(1) Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany leaving or entering the geographical area in which this law applies are required to carry a valid passport to identify themselves. Presenting a passport of the Federal Republic of Germany within the meaning of (2) shall fulfil this requirement.
(2) The following shall qualify as passports within the meaning of this Act:
1. passports
2. children’s passports,
3. temporary passports,
4. official passports
a) official passports,
b) diplomatic passports,
c) temporary official passports,
d) temporary diplomatic passports.
(3) No one shall be permitted to possess more than one passport of the Federal Republic of Germany unless a legitimate interest in issuing more than one passport is demonstrated.
(4) Passports may be issued only to Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law; the passport is the property of the Federal Republic of Germany. Official passports may also be issued to
1. diplomats within the meaning of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961 (Federal Law Gazette 1964 II p. 959) and consular officials within the meaning of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963 (Federal Law Gazette 1969 II p. 1587) and their family members, as well as
2. other persons serving the Federal Republic of Germany abroad in an official capacity and their family members
if these persons are not Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law.
(5) The Federal Ministry of the Interior shall designate the passport producer and shall publish its name in the Federal Gazette.