Applying for an identity card if you are under 16 years of age
Any person of any age with German citizenship can apply for an identity card. This also applies to children (from birth). If you are under 16 years old, you must be accompanied by your parents. Your parents or legal guardians will take care of the application for you.
Your identity card is valid for 6 years and must then be re-applied for. A temporary identity card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
The identity card shall expire before the expiry of the registered period of validity if:
- entries become incorrect, or
- the photograph is no longer clearly suitable for identification. This may be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or toddlers.
There is one exception: the change of address does not lead to invalidity.
The EU logo on the front of the identity card, introduced from 2 August 2021, does not invalidate ID cards without this logo.
The new identity card is equipped with the function of electronic proof of identity. For children and adolescents up to the age of 16, this function is automatically switched off. A later activation (from 16 years) is possible free of charge in the Bürgeramt at the main residence.
You can submit the application to your identity card office at your main residence, which is usually the Bürgeramt. Applications to any other identity card authority are possible if an important reason is presented. A non-jurisdiction surcharge is incurred, i.e. the costs of the exhibition increase.
Process flow
Your parents or guardians must apply for the identity card personally and together with you at the Bürgeramt:
- For children and adolescents under the age of 16, both parents apply together if they have joint custody. One parent with custody may be represented by the other parent with custody by power of attorney.
- The children and young people for whom the application is made must also appear in person, as the authority checks their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years of age or older at the time of application.
- Children aged 6 years and older are fingerprinted for storage in the document.
- When applying, your citizens' registration office will inform you when you can pick up your identity card.
- The identity card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH in Berlin.
- At many citizens' offices, you can arrange a pick-up appointment online, by e-mail or by telephone. You can find out what options your Bürgeramt offers, for example, on its website.
Requirements
You can obtain an identity card under the age of 16 if you
- have German citizenship and
- are registered in Germany.
For applications outside your main residence:
- You or the legal guardian must be able to explain an important reason why you do not apply for the identity card at the Bürgeramt at your main residence.
Which documents are required?
- old identity card, old passport or children's passport (valid or already expired)
- if no old identity document, available: birth certificate
- Declaration of consent of the parent with custody who is not present
- in the case of only one legal guardian, the additional proof of custody
- Biometrics-compatible passport photo: The photo must
- be up-to-date and
- meet the photo requirements for electronic passports
What are the fees?
- EUR 22.80
- EUR 10.00 for the temporary identity card
- EUR 13.00 surcharge for applications outside working hours or for non-competent authorities
- EUR 30.00 surcharge for application at any Bürgeramt by Germans residing abroad
Fee reduction or exemption is possible for those in need. This is at the discretion of the identity card authority.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
At the latest when you turn 16 years old, you must apply for an identity card. Exception: You have a valid passport document.
Processing duration
It usually takes at least 2 weeks from the date of application until you can pick up your identity card at the Bürgeramt.
Technically approved by
Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
