Apply for an identity card

Types of ID card

There are two types of ID card, the provisional ID card (paper format) and the regular ID card (chip card format). The application procedures and the required documents are identical. In contrast to the regular ID card, the provisional ID card is issued immediately and does not have to be produced first. In addition to its shorter validity (maximum 3 months), the temporary ID card does not have an online ID function. In this article you will find more information about the regular (standard) ID card.

Duration of validity

An ID card is issued for 6 years up to the age of 24 and for 10 years from the age of 24.

Possibilities, functionality, security aspects

After submitting your application, please visit the ID card portal to find out about the options, how it works, security aspects and the blocking emergency call.

• Fingerprints: The ID card contains an electronic storage and processing medium on which the fingerprints are stored.
• eID function: From the age of 16, the electronic proof of identity (eID function) is activated when you collect your ID card in accordance with Section 10 (1) and (2) PAuswG.
• Security and data protection

Issued before the age of 16

It is possible to have an ID card issued. The personal presence of the child and at least one legal guardian is required for the application. If only one parent or guardian applies for the ID card, a written declaration of consent (including a copy of the ID card or passport for signature comparison) from the other parent or guardian is required. At least one parent must be present at the time of application and collection!

Furthermore, proof of custody is mandatory in the case of sole custody or unmarried parents (judgment of the family court, negative certificate or custody certificate from the youth welfare office).

Loss, theft

The loss or theft of a valid identity card must be reported in writing or in person. If it has already been reported to the police, please bring the duplicate with you.

Application

Applications can only be made at the passport office of the main residence. A personal appearance is required for the application. When applying for persons under the age of 16, the presence of the child and a parent with custody is mandatory.

Duration of production - Bundesdruckerei

The Federal Printing Office usually needs approx. 4 - 6 weeks to produce an ID card.

Issue / collection

Application before 17.02.2025

From the age of 16, you will receive a so-called PIN letter from the Bundesdruckerei. The letter contains the 5-digit secret number (transport PIN), the unblocking number (PUK) and a blocking password. Once you have received the PIN letter, you can collect your ID card. You do not need the PIN letter from Bundesdruckerei when you collect it. Please keep it at home and always separately from your new ID card. Persons under the age of 16 have the option of being informed by e-mail when the document is ready and can be collected.

Application from 17.02.2025

You will no longer receive a PIN letter. Your personal PIN number for the document for the online ID function (eID function) will be given to you when you submit your application. You will also be given the blocking password for the online ID function when you collect it. The previous letter notification about the completion of the document will no longer be sent. However, you have the option of being informed by e-mail when the document is ready and can be collected.

General information on collection

If you are in possession of an old identity card that has not yet been validated, this must be presented for validation when you collect your new identity card.

Produced identity documents are issued at the Central Registration Desk on the first floor.

Representation during collection

You can be represented at the collection point. The documents can be issued to a person authorized by the applicant; this person must identify themselves by presenting a valid identity card (from an EU or Schengen area country) or a valid passport (other countries). It is essential that you use one of the relevant powers of attorney under 'Downloads' to authorize a person:

• Authorization to collect documents for applications submitted before 17.02.2025 or
• Authorization to collect documents for applications submitted after 17.02.2025

• Proof of identity: Passport, identity card, child ID card, child passport - if available and not yet invalidated by an authority
• Name: When you apply for an identity document, we will check whether your name (first name, surname and other parts of your name as well as the order of the first names) has been entered correctly. Please bring the following original documents with you, depending on your marital status or if you have changed your name:
  • Single: Birth certificate
  • Married or widowed: Marriage certificate
  • In a registered civil partnership: civil partnership certificate
  • Divorced: Marriage certificate (if you have changed your name after divorce, please also bring this official document)
  • Civil partnership dissolved: Civil partnership certificate and court judgment with final judgment note
  • Naturalized: Naturalization certificate and declaration of name (if no declaration of name has been made, the relevant documents must be submitted in addition to the naturalization certificate, depending on your marital status, see points above)
  • If your name has been changed for other reasons, please bring the relevant document or court decision with you (e.g. certificate of a name change or decision under the Transsexuals Act).
  • Note: If you have lost your last certificate from the Jena registry office, you can simply apply for a new certificate online. Certificates and judgments in languages other than German must be submitted with a certified translation.
• Photograph:
  • Application up to and including 30.04.2025: Please bring a new (not older than 3 months!), printed, biometric photograph. The photo must be 3.5 x 4.5 cm in size.
  • Application from 01.05.2025: A digital passport photo must be taken and sent if necessary. Digital passport photos can initially only be taken by photographers and at a later date also directly at the Citizens' Service. There is currently no possibility to take digital passport photos at the Citizens' Service. In future, the digital passport photo must not be older than 3 months. Self-made photos, photos from photo booths or passport photos from photo apps will no longer be permitted from 01.05.2025. Unfortunately, at the moment you can only search independently for photo service providers for digital passport photos on the private website alfo Passbild - Fotograf für Passbilder in der Nähe(link is external).
• Declaration of consent and proof of custody when applying for persons under 16 years of age

• Federal Identity Card Act
• Thuringian Identity Card Act