Personalausweis beantragen

If you have German citizenship, you can apply for an identity card.

Any person with German citizenship can apply for an identity card, regardless of age.
The identity card shall expire before the expiry of the registered period of validity if:

• it does not allow the identity of the card holder to be established correctly or has been altered, or
• Entries - with the exception of information on address and size - become incorrect.

The validity period depends on your age at the time of application:

• Application under 24 years: Identity card is valid for 6 years.
• Application from 24 years: Identity card is valid for 10 years.

A temporary identity card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

You can submit the application to your identity card authority (Lord Mayor or Mayor) or the Citizens' Office of your municipality of residence.

Applications can also be submitted to any other identity card authority if an important reason is presented. In this case, a higher fee will be charged.

• Identity card, valid passport or children's passport or birth certificate
• for children under 16 years of age: declaration of consent of the legal guardian
  • in the case of only one legal guardian, the additional proof of custody
• biometrics-compatible photograph

The identification requirement applies to you if you

• have German citizenship,
• have reached the age of 16 and
• are registered in Germany.

€22.80 for applicants under 24 years of age; 37,00€ for applicants in all other cases.

13,00€ surcharge for applications outside working hours or at a non-competent authority.

You can apply for an identity card at the identity card authority or at the Bürgeramt at your place of residence, in the case of several residences at your main residence. You can also apply for your identity card at any other identity card authority or at any other citizens' office. But you need an important reason for this. If you contact the Citizens' Registration Office of your choice beforehand, you can find out whether and to what extent the identity card authority or the Citizens' Registration Office recognises this reason.

• At many citizens' offices, you can make an appointment online, by e-mail or by phone. You can find out what options your Bürgeramt offers, for example, on its website.
• When applying, your citizens' registration office will inform you when you can pick up your identity card.
• Your identity card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.
• You can also arrange a pick-up appointment at many citizens' offices online, by e-mail or by telephone. You can find out what options your Bürgeramt offers, for example, on its website.

Once you are 16 years old, you must have an identity card. Exception: You have a valid passport, i.e. a passport, a children's passport or a temporary passport.

• Identity card issuance
• Any person with German citizenship can apply for an identity card.
• Cost:
  • €22.80 for applicants under 24 years of age; 37,00€ for applicants in all other cases.
  • 13,00€ surcharge for applications outside working hours or at a non-competent authority.
• Validity period depends on age:
  • Persons under 24 years: 6 years
  • Persons from 24 years: 10 years
• responsible:
  • Identity card authority or citizens' office of the municipality of residence
  • any other identity card authority or any other citizens' office

Responsibility lies with the identity card authority (Lord Mayor) or the Citizens' Office of your municipality of residence.