Applying for an ID card for the first time

You must apply for your ID card in person at the Citizens' Registration Office.

If you do not apply for your ID card at your main place of residence, you will need an important reason and a surcharge will be added to the fee. If you contact your chosen Citizens' Registration Office in advance, you can find out whether and to what extent the Citizens' Registration Office will accept your reason.

• Young people aged 16 and over can apply for an ID card on their own. Up to the age of 18, young people can be accompanied by persons with legal power of representation.
• For children and young people under the age of 16, all custodial parents submit the application together. Children and young people must always appear in person, as the Citizens' Registration Office will check their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• Fingerprints are taken for storage in the chip of the ID document if the child is 6 years or older.
• You will receive a secret number and the ID card unlocking number (PIN) in a sealed envelope.
• You can arrange a collection appointment online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' offices. Alternatively, in many cases you can have the ID document sent to your home address by post and handed over in person at the front door.
• You can find out what options your local citizens' office offers on their website, for example.

Please contact the identity card office in your place of residence.

The obligation to apply for an identity card applies to you if you:

• have German citizenship
• have reached the age of 16
• are registered in Germany
• do not have a valid passport document (passport or temporary passport)

For applications outside your main place of residence:

• You must be able to provide an important reason why you are not applying for the ID card at the ID card authority responsible for your main place of residence.

• biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
• if available and not yet validated: old children's passport (valid or already expired)
• if no identity document is available: birth certificate
• for children under the age of 16: if applicable, a declaration of consent from the custodial parent who is not present
  • if there is only one parent or legal guardian, additional proof of custody

A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.

If you have just turned 16, have German citizenship and are registered in Germany, the application must be submitted immediately unless you have a valid passport document, i.e. passport or temporary passport.

From the time of application, it usually takes at least 2 weeks until you can collect your identity card from the Bürgeramt.

• § Section 9 Act on Identity Cards and Electronic Proof of Identity (Identity Card Act - PAuswG)

If your ID card is stolen or lost, you must report this to the police.

10.06.2025