Applying for an identity card due to name change on marriage

Your ID card is invalid after a name change. So if your surname has changed, for example following 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 when you get married.

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

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

• under the age of 24: Identity card is valid for 6 years.
• from the age of 24: ID 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 local citizens' office at your main place of residence. If you do not apply for your new ID card at your main place of residence, you will need an important reason. A surcharge of EUR 13.00 will be added to the fee. If you contact your chosen Citizens' Registration Office in advance, you can find out whether and to what extent the Citizens' Registration Office will recognise your reason.

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 travelling 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 Citizens' Registration Office will then enter the date of the planned marriage or civil partnership as the date of issue. The new ID card may only be issued after the marriage has taken place or after the name declaration has been received by the relevant registry office. Before the identity card is issued, the name must be checked against the marriage certificate or the notarised printout of the marriage register or the certificate of the name.

When submitting your application, the Citizens' Registration Office draws your attention to the fact that in all cases in which the marriage date stated at the time of application is subsequently postponed 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 may not be issued. You may have to apply for a new identity card for a fee.

• § Section 9 Act on Identity Cards and Electronic Proof of Identity (Identity Card Act - PAuswG)

• Biometric passport photo: The photo must be
  • be up-to-date and
  • fulfil the requirements for photos for electronic ID cards.
• for early application:
  • 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 notarised extract from the marriage or civil partnership register or certificate confirming the use of the name
• for children under the age of 16: if necessary, 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

From 1 May 2025, only digitally created biometric photographs will be accepted in the application process.
The photograph can be taken by external service providers (e.g. photographers) who make it available to the passport or ID card authority in a cloud for retrieval.
Alternatively, digital photographs can usually also be taken at the passport or ID card authority.
If necessary, find out before your appointment whether the photo can be taken at the authority.
Printed passport photos you have brought with you or digital passport photos you have taken yourself will no longer be processed.

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 applications outside your main place of residence:

• You must be able to provide an important reason why you are not applying for the ID card at the ID card authority responsible for your main place of residence.
• Exception: The temporary identity card cannot be applied for abroad.

If you are getting married or entering into a civil partnership with a change of name, proceed as follows to apply for a new ID card:

You must apply for your ID card in person at the 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 a surcharge will be added to the fee. If you contact your chosen Citizens' Registration Office in advance, you can find out whether and to what extent the Citizens' Registration Office will recognise your reason.

• You can make an appointment online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' offices. You can find out what options your citizens' office offers on its website, for example.
• Your Citizens' Registration Office will inform you when you apply when you can collect your ID card.
• Your ID card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH.
• You can arrange a collection appointment online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' registration offices. You can find out what options your citizens' office offers on its website, for example.
• 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 the identity card is issued, the authorities will check the name on the basis of
  • the marriage certificate,
  • the notarised printout of the marriage register or
  • the certificate of the name.

• Information on the new ID card on a website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs (BMI)

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• Apply for an identity card due to change of name on marriage in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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