If you are a German citizen, you can apply for an ID card. This 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 on your behalf.
Your ID card is valid for a maximum of 6 years. When you turn 16, you must have a valid ID card if you do not have a valid passport.
The ID card becomes invalid before the expiration date listed on it in the following cases:
- The information on the ID card is no longer accurate, for example, if your name has changed.
- You are no longer clearly recognizable in your photo. This can be the case especially with ID cards for infants or very young children.
You can submit the application to the ID card office at your primary residence. This is usually the municipal office. Applications can be submitted to any other ID card office if you have a valid reason. In that case, you will pay an additional fee.
You can use the ID card as an electronic form of identification (online ID) starting on your 16th birthday. For children and adolescents up to the age of 16, this feature is automatically disabled. If you are at least 16 years old, you can have the feature activated retroactively at no cost, for example at the municipal office, and at the same time set a six-digit PIN of your choice before you can use the online ID card.
If you urgently need an identification document, you can first apply for a temporary ID card. This is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
If you are under 16 years of age and a German citizen, you can be issued an ID card.
To apply outside your primary residence:
- You or your legal guardians must have a valid reason for not applying for your ID card at the Citizens’ Office in your primary place of residence.
Your parents or legal guardians must apply for the ID card in person at the Citizens' Office, accompanied by you:
- Your parents must submit the application together if they share custody.
- A parent with custody may be represented by the other parent with custody through a power of attorney.
- You must sign the application if you are 10 years of age or older at the time of application.
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By law, you must provide fingerprints for storage in the document when applying (usually flat prints of the left and right index fingers).
- Persons who have not yet reached the age of 6 do not provide fingerprints.
- You will receive a one-time PIN and the unlock code (PUK) in a sealed envelope if the child is 10 years of age or older at the time of application. The child will not need this information until after their 16th birthday.
- Your local registration office will inform your parents at the time of application when they can pick up your ID card.
- At many Citizens’ Offices, your parents can schedule a pickup appointment online, by email, or by phone.
- You can find out what options your local government office offers on its website, for example.
If your ID card is stolen or lost, you must report it to the police or an ID card office, such as the Citizens’ Office, the Residents’ Registration Office, City Hall, or the Citizen Services Office. If your ID card is lost, you can have it blocked by calling the hotline.
You must apply for an identity card by the time you turn 16 at the latest. Exception: You have a valid passport or temporary passport.
- Validity period: 6 years
For applicants under the age of 24.
