apply for an ID card

Prerequisites

• They possess German citizenship.

You are required to carry identification if you additionally

• have reached the age of 16
• are registered in Germany
• do not possess a valid passport

If you are under 16 years of age:

• At least one parent or legal guardian must submit the application together with you. (Please note the required documents.)

For applications submitted outside your main residence:

• You provide an important reason why you are not applying for the identity card at the authority responsible for your main residence.
• The authority responsible for your main residence will approve it. Approval will be obtained by the office where you intend to submit the application.

Documents required

• Proof of identity, for example
  • old identity card
  • valid passport or child's passport
  • Birth certificate (if applicable)
• all necessary documents and evidence if there has been a change in personal data, for example
  • Birth, marriage, and wedding certificates
  • Declaration regarding the use of names
• for children under 16 years of age
  • Proof of custody in cases of sole custody
  • Declaration of consent and identity card (alternatively a clearly legible and recognizable copy of the identity card) of absent legal guardians in the case of shared custody.
  • The presence of the children for whom a document is being requested is required.
• current biometric passport photo
  • Since 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 that the photo studio will give you when the photo is taken.
• after naturalization:
  • Passport or identity card from the country of birth or an identity certificate
  • Naturalization certificate

If your identity card has been stolen and you have already filed a police report, please bring the police report with you.

Note: A photo booth (speed capture terminal) is available. The cost for a photo taken on-site is €6.00. You will not receive a printed copy. Please note that the photo booth is not suitable for passport photos of infants and toddlers.

Please note

• If you urgently need an identity document, you can apply for a temporary identity card, which is then valid for a maximum of 3 months.
• Your identity card becomes invalid, for example, if your name changes or if the photograph is no longer suitable for identification. The latter can be the case, in particular, with identity cards for infants or toddlers. In these cases, you must apply for a new identity card. If you have a new address, you can have your identity card amended and do not need a new one. Changes in personal data, such as your height, do not affect your identity card.
• If you live in Hamburg without a permanent residence, please contact the Residents' Affairs Office at Caffamacherreihe 1-3 in Hamburg for matters concerning your identity card.

Deadlines

If you do not have a valid passport, you must have an identity card from your 16th birthday.




Period of validity:

• Application under 24 years of age: Identity card is valid for 6 years.


• Application from age 24: Identity card is valid for 10 years.

Procedure

• You can make an appointment online or by phone by calling 115.
  • If you do not want to apply for your identity card at the place of your primary residence, find out whether your reason for doing so will be accepted.
    Inform the non-responsible identity card authority of your intended application so that it can obtain authorization from the responsible identity card authority in advance.
    You will receive a message when the authorization is available
    You can make an appointment online or by phone by calling 115
• You appear in person at your appointment and apply for the issuance of your identity card.
• You submit the necessary documents.
• Your fingerprints will be taken for storage on your identity card.
• You provide a signature, which will later be printed on your identity card.
• The identity card will be ordered for you from an external office.
• You will receive a collection slip with which you can collect your identity card.
• When you apply, you will receive a letter (PIN letter) containing a so-called transport PIN as well as important information about the online ID function.
• You confirm receipt of the unopened PIN letter.
• You pay the fees.
• You will receive a collection slip with which you can collect your identity card.
• Once your identity card is ready, please make an appointment to collect it from the location where you applied for it.

Processing time

The application process takes approximately 15 minutes. You can pick up your identity card at the location where you applied approximately 2-3 weeks after the application.

Fees

The fees are

• EUR 46.00 for applicants aged 24 and over


• EUR 27.60 for applicants under 24 years of age


• 10.00 EUR for the temporary identity card


• A surcharge of €13.00 applies when applying to an authority that is not the responsible body.

Legal remedies

Complaint or objection

Legal basis

Identity Card Act (PAuswG)


www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswg/BJNR134610009.html