Apply for a new identity card due to change of name on marriage

Your ID card is invalid after a name change. If your surname has changed, for example after getting married or entering into a civil partnership, you must apply for a new ID card. The same applies to your children if their names also change when you get married. If the children are under the age of 16, applying for a new ID card is voluntary and only depends on the extent to which an ID document is required for cross-border travel.

There is one exception: as long as you have a valid passport document, i.e. passport or temporary passport, with the new name, you do not need to apply for a new ID card.

You can submit the application to your local citizens' office at your main place of residence.

If you need your new ID card immediately after marriage with a change of name or after establishing a civil partnership with a change of name, for example for a trip abroad, you can apply for your ID card with the new name at the earliest 8 weeks before the planned date of marriage or establishment of a civil partnership.

All ID cards have electronic proof of identity (online ID card). The online ID function is automatically activated on all ID cards issued from July 2017 for people over the age of 16. If you have set a six-digit PIN of your choice, you can use it to identify yourself to authorities and companies for online services with a high level of trust. You can use the online ID card after your 16th birthday.

When you apply for your ID card, the prints of your two index fingers are stored on the chip of the card. Children under the age of 6 are excluded from this regulation.

If you want to apply for a new ID card due to a change of name, proceed as follows:

• You make an appointment at your local Citizens' Registration Office.
  • If you do not apply for your ID card at your main place of residence, you will need an important reason and will have to pay a surcharge on the fee.
• You bring the necessary documents with you.
• You pay the fee.
• Your fingerprints will be taken on site for storage in the chip of the document.
• You will immediately receive a new one-time PIN. You can use this to make your online ID function ready for use with the newly requested ID card, for example by setting a six-digit PIN of your own choice at home. You decide yourself when you want to use this option.
• When you apply, your Citizens' Registration Office will inform you when you can collect your ID card.
  • Alternatively, in many cases you can have the ID document sent to your home address by post and handed over in person at the front door.

• If you apply early, you will only receive the new ID card after the marriage or after the name declaration has been received by the relevant registry office. Before handing over the ID card, the authorities will check the name on the basis of
  • the marriage certificate,
  • the certified printout of the marriage register or
  • the certificate on the use of the name.

Please contact the Citizens' Office.

• You take on a new surname after marriage or the formation of a civil partnership.

• biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider, e.g. a photographer
• for early applications:
  • valid identity card,
  • passport,
  • temporary passport or
  • temporary identity card
• when applying after marriage with a change of name:
  • if available: a valid passport or temporary passport with the new name
  • if no valid passport document with the new name is available:
    • marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate or
    • certified extract from the marriage or civil partnership register or
    • Certificate of the name
• for children under the age of 16: if applicable, a declaration of consent from the parent with custody who is not present
• if there is only one parent or legal guardian, additional proof of custody

A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.

Fee: EUR 46,00

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.html

Fee: EUR 27,60

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichen

Fee: EUR 10,00

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichen

Fee: EUR 13,00

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswgebv/BJNR147700010.html

Fee: EUR 30,00

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichen

Fee: EUR 6,00

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichen

Fee: EUR 15,00

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichen

You can apply for a new ID card with your new name at the earliest 8 weeks before the marriage or the establishment of a civil partnership.

You must apply for a new ID card immediately after the marriage if you have changed your name and do not have a valid passport or temporary passport with the new name.

Period of Validity: 6 JAHR

Period of Validity: 10 JAHR

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

If, after applying for an ID card, your planned marriage date is postponed to a later date and the planned new marriage date is after the date of issue of the ID card with the new surname, the ID card will be deemed invalid. It cannot then be issued to you. You may have to apply for a new ID card for a fee.

If your ID card is stolen or lost, you must report this to the police. In the event of theft or loss, you can also block the online ID function of your ID card yourself by calling the blocking hotline.

Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)

13.02.2026

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.