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North Resident Affairs

Apply for a temporary identity card

Has your identity card been lost or expired and you need a new one as soon as possible? Then you can apply for a provisional identity card.
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Detailed description

For example, you can use a temporary identity card to bridge the time until a regular identity card is issued. Your temporary identity card is valid for a maximum of three months.
You must return your old temporary ID card when you receive your new temporary ID card. You can get your old regular ID card back with a valid stamp.

You can submit your application to the ID card authority at your primary residence, which in Hamburg is any Hamburg Service location for Residents' Affairs. Applications can be submitted to any other ID card authority if a valid reason is presented. A non-competence surcharge will apply, which increases the costs of issuing the card. Approval from the ID card authority at your primary residence is required for the issuance of a temporary ID card; this approval will be obtained by Hamburg Service.

From May 1, 2025, there are new regulations regarding the required photo:
From this date, you will no longer be permitted to submit paper-based photos. Instead, you will need an electronic photo. You can create this on-site or bring the QR code provided by a photographer. Further information can be found in the "Links" section.

 

Information

Prerequisites

You can apply for a temporary identity card if

  • you have German citizenship,
  • are registered in Germany
  • do not have a valid identity card
For the application outside of your main place of residence:
  • You must be able to demonstrate an important reason why you are not applying for a provisional identity card at the Citizens’ Registration Office at your main place of residence. The Hamburg Service will obtain the approval of the identity card authority at the place of the main residence.
  • If you are registered in Hamburg with a secondary residence, the approval of the identity card authority at the place of your main residence is required for the issuance of the ID document. When applying, a non-responsibility surcharge applies, which means that the costs of the issuance increase.
  • Exception: The provisional identity card cannot be applied for abroad.

Documents required

  • current passport photo, which must meet the photo requirements for electronic identity cards.
    • From May 1, 2025, you must submit your passport photo in electronic form. You can have the passport photo taken on-site or bring a QR code, which the photo studio will give you when the passport photo is taken.
  • The requirements for the passport photo can be found in the photo sample table (see link “Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland - Photo sample table”, at the bottom of this page under “Forms, Service & Links”).
  • A photo booth (speed capture terminal) is available. The fee for an on-site photo is €6.00. You will not receive a print. Please note that the photo booth is not suitable for taking passport photos of infants and small children.
  • If available and not yet validated: old identity card or passport or temporary identity card or child's passport (valid or expired)
  • If no valid passport or identity card is available: birth certificate, marriage certificate
  • For children under 16 years of age: if applicable, consent from the parent with custody who is not present
    • If there is only one parent/guardian, proof of custody is also required

Please note

There are the following notes:

  • Since the temporary identity card is only valid for a short period of time, we recommend that you apply for a permanent identity card or passport at the same time.
  • People without a permanent residence or homeless people should contact the Hamburg Service Hamburg-Mitte.

Deadlines

You are obliged to apply for a provisional identity card if you


  • have German citizenship,

  • have reached the age of 16,

  • are registered in Germany and

  • do not have a valid identity card or passport.

The validity period is a maximum of 3 months.

Procedure

  • You must apply for the provisional identity card in person at Hamburg Service. If you do not apply for your temporary identity card at your main residence, you need an important reason and a surcharge will be added to the fee. If you contact the Hamburg Service you have selected beforehand, you can find out whether and to what extent the identity card authority will recognize your reason.
  • You can apply for the provisional and the new regular identity card at the same time.
  • The authorities will issue you with a provisional ID card on site.

Processing time

You will receive the provisional identity card immediately.

Fees


  • EUR 10.00

  • Surcharge for application not at main residence:

    EUR 13.00

Payment methods available

  • Girocard
  • Cash payment

Legal remedies

no

Legal basis

§ 9 Personal Identity Card Act (PAuswG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswg/__9.html

Related services

Links on hamburg.de

Links on the Internet

Address and contact information

North Resident Affairs

Regardless of where you live in Hamburg, you can use this service at any Hamburg Service location for resident matters.

Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, visits are only possible by appointment. You can book an appointment online (https://www.hamburg.de/go/17584) or by phone at 040 115. In odd-numbered calendar weeks the office is closed on Wednesdays from 12pm to 2pm.
Wenn Sie einen Personalausweis, Reisepass oder Kinderreisepass beantragen möchten, können Sie zur Erfassung der notwendigen biometrischen Daten (Foto, Unterschrift, Fingerabdrücke) ein vorhandenes Selbsterfassungsterminal nutzen (Kosten 6 Euro). Das Mitbringen eines Fotos entfällt dann. Planen Sie bitte vor Ihrem Termin einige Minuten mehr Zeit für die Erfassung Ihrer Daten ein, sofern Sie das Selbsterfassungsterminal nutzen möchten. Bitte sprechen Sie im Anschluss bei der Sachbearbeitung vor.

If you would like to apply for an identity card, passport or children's passport, you can use an existing self-recording terminal (Speed Capture Terminal) to capture the necessary biometric data (digital photo, signature, fingerprints).
Please allow a few minutes more time before your appointment to collect your data.
Note: You will not receive a printout of the digital photo.
There is no need to bring a passport photo with you when using the self-registration terminal.
Use costs 6 euros.
Please speak to the clerk afterwards.

The existing self-recording terminal (Speed Capture Terminal) cannot be used for fishing licenses and driver's license applications. Please bring a passport photo (biometric) with you for these services.

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Last updated: 25.04.2025