If you are a German citizen, you can apply for an identity card.

If you are 16 years of age or older and do not have a valid passport, you must apply for an identity card. 

You can submit the application to the ID card office in the city or municipality where you have your primary residence. This is usually the city hall or municipal office.
If you have a valid reason, you can also apply for an ID card at an office in any other city or municipality. This may result in additional costs.

All ID cards issued from July 2017 onward automatically have an activated online ID function. This allows you to verify your identity online with government agencies and businesses. You may use the online ID card after your 16th birthday. When you apply for an ID card, you will receive a one-time PIN to set a six-digit PIN of your choice. After that, you can use the online ID card.

When you apply for your ID card, the fingerprints of both your index fingers are stored on a chip in the card. Children under the age of 6 are exempt from this requirement.

Your ID card becomes invalid before its expiration date if

• the information on the ID is no longer accurate, or
• your photo is no longer clearly suitable for identification. This can be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or very young children

Exception: If only your address or height changes, your ID card will not become invalid as a result.

You can enter all countries of the European Union (EU) as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland with your valid ID card. A passport is not required.

• You or the child for whom the application is being filed are German citizens
• For children under 16: 
  • You have parental authority.
  • Your child is present when you submit the application.

If you are applying for an ID card outside the city or municipality where you have your primary residence:

• You must provide a valid reason why you are not applying for the ID card at the ID card office in the city where you have your primary residence.

If your ID card is stolen or goes missing, you must report this to the police or an ID card issuing authority. In such cases, the authority 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, does not render ID cards without this logo invalid.

You must apply for a new ID card immediately if

• your old ID card has expired,
• you are over 16 years old and
• you do not have a valid passport.

• Validity period: 6 years
  for applicants under 24 years of age
• Validity period: 10 years
  for applicants aged 24 and older

Once you have submitted your application, it usually takes at least two weeks before you can collect your identity card from the citizens' office.

• Proof of identity, for example
  • old ID card
  • valid passport or child’s passport
• Biometric digital passport photo: taken on-site at the government office or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
• Birth certificate, if applicable
• if applicable, a document showing your current name, for example
  • birth, marriage, or marriage certificate 
  • family register
  • Declaration regarding the name
• For applications involving children under 16:
  • Declaration of consent from the legal guardians if a parent with custody is not present
  • If there is only one legal guardian, proof of custody is also required
  • Original or copy of the identification document of the legal guardian who is not present

A reduction or waiver of the fee is possible under certain conditions.

• Fee: 30.00 EUR
  Surcharge for issuance by a consular or diplomatic mission abroad
• Fee: 15.00 EUR
  Fee for mailing to your home address
• Fee: 10.00 EUR
  for the temporary ID card
• Fee: 46.00 EUR
  for applicants aged 24 and older
• Fee: 6.00 EUR
  Fee 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 vary.
• Fee: 13.00 EUR
  surcharge for applications submitted outside of office hours or not at the primary residence
• Fee: 27.60 EUR
  for applicants under 24 years of age