Any person of any age with German citizenship can apply for an identity card. This also applies to children (from birth). As a person under 16 years of age, you must be accompanied by your parents. Your parents or legal guardians will take care of the application for you. A custodial parent may be represented by proxy by the other parent when making the application.

Your ID card is valid for 6 years, after which you must reapply. A temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
The identity card will become 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: a change of address does not lead to invalidity.

The new ID card is equipped with the electronic proof of identity function. This function is automatically deactivated for children and young people up to the age of 16. Later activation (from the age of 16) is possible free of charge at the citizens' registration office at the main place of residence.

Your parents or legal guardians must apply for the ID card in person and together with you at the Bürgeramt:

• For children and young people under the age of 16, both parents submit the application jointly if they have joint custody. One custodial parent may be represented by the other custodial parent by power of attorney.
• The children and adolescents for whom the application is made must also appear in person, as the authorities will check their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• Children 6 years and older will be fingerprinted for storage in the document.
• When you apply, your Bürgeramt will inform you when you can collect your identity card.
• The identity card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH 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 what options your citizens' registration office offers, for example, on its website.

Submit the application to your identity card authority at your main place of residence. This is usually the citizens' registration office.

You can obtain an identity card when you are under 16 years old if you

• have German citizenship and
• are registered in Germany.

To apply outside your main place of residence:

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

• 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 custodial parent who is not present
  • in case of only one legal guardian additionally the proof of custody
• biometric passport photo: The photo must be
  • be up-to-date and
  • meet the requirements for photos for electronic passports

• EUR 22.80
• EUR 10.00 for temporary identity card
• EUR 13,00 surcharge for application outside office hours or at an authority without 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.

From the time of application, it usually takes at least 2 weeks until you can pick up your ID card at the Bürgeramt.

Applications can be submitted to any other ID card authority if an important reason is presented. In this case, an incompetence surcharge is incurred, i.e. the costs of issuance increase.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

22.09.2022