Apply for an identity card for the first time

The obligation to apply for an identity card applies to you if you

• have German citizenship
• have reached the age of 16,
• are registered in Germany,
• do not have a valid passport.

To apply for an identity card outside your main place of residence:

• You must be able to show an important reason why you are not applying for the identity card at the identity card authority responsible for your main place of residence.
• Exception: The temporary identity card cannot be applied for abroad.

• biometric passport photo: The photo must be
  • be up to date and
  • meet the requirements for photos for electronic passports.
• if available and not yet cancelled: old passport or children's passport (valid or already expired)
• if no valid passport or children's passport available: birth certificate or marriage certificate
• for children under 16 years of age: if necessary, a declaration of consent from the custodial parent who is not present
  • in case of only one legal guardian additionally the proof of custody

• EUR 37.00 for applicants aged 24 and over
• EUR 22.80 for applicants under 24 years of age
• EUR 10.00 for the temporary identity card
• EUR 13.00 surcharge for applications outside working hours or not at the main residence
• 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.

You must apply for your identity card in person at the Citizens' Registration Office. If you do not apply for your identity card at your main place of residence, you need an important reason and a surcharge will be added to the fee. If you contact your chosen Bürgeramt beforehand, you can find out whether and to what extent the Bürgeramt recognises your reason.

• Young people aged 16 and over can apply for an ID card themselves.
  • If young people aged 16 or over do not fulfil their obligation, the persons with legal power of representation must submit the application together with the young person until he or she reaches the age of 18. A custodial parent may be represented by proxy by the other parent when making the application.
• For children and adolescents under 16 years of age, all custodial parents file the application jointly. The children and adolescents must always appear in person as well, as the Bürgeramt checks their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• When applying, you must declare whether you want your fingerprints to be stored on the ID chip. From 2 August 2021, the declaration to provide fingerprints will no longer be required, as fingerprints will be taken for storage in the document every time an ID card is applied for.
  Exception: children under the age of 6 will not be fingerprinted.
  
• The identity card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH in Berlin.
• You can make an appointment to collect your identity card online, by e-mail or by telephone at many Bürgerämter. You can find out which options are offered by your local Bürgeramt, for example, on its website.

If you have just turned 16, have German citizenship and are registered in Germany, the application must be submitted immediately unless you have a valid passport document, i.e. passport or temporary passport.

From the time of application, it usually takes at least 2 weeks until you can collect your identity card from the Bürgeramt.

• Informationen zum Personalausweis auf einer Internetseite des Bundesministeriums des Innern, für Bau und Heimat

• § 9 Personalausweisgesetz (PAuswG)