Apply for an identity card as a person under 16 years of age
Full text
If you are a German national, you can apply for an identity card. This applies to children from birth. If you are under 16, you must be accompanied by your parents. Your parents or legal guardians will submit the application on your behalf.
Your identity card is valid for a maximum of 6 years. When you turn 16, you must hold a valid identity card if you do not have a valid passport.
The identity card becomes invalid before the expiry date stated on it in the following cases:
- Entries may no longer be accurate, for example if a name has changed.
- You are no longer clearly recognisable in your photograph. This can be the case, in particular, with identity documents for babies or very young children.
You can submit your application to the identity card office at your main place of residence. This is usually the local authority office. You may submit your application to any other identity card office if you have a valid reason. In that case, you will be charged an additional fee.
You can use your identity card as an electronic form of identification (online ID) from your 16th birthday onwards. For children and young people up to the age of 16, this function is automatically disabled. If you are at least 16 years old, you can have the function activated retrospectively free of charge – for example, at the Citizens’ Office – and at the same time set a six-digit PIN of your choice before you can use the online ID card.
If you need an identity document urgently, you can apply for a provisional identity card in the first instance. This is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
Basis for action(s)
Required documents
- an old identity document, regardless of whether it is still valid or has already expired:
- old identity card or passport
- old child passport
- if you do not have an old identity card or passport:
- Birth certificate
- parents with custody:
- a valid identity document (identity card or passport) for each parent
- if only one parent with parental responsibility is present: a declaration of consent from the parent with parental responsibility who is not present, as well as a copy of their identity document
- where there is only one parent with custody:
- valid identity document (identity card or passport)
- Proof of custody
- Biometric digital passport photograph: taken on site at the relevant government office or by a registered domestic photography service provider (photographer). Exceptions to the biometric requirements apply to infants and young children, as set out in the sample photograph guide.
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 ID card authority in a cloud for retrieval.
Alternatively, digital photos can usually also be taken at the ID card authority. 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 cannot (or can no longer) be processed.- an old identity document, regardless of whether it is still valid or has already expired:
Prerequisites
If you are under 16 and hold German citizenship, you can be issued with an identity card.
For applications outside your main place of residence:
- You or your legal guardian must have an important reason why you are not applying for your ID card at the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence.
Costs (fees, expenses, etc.)
A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.
Surcharge for digital photographing at the authority
Fee: EUR 6.00
Fee: 27,60 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenFees for the identity cardFee: 10,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenFees for a provisional identity cardFee: 13,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenSurcharge for applications submitted outside office hours or to the wrong authorityFee: 30,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenSurcharge on the fee for the issue of a document by a non-competent domestic authority, if you are habitually resident abroadFee: €43.00Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenSurcharge for issue by consular or diplomatic representation abroadFee: 6,00 €Prepayment: Yeshttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/Webs/PA/DE/buergerinnen-und-buerger/der-personalausweis/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit/gebuehren-und-gueltigkeit-node.htmlKassenzeichenFee for passport photo if the authority uses the PointID photo system from Bundesdruckerei GmbH. If the authority uses photo systems from other manufacturers, the fee may differ.Procedure
Your parents or legal guardians must apply for the ID card in person and together with you at the Citizens' Registration Office:
- Your parents must submit the application jointly if they have joint custody.
- A custodial parent can be represented by the other custodial parent by power of attorney.
- They must sign if they are aged 10 or over at the time of application.
- The law requires applicants to provide fingerprints for inclusion in the document (usually a flat impression of the left and right index fingers).
- Children under the age of 6 do not provide fingerprints.
- You will receive a one-off PIN and the unlock code (PUK) in a sealed envelope if the child is aged 10 or over at the time of application. The child will only need this information after their 16th birthday.
- When you apply, the Citizens’ Bureau will let your parents know when they can collect your identity card.
- At many local authority offices, your parents can book a collection appointment online, by email or by telephone.
- You can find out what services your local council office offers on its website, for example.
Processing time
It usually takes at least 2 weeks from the date of application before you can collect your ID card from the Citizens' Registration Office.
Deadlines
You must apply for an identity card at the latest when you turn 16. Exception: You have a valid passport document such as a passport or a temporary passport.
For applicants under 24 years of age.
Period of validity: 6 years
Further information
- Information on the ID card on the ID card portal of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
- Questions and answers on the subject of "biometrics" and passport photos on the ID card portal
- Information on blocking the ID card in the event of loss on the ID card portal of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
Author
Redirection service: Deep link to the original portal Redirection service: Deep link to the original portal- Applying for an identity card as an under 16-year-old in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Display of performance in the source portal
- Apply for an identity card as a person under 16 years of age
Display of performance in the source portal
- Applying for an identity card as an under 16-year-old in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern