Germans within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law are required to have a valid identity card as soon as they reach the age of 16 and are subject to the general obligation to register or, without being subject to it, reside predominantly in Germany.

Any person of any age with German citizenship may apply for an identity card.

The identity card becomes invalid before the expiry of the registered period of validity if

• entries become incorrect, or
• the photograph is no longer clearly suitable for identification purposes. This can be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or very young children.

There is one exception: change of address does not lead to invalidity.

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

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

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

You can apply at your identity card authority at your main place of residence, which is usually the Bürgeramt. Applications can be submitted to any other identity card authority if an important reason is presented. In this case, an incompetence surcharge applies, which means that the costs for your new ID card are higher.

Since 01.09.2021, a transparent Braille sticker with the inscription "ad" (identity document) can be applied to the identity card, the eID card or on the electronic residence permit on the back of the identity card at the request of the document holder.

The sticker with braille is intended to make it easier to distinguish the ID card, eID card or electronic residence permit from other cards in credit card format, for example in a wallet.

The competent ID card authority may exempt persons from the ID card requirement,

1. for whom a guardian has been appointed not only by temporary order, or who are incapable of acting or giving consent and are represented by an authorized person or by a person authorized by a publicly certified power of attorney,
2. who are likely to be permanently confined to a hospital, nursing home or similar institution, or
3. who are unable to move about alone in public because of a permanent disability.

Upon application, an identity card shall also be issued if a person is under 16 years of age or if he or she is German within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law but is not subject to the obligation to register because he or she does not have a residence in Germany (e.g. so-called Germans living abroad).

You can apply for an ID card at the Bürgeramt in your place of residence, or at your main place of residence if you have more than one place of residence. You can also apply for your identity card at any other citizens' registration office. However, you must have an important reason for doing so. If you contact the Bürgeramt you have chosen beforehand, you can find out whether and to what extent the Bürgeramt recognizes your reason.

• At many Bürgerämter, 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 you apply, your Bürgeramt will inform you when you can collect your identity card.
• Your ID card is produced centrally by the Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.
• At many Bürgerämter, you can make an appointment to pick up your ID card online, by e-mail or by phone. You can find out which options your Bürgeramt offers, for example, on its website.

In the Free State of Thuringia, the (domicile) municipalities are the responsible ID card authorities. If there are several residences, the main residence is to be taken into account. Contact your city, municipality or administrative community.

• German national within the meaning of Article 116 (1) of the Basic Law;
• Formal application to the relevant municipality by the applicant (from the age of 16) or legal representative (e.g. in the case of joint custody by both parents, if they are not only temporarily separated, usually only by the parent with whom the child usually stays) or guardian;
• Representation by proxy not permitted.
• In order to verify identity, the ID card applicant (i.e. also the child or young person under the age of 16) must always appear in person at the ID card authority.

For application outside your main residence:

• You must be able to show an important reason why you are not applying for the ID card at the ID card authority at your main place of residence.

• 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 case of only one legal guardian additionally the proof of custody
• biometric passport photo

• EUR 37.00 for applicants aged 24 and over
• EUR 22.80 for applicants under 24 years of age
• EUR 10.00 for temporary identity card
• EUR 13.00 surcharge for applications submitted outside office hours or to authorities not having jurisdiction
• EUR 30.00 surcharge for issuance by consular or diplomatic representation abroad

Fee reduction or exemption is possible for people in need. This is at the discretion of the identity card authority.

At the latest when you turn 16, you must apply for an identity card. Exception: You have a valid passport document, i.e. passport, children's passport or temporary passport.

If you are over 16 years old, you must apply for a new ID card no later than the expiration date of your old ID card. Exception: You have a valid passport document.

From the time of application, it usually takes at least 2-3 weeks until you can pick up your ID card at the Citizen's Office.

You can request a transparent Braille sticker with the inscription "ad" (identity document) on the ID card when you apply.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

05.12.2022

As of 01.01.2013, the Federal Foreign Office and the missions it has designated abroad are the competent identity card authorities for identity card matters abroad.

With the consent of the foreign identity card authority, identity card applications of Germans living abroad can be accepted and processed by identity card authorities in Germany if an important reason is presented (e.g. if the route to the competent identity card authority is considerably further than to the incompetent identity card authority.