After a name change, your ID card is invalid. So if you have had your family name changed, for example after a divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership, you must apply for a new ID card.
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.
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The period of validity 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 submit the application at your Bürgeramt at your main place of residence. Applications can be submitted to any other Bürgeramt if an important reason is presented. In this case, an incompetence surcharge is incurred, which means that the cost of issuance increases.

You can apply for a temporary identity card at the same time. This is possible if you need an identity document for the time until the new identity card is issued. The temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of three months. You must return it as soon as you receive the new identity card.

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 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 Bürgeramt offers, for example, on its website.

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 and
• 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 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 or passport (with the old name) and, if available, valid passport (with the new name)
• Divorce certificate
• certificate of the name from the registry office
• biometric passport photo: The photo must be
  • be current and
  • meet the requirements for photos for electronic ID cards.

• 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 reductions or exemptions are possible for people in need. This is at the discretion of the Bürgeramt.

You must apply for the new ID card immediately after the name change.
Exception: You have a valid passport document, i.e. 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