Apply for identity card
Service description
As a person with German citizenship, you can have an identity card issued.
If you are 16 years or older and do not have a valid passport, you must apply for an identity card.
You can submit the application to the identity card authority in the town or municipality where you have your main residence. This is usually the town hall or citizens' office.
If there is an important reason, you can also apply for an ID card at an authority in any other town or municipality. This may incur additional costs.All ID cards issued from July 2017 onwards automatically have an activated online ID function. This allows you to identify yourself to authorities and companies online. You can use the online ID card after your 16th birthday. When you apply for an ID card, you will receive a one-time PIN so that you can set a six-digit PIN of your choice. You can then use the online ID card.
When you apply for your ID card, the prints of your two index fingers are stored on a chip in the card. Children under the age of 6 are excluded from this regulation.
Your ID card will become invalid before the period of validity expires if
- entries no longer apply or
- your photo is no longer clearly suitable for identification purposes. This may be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or very young children
Exception: If only your address or your height changes, this does not invalidate your ID card.
You can enter all countries of the European Union (EU) as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland with your valid identity card. A passport is not mandatory.
Requirements
- You or the child for whom the application is to be made have German citizenship
- for children under the age of 16:
- You have parental authority.
- Your child is present when the application is submitted.
If you apply for an identity card outside the city or municipality in which you have your main residence:
- You provide an important reason why you are not applying for an ID card at the ID card authority in the city where you have your main residence.
What documents are needed?
- Proof of identity, for example
- old identity card
- valid passport or children's passport
- Biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
- Birth certificate, if applicable
- Certificate with current name, if applicable, for example
- Birth, marriage and marriage certificate
- Family book
- Declaration on the use of the name
- on application for children under the age of 16:
- Declaration of consent by the legal guardian if a parent with custody is not present
- in the case of only one legal guardian, additional proof of custody
- Original or copy of the proof of identity of the legal guardian who is not present
Special instructions for - Verbandsgemeinde GöllheimThe passport photos must not be older than 6 months.
- Proof of identity, for example
What are the fees?
A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.
Fee: 46,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlfor applicants aged 24 and overFee: 27,60 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenfor applicants under the age of 24Fee: 6,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenFee for passport photo if the authority uses the PointID photo system from Bundesdruckerei GmbH. If the authority uses photo systems from other manufacturers, the fee may differ.Fee: 10,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenfor the temporary identity cardFee: 15,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenFee for shipping to your home addressFee: 13,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenSurcharge on the fee for applications submitted outside office hours or not at the main place of residenceFee: 30,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenSurcharge on the fee for issuance by consular or diplomatic representation abroadWhat deadlines do I have to observe?
You must apply for a new ID card immediately if
- the validity of your old identity card has expired,
- you are over 16 years old and
- you do not have a valid passport document.
for applicants under 24 years of age
Period of validity: 6 years
for applicants aged 24 and over
Period of validity: 10 years
Legal basis
What else should I know?
If your ID card is stolen or lost, you must report this to the police or an ID card authority. In these cases, the authorities will report the online ID card to the blocking hotline and arrange for it to be blocked.
The EU logo on the front of the ID card introduced on August 2, 2021 will not invalidate ID cards without this logo.