staff, Within 30minutes I was done,with my passport application

South Korea 2
Germany 0

A wonderful result. Looking forward.

This feedback is regarding renewing a German passport (a simple thing you would assume!). Overall, very friendly staff. Not their fault. The process is stuck in the 1960s. Just as a comparison, my wife, a Canadian citizen, just renewed her passport here in London and she only had to print out an online document and send it by post along with passport pictures and a payment form. About 2-3 weeks later the new passport was there.
Here's what I had to do to get my German passport renewed:
- Book an appointment, the earliest one being available 2 months out
- Print out and fill in an application form
- Bring along my passport + a copy
- Bring a recent utility bill + a copy
- Bring my birth certificate + a copy
- Bring a certificate from the town hall where I last lived in Germany showing that I don't live there anymore, + a copy
- Bring my marriage certificate, + a copy
- A copy of my father's birth certificate (!) - to prove I'm of German descent
- A copy of my father's passport (!) - to prove I'm of German descent
- Go to the embassy for my appointment and spend 1h there

This is absolutely ridiculous - what a waste of time. A shame nobody from the embassy will ever read this, nor will anyone there care... I'm surprised Germany is doing so well economically, given this bureaucracy.

Very helpful and friendly staff. Did not have to wait long.

Had to go in for a new passport. It was easy to get an appointment online, upon arrival the security guards were super friendly and helpful, I did not have to wait more than a minute to be called forward for speaking to an embassy employee and the lady who helped me was quick, efficient, informative, and very kind. I had the best experience!

What is happening? You do expect something like this from non efficient embassy's! How can someone know that they have to book and appointment 6 months in advance for a new Passport!! You need a new Passport when your old one expires so maybe you will apply 2 months in advance as common sense, like i tried!! Now my appointment would be in mid August when the holidays are almost over!! But 6 months in advance?? Staff shortage? Hire more staff! But please some more friendly once!! Even the home office in is working faster, and that really sais a lot!

Attended the embassy to renew my Passport. I arrived an hour early and was let in immediately as there was no queue. Embassy staff were friendly, quick and efficient. Was out in less than 15 minutes. Received my new passport 2 weeks later

No visa fee for EMBL-EBI employee. Not allow to turn on mobile phone and laptop in the Embassy.

I had very nice experience, even that in the Pandemic Covid-19 situation they are working hard. The staff were very friendly and nice. At least we are German and we are best in World. Proud to be a German

Always extremely helpful, professional, sympathetic and courteous.

Am always impressed with the staff and processes at the German embassy. First time passport application took less than 10 minutes. Staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful even in pandemic times.

I arrived promptly to my 11am appointment to renew my Passort. A lady at the entrance checked me in and then 2 friendly security guards, of asian ethnicity, did some airport style checks with scanner etc. They then gave me a number ticket.

Once inside, i waited for my number to be called. It does feel a bit like a waiting room of a modern train station, but i felt comfortable. Within minutes, i was at a counter talking to a nice lady inside, who recalled my information on their PC. Since I did a renewal 5 years ago, there was nothing more required apart from the application form, proof of address, photo, 2 signatures and payment.

I then went to the payment counter, made payment, and that's it. All in all, i spend exactly 37 minutes in there. If that's not German Efficiency!

Was very impressed with the speed, efficiency, and friendly staff, i have dealt with.

Some key Notes:
Do be aware that payment can be only CREDIT card (which is charged in EUR from germany) or cash.

Book Appointments at least 2Months in advance, as places are limited, and booked.

3 months waiting time to get a new passport is totally unacceptable and pathetic for a German embassy. Embassy staff also needs to work on their attitude, friendly is different.

All staff were totally rude and unprofessional took each others sides. Worst experience ever. actually left me crying inside the embassy. Shameful

I went to the embassy, I had everything with me and had spent tonnes of money on it all and I got sent back for having more than one person In one appointment so the other people that were with me couldn't get a passport despite the fact that we had everything else. I even printed out what it says because it clearly states that you are allowed to book more than one person in an appointment

Applied for a German passport by descent. Got an appointment and my new passport in the space of a few weeks. They don t ever answer the phone but I d recommend to email as they are quick to respond that way! Danke :)

Such a delightful experience quick and very helpful staff!

The staff were courteous, efficient and helpful. We attended for verification of documentation which was done speedily with a minimum of waiting

German efficiency at its best. Very polite and quick staff, embassy clerk really knowledgeable, passports renewal for two kids took no more than 20 mins with all forms pre-filled correctly at home and copies of all documentation required present.

I've been calling from more than half hour but they are not picking the phone its so annoying. You guys should improve your services. Because it's so annoying. Shame on you guys

Very disappointing support for UK based German nationals. Cost enough money to come into London and pay for a new passport, but to receive one with a spelling error and then be forced to return and re-pay to correct it is shocking (not to mention the total lack of help from staff who took at least 5 emails and a phone call before explaining what had to be done) compared to the system if one was a UK national where they replace it for free.

Very friendly personnel, clean and smooth running embassy.

Kept me waiting pointlessly on the phone with an endlessly repeated message to stay on the line. A modern phone queue would tell callers their position in queue to give sense of progress. German embassy doesn't bother, just makes callers wait until they give up. Pathetic.

It was great experience.
But make sure you have right appointment booking because they will not see you if you have a different appointment.
That's why I'm giving 4s.

Applied for a visa for holiday... completed holiday dates on the application as requested... got a visa which only covers the outbound part of holiday... so can't get home!

Also had to use a day's holiday to travel to London as postal visa's are no longer allowed.

They used to be quick and efficient. Now...

Total Incompetence.

Being German myself I shouldn't have been surprised to hear I needed ALL documents to get a new passport. I was early for my appointment and left actually just when I was supposed to be seen. Germans being early, efficient and matter of fact? Of course!

No overcrowded waiting rooms and very Efficient service!

Took extra time to let me collect myself and call around to find something to prove identity. Generally people at embassies would say tough luck and send you out the door.

Great experience security was a bit obnoxious but it's there job . The service inside was immaculate as we were sorted out in 10 minutes great place

I was very surprised how quickly I could book in for an appointment to renew my ID card. I could choose from a week ahead and many different time slots! (Thought it would be busier due to the end of the year/brexit chaos)

Finding the actual entrance was a bit confusing, but the staff was very helpful. No queing, weird but I guess necessary security scan and it was my turn straight away even though I was there 15 min early. After 15 min everything was sorted and I could leave the embassy again.

This place is a mess; they make you wait OUTSIDE in a filthy side alley, no matter if it rains or snows. The info monitors had a blue screen error all the time, place was extremely overcrowded. No german efficiency here.

they're just getting worse and worse. You now cannot bring anyone with you inside if its not their appointment, they'll have to wait in the freezing cold outside. also the lady at the entrance takes ages, so many people waiting in a row, it was so windy and freezing but she was extremely slow. inside, you need way more documents than for other passports, they told us our passports would be ready together to collect, but I've gotten my notification weeks ago and my partner is still waiting.

I went to the embassy last week. I was absolutely appauled by the security guard who was working there at the time. He came across very rude and ignored me for around 10 minutes as I was standing outside waiting for him to acknowledge me. When he eventually did come outside he made me repeat my name about 3 times and my date of birth about 2 times which I found odd. He ignored me twice as he was talking to his colleague as I asked if I could put my belongings in my jacket as I received no answer back.
So I went in for my passport and I found the process to be quite quick and efficient however they are not quite friendly as to be expected.
I did not want to make this post however I did not like the experience I had with the security guard as no one should be made to feel. Like they are unwelcome . I hope you guys take this on board and train your staff to do their jobs properly. I felt disrespected a lot of the times during the encounter as my questions were ignored as the security guards were chatting amongst themselves. His demeanour was bad and I felt unwelcome after a 4 hour journey to be constantly asked for your name on 3 occasions as he looked down on his sheet as it was clearly intentional then repeating my date of birth twice. I can't question his intentions however it might had something do with my ethnicity as others were not told to repeat their names or as such.

Quick and efficient. I arrived 3 hours early and they still managed to fit me in as soon as I arrived.

Visa appointment guys are good if you got all documents with originals listed on website. And they are helpful. Please carry cash for payment they dont accept UK GBP debit/credit card eventhough on website it says they will accept. And for new visitors entrance is in backside alongside of tunnel.

Everyone, except the passport lady was really nice and I only needed to be 10 Minutes in there.

As expected the staff was very quick and efficient, was in and out before our appointed time, have no complaints at all.The security guard was very friendly and extremely helpful.

A nightmare & at ABSOLUTE insolence!
Letterbox Company - mentality!

Bold cars & fat salaries, all at the expense of German taxpayers for literal idleness / doing nothing !! The only ones who are on the phone are looking for a phone call.

- Without prior appointment

- Nobody ever answers the phone, no matter when you call, whether early or late !! 40 times tried (every day for a week), every time same announcement "All lines are busy, call another time again" or "you call outside our business hours" ...

- The ID office itself is in a filthy backyard / side street! Behind a scruffy rolling shutter, passport applicants are handled like cattle! The rearmost effrontery!

- Appointments (only on the internet bookable) are basically given the earliest, after 1-2 months of waiting time !!!

- The creation of the passport (s) itself after the EIGHT further weeks (!) (Duration from appointment to picking up your ID can easily take up to 4 - FOUR MONTHS in total - unbelievable but true - no joke).

It gets even better:



I got no words, for as a bottomless impudence and brazen rip-off! That's disgraceful deed on citizen like out of a storybook.
Tip: Dress up as a refugee, then you could get your papers faster and cheaper.

This embassy is a scandal!
_____________________________________________________________________________


Mailbox Company - Mentality!

Fat cars & fat salaries at the expense of the German taxpayer for literally NOTHING !! The only ones who really seem to work there are the security guards, which does not like talking to visitors and says you have to call.

- Without prior appointment you do not speak to visitors!

- When calling NEVER goes to the phone, EGAL when you call, whether early or late !! Try 40 times (every day for a week), every time you say "All lines are busy - call back sometime differently" or "call outside of business hours" ...

- The Ausweisstelle itself is in a dirty backyard / side street! Behind a jumbled roll-up gate, the pass applicants are then processed like slaughter cattle! The very last!

- Appointments (only bookable on the internet) are only available after 1-2 months of waiting !!!

- The creation of the passport can then take up to 8 (!) EIGHT more WEEKS after submitting the application! (Duration of appointment booking until ID card collection thus up to 4 - V I E R MONTHS - unbelievable but true - no joke!)

It gets even better:




Tip: Disguise yourself as a refugee, and they come faster and cheaper to your papers.

This message is a scandal!

Nice, fast, helpful if you lose your ID outside of business hours.

Have been going there for over 30 years. Always efficent and helpful. Needed a new passport for my daughter to travel urgently to US and got it within a few hours (though not biometric) They couldn t have been more helpful. Regarding waiting times and multiple applications: read the online instructions for this, follow them and no problems.

Pay reparations to Poland the worst place in the world is Germany

Really poor service in particular for German citizens. Long waiting times, no preferential service to citizens, ridiculous opening hours.

Very helpful and friendly staff. We had a great experience.

Had to apply for a new Passport and ID Card. My last appointment was cancelled due to Covid-19. I rebooked for August and am happy to say I received a very good service. The young Asian/German Lady was very polite and helpful. The security guards did their job properly and were polite too. Thank you.

As a German national I have had to deal with these people for the better part of twenty years. Awful. Just spend twelve minutes holding the phone only for someone with an eastern European accent not understanding my question and then hanging up on me.

If you apply for a Visa or a new passport check their webpage and get your documents ready. I had to wait about 20 minutes for my appointment, the application for an ID card took 15 minutes. The service was good. When I collected my documents a few weeks later the wait was 45 minutes, though, a bit too long for my taste.

I will not have my appointment at the embassy until August, so I am purely writing this review based on my experience with the embassy over the phone.

Although you may have to wait for someone to be available (which is to be expected as they are very busy), the staff have been incredibly friendly every time I have called. I do understand that you need a lot of paper work to renew your passport, but that is not the staff s fault. The staff I have spoken to over the phone have been very kind, polite, and have taken time to explain everything I need. I also feel like they really appreciated that I was kind and patient with them as well.

Quite simply, I think that it all goes down to treating others the way you wish to be treated. If you speak to staff members with patience, kindness, and respect it will make your and their experience a lot better.

My point of view , the German Embassy is clean and tidy.
And whoever posted this about'Rude MAle Staff , and dirty side streets , must be an April FOOL.

I got no problems with my deutsch Goverment , and they have helped me a lot in Crisis.

May i ask you a question? Who ever posted that comment about the Service, are you a German Hater?

Well, come to Bedford , you see how filthy the people , work, talk, park , and eyeing Deutsch Woman with Children , up. You see a nicer side eh?