After a name change, your ID card is invalid. So if your family name has changed, for example, after a marriage or the establishment of a civil partnership, you must apply for a new ID card. The same applies to your children if their names also change with the marriage.

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 have to apply for a new ID card.

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

• Under 24 years: Identity card is valid for 6 years.
• 24 years and older: Identity card is valid for 10 years.
• A temporary identity card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

You can apply for it at your Citizen's Office at your main place of residence. If you do not apply for your new ID card at your main residence, you need an important reason. In addition, a surcharge of EUR 13.00 will be added to the fee. If you contact your chosen Bürgeramt beforehand, you can find out whether and to what extent the Bürgeramt recognizes your reason.

If you need your new ID card immediately after marriage with a name change or after the establishment of a civil partnership with a name change, 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. As an exception, the Bürgeramt will then enter the date of the planned marriage or the establishment of the civil partnership as the date of issue. The new ID card may only be issued after the marriage or after the name declaration has been received by the relevant registry office. Before the identity card is issued, the name must be verified on the basis of the marriage certificate or the certified printout of the marriage register or the certificate on the name.

When submitting the application, the Citizen's Office draws your attention to the fact that in all cases where the marriage date indicated at the time of application is subsequently changed to a later date and consequently the date of issue of the identity card with the new surname is earlier than the new marriage date, the identity card is invalid. It must not be issued. If necessary, you will have to reapply for the ID card with a fee.

In the event of marriage or the establishment of a civil partnership with a change of name, proceed as follows to apply for the new ID card:

You must apply for the identity card in person at the Citizens' Registration Office. If you do not apply for your ID 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 recognizes your reason.

• At many Bürgeramt offices, 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 Bundesdruckerei GmbH.
• 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 Bürgeramt offers, for example, on its website.
• If you apply early, you will not receive your new ID card until after your marriage or after the name declaration has been received by the relevant registry office. Before the ID card is issued, the authorities check the name using the following information
  • the marriage certificate,
  • the certified printout of the marriage register or
  • the certificate of the name.

You must apply for the ID card in person at the Citizen's Office.

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 or temporary passport with the new name.

For the application outside your main residence:

• You must be able to present an important reason why you are not applying for the ID card at the ID card authority that is responsible at your main place of residence.
• Exception: The temporary ID 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 ID cards.
• In case of early application:
  • valid ID card, passport, temporary passport or temporary ID card.
• in case of application after marriage with change of name:
  • if available: a valid passport or temporary passport with the new name
  • if no valid passport document with the new name exists: Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate or certified excerpt from the marriage or civil partnership register or certificate on the use of the name.
• for children under 16 years of age: if necessary, a declaration of consent from the custodial parent who is not present.
  • in the case of only one legal guardian additionally 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 temporary identity card
• EUR 13.00 surcharge for application outside office hours or not at the main place of residence
• EUR 30.00 surcharge for issuance by consular or diplomatic representation abroad

Fee reductions or exemptions are possible for people in need. This is at the discretion of the identity card authority.

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

From the time of application, it usually takes at least 4 weeks until you can pick up your ID card at the Bürgeramt.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

22.09.2022