Personalausweis Ausstellung für unter 16 Jährige

If you are under the age of 16, you can apply for an ID card together with your parents or legal guardians.

If you have German citizenship, you can apply for an identity 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 take care of the application for you.

Your ID card is valid for a maximum of 6 years. When you turn 16, you must have a valid identity card if you do not have a valid passport.

The ID card becomes invalid before the expiry date entered on it in the following cases:

• Entries no longer apply, for example if you change your name.
• You are no longer clearly recognizable in your photo. This may be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or very young children.

You can submit the application to the ID card authority at your main place of residence. This is usually the Citizens' Registration Office. Applications can be submitted to any other ID card authority if you have an important reason. You will then pay a surcharge.

The ID card can be used as electronic proof of identity (online ID card) from the age of 16. This function is automatically deactivated for children and young people up to the age of 16. If you are at least 16 years old, you can have the function activated free of charge at a later date, for example at the Citizens' Registration Office, and at the same time set a six-digit PIN of your own choice before you can use the online ID card.

If you urgently need an ID document, you can first apply for a temporary ID card. This is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

• old identity document, regardless of whether it is valid or has already expired:
  • old identity card or passport
  • old children's passport
• if no old identity card or passport is available:
  • birth certificate
• if only one parent with custody is present:
  • Declaration of consent of the non-custodial parent present
• if only one parent is present:
  • Proof of custody
• biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer). There are exceptions to the biometric requirements for infants and small children according to the sample photo table.

You can be issued with an ID card if you are under 16 and have German citizenship.

For applications outside your main place of residence:

• You or your legal guardian must have an important reason why you are not applying for your ID card at the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence.

Your parents or legal guardians must apply for the ID card personally and together with you at the Citizens' Office:

• Your parents submit the application jointly if they have joint custody.
• One custodial parent can be represented by the other custodial parent by power of attorney.
• They must sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• The submission of fingerprints for storage in the document is legally required for the application (usually a flat print of the left and right index finger).
  • Persons who have not yet reached the age of 6 do not provide a fingerprint.
• You will receive a one-time PIN and the unlocking number (PUK) in a sealed envelope. You will only need this information after your 16th birthday.
• Your Citizens' Registration Office will inform your parents when you apply when they can collect your ID card.
• At many citizens' offices, your parents can arrange a collection date online, by e-mail or by telephone.
• You can find out which options your Citizens' Registration Office offers on their website, for example.

It usually takes at least 2 weeks from the date of application before you can collect your ID card from the Citizens' Registration Office.

You must apply for an identity card at the latest when you turn 16. Exception: You have a valid passport document such as a passport or temporary passport.

If your ID card is stolen, you must report this to the police. If you lose your ID card, you can block it by calling the blocking hotline.

• any person with German citizenship can obtain an ID card, including children under the age of 16
• Application in person on site by the parents or legal guardians
  • both parents must submit the application together if they have joint custody of the child
  • both custodial parents must be present when the application is submitted
  • if both parents cannot be present, one parent with custody can be represented by the other parent with custody by power of attorney
  • Children or young people for whom the application is made must be present