Apply for an identity card if you are under 16 years of age

Prerequisites

You can get an identity card under the age of 16 if you

• have German citizenship and
• are registered in Germany.

For the application outside of your main place of residence:

• You, or the person having custody, must be able to demonstrate an important reason why you do not apply for an identity card from the identity card authority at your main place of 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.

Documents required

• Current passport photo, which must meet the photo requirements for electronic ID cards.
  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 a photo on site is EUR 6.00. You will not receive a printout. Please note that the existing photo booth is not suitable for taking passport photos of infants and small children.
  
• old identity card, old passport or children's passport (valid or already expired)
• If no old identity document is available: birth certificate
• after naturalization: the naturalization certificate, old passport or identity certificate
• The presence of the legal guardian with whom the unmarried minor child usually stays is mandatory.
• Declaration of consent and identification document from the parent who is not present and has legal custody
  • If there is only one legal guardian, additional proof of custody

Please note

There are the following hints:
An ID card cannot be extended or changed. Therefore, a new identity card is always issued.

In urgent cases, you can also apply for a temporary identity card (valid for a maximum of 3 months) at the same time. This will be given to you immediately.

People without a permanent address or the homeless should contact Hamburg Service - Hamburg-Mitte.

Deadlines

When you turn 16 at the latest, you must apply for an identity card. Exception: You have a valid passport document.




Validity period: 6 years


Comment (for more information on the deadline):


for applicants under the age of 24

Procedure

Your parents or guardians must apply for the ID card in person and together with you at Hamburg Service:

• You can make an appointment online or by phone.
• For children and young people under the age of 16, both parents submit the application together if they have joint custody. A parent with custody can be represented by the other parent with custody by means of a power of attorney.
• The presence of the legal guardian with whom the unmarried, minor child usually resides is mandatory.
• The children and young people for whom the application is being made must also appear in person, as the authorities will check their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• Fingerprints are taken from children from the age of 6 to be stored in the document.
• When you apply, your Hamburg Service will inform you when you can pick up your identity card.
• The identity card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH in Berlin.
• You can arrange the pick-up date online. You can find out what options your Hamburg Service offers when you apply for your identity card.

Processing time

The application usually takes about 15 minutes


The processing time is usually about 3 - 4 weeks.

Fees

• EUR 22.80


• EUR 10.00 for the provisional identity card


• EUR 13.00 surcharge when applying outside of working hours or at non-competent authorities


• EUR 30.00 surcharge for issue by consular or diplomatic representation abroad

Fee reductions or waivers are available for those in need. An application must be made. Hamburg Service decides on the application.

Legal remedies

no

Legal basis

Identity Card Act (PAuswG)

Any person of any age with German citizenship can apply for an identity card. This also applies to children (from birth). If you are under 16, you must be accompanied by your parents. Your parents or legal guardians will submit the application for you.

Your identity card is valid for 6 years and must then be applied for again. A provisional identity card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

The identity card becomes invalid before the expiry of the entered period of validity if

• Entries become incorrect or
• the photo is no longer clearly suitable for identification. This can be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or young children.

There is one exception: changing the address does not invalidate it.
The EU logo on the front of the ID card, introduced from August 2, 2021, does not mean that ID cards without this logo become invalid.

The new identity card is equipped with the function of electronic proof of identity. This function is automatically switched off for children and young people up to the age of 16. Later activation (from the age of 16) is possible free of charge in any identity card authority at your main residence.

You can submit the application to your identity card authority at your main place of residence, which in Hamburg is the Hamburg Service - Office for Resident Affairs.
Applications can be submitted to any other identity card authority if an important reason is given. In this case, a non-responsibility surcharge applies, which means that the costs of the issuance increase. The approval of the identity card authority at the main place of residence is required for the issuance of the identity card; this will be obtained from the respective Hamburg Service.