Personalausweis

German citizens who have reached the age of 16 are obliged to have a valid identity card if the identification requirement cannot be fulfilled by the possession of a valid passport and they are subject to the general registration obligation in Germany. At the request of an authority authorised to check your personal details (e.g. police, registration authority, border crossing point), you must present your identity card and hand it over for verification.

There is no obligation to carry the ID card with you at all times.

The identity card is equipped with additional security features and functionalities, which offer numerous application possibilities, especially on the Internet. The (voluntary) additional functions serve your own security. These can be activated or deactivated upon request.

Functions

• electronic proof of identity (eID function)
  • e.g. for identification on the Internet or as proof of age at cigarette vending machines
• electronic signature
  • is equivalent to the normal signature and allows the digital signing of digital documents, e.g. in the context of administrative procedures
• two digital fingerprints
  • Only the authorities authorised by the state to do so have access to this biometric area, e.g. officials at border controls. Biometric data cannot be accessed as part of the electronic proof of identity

The following data is visible on the ID card and stored in the chip:

• Surname
• Maiden name
• Forenames
• Doctorate
• Date and place of birth
• Photo (can be retrieved from the chip by authorities)
• Address
• Nationality
• Religious name
• Pen name

Since 1 November 2010, the credit card-sized identity card has replaced the previous identity card. The previous one can be used until the expiry of its individually determined validity.

German citizens who have reached the age of 16 are obliged to have a valid identity card if the identification requirement cannot be fulfilled by the possession of a valid passport and they are subject to the general registration obligation in Germany. At the request of an authority authorised to check your personal details (e.g. police, registration authority, border crossing point), you must present your identity card and hand it over for verification.

There is no obligation to carry the ID card with you at all times.

The identity card is equipped with additional security features and functionalities, which offer numerous application possibilities, especially on the Internet. The (voluntary) additional functions serve your own security. These can be activated or deactivated upon request.