Applying for an ID card for the first time or after expiry

• You must apply for an identity card in person at the relevant identity card authority.
• You must provide a formally valid signature and complete the declaration of German citizenship.
  A signature is required for children aged 10 and over.
• When applying, you can have the photograph taken on site - depending on the facilities at the authority - or you can have the photograph taken in advance by a certified service provider (e.g. photographer or photo service at dm drugstores). The service provider will send you a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authority can use to retrieve your photo from the cloud.
• Since 2 August 2021, fingerprinting has been mandatory for people aged 6 and over. They are stored on the ID chip. If an index finger is missing, the quality of the fingerprint is insufficient or the fingertip is damaged, another fingerprint is taken as a substitute. Fingerprints are only not taken if this is impossible for medical, permanent reasons.
• Since 17 February 2025, you will receivea PIN letter when you apply for your ID card - regardless of your age. This contains a secret number (five-digit one-time PIN) and an unlock number (PUK) for using the online ID card function. You can use the online ID card from the age of 16 as soon as you have set your self-selected, six-digit PIN. When the new ID card is issued, you will receive a letter with the blocking password so that you can block the online ID card if necessary (for example, if you lose the document).
• The ID card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.
• You can collect the finished ID card from the authorities in due course. Depending on the municipality, you will be notified as soon as you can collect your ID card. The notification information from the ID card authority usually also contains a form for authorisation to collect your ID card. This allows you to collect your ID card yourself or have it collected by an authorised person. The authorised person must identify themselves to the ID card authority beforehand and present the authorisation to collect.
• You must hand in your old ID card when you receive the new document. If you wish, you can take your old ID card back with you as a souvenir.
• From 1 May 2025, you can also select the "direct delivery" option in the application process, which is subject to a charge, and receive the document delivered to your home address where it can be delivered. You must be at least 16 years old and submit the ID card application within Germany to the authority at your place of residence. In addition, you must personally identify yourself to the postal delivery service at your front door with a valid German ID document (in this case: passport) and have the old ID card cancelled when applying for the new ID card. Residents of Büsingen (Hochrhein) and Helgoland cannot use the direct delivery service.

Note: Young people aged 16 and over can apply for an ID card themselves. If young people aged 16 and under do not fulfil this obligation, their legal representative must submit the application. Legal representatives are normally the parents. One parent can be represented by the other with a power of attorney when submitting the application. If the young person has reached the age of 16, the application must be submitted within six weeks.

For children and young people under the age of 16, both parents submit the application jointly if they have joint custody. The children and young people for whom the application is made must always appear in person, as the competent authority must check their identity.