Apply for an eID card as a European citizen

Prerequisites

They are

• at least 16 years old,
• registered in Hamburg with sole or main residence and
• Citizen of another country of the European Union or
• Citizens of another country in the European Economic Area

Documents required

• ID card (national identity card), passport or other valid identification document issued by your home country
• If you do not have a place of residence in Germany, another proof of your place of residence is required. You can ask the responsible diplomatic mission for the necessary documents.
• If you have moved to Germany and have not yet registered, you must first register. You can ask your Hamburg Service what documents are required for registration

Please note

• An extension or change is not possible. A new eID card is always issued.
• The eID card is designed exclusively for online use and does not serve as an identity document or travel document. It does not contain a photo, signature or information about height and eye color.

Deadlines

• Validity of the eID card: 10 years

Procedure

• You can apply for the eID card in person at the Hamburg Service - Office for Resident Affairs.
  • Make an appointment online for this.
• If you want to apply for your eID card outside of Germany, contact the Federal Foreign Office and the diplomatic mission in the district in which you live.

Processing time

• Application takes about 15 minutes.


• Processing time approx. 4 weeks.

Fees

• Issue of the eID card: EUR 37.00
  
  
  
  • for shipping abroad: respective shipping costs
  
  

Payment methods available

• Girocard
• Cash payment

Legal remedies

• contradiction
  
  Detailed information on how to file an objection can be found in the notification of your application for the issuance of the eID card.


• Complaint before the Administrative Court

Legal basis

• § 8 Act on a card for citizens of the Union and members of the European Economic Area with an electronic proof of identity function (eIDKG)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/eidkg/__8.html


• §§ 2 to 2a Ordinance on Fees for ID Cards and Electronic Proof of Identity (PAuswGebV)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswgebv/__2.html

If you are a citizen of the European Union or belong to the European Economic Area, you can apply for an eID card to identify yourself online.