Apply for an identity card as a person under 16 years of age

If you have German citizenship, you can apply for an identity card. This also applies to children from birth. If you are under 16, you must be accompanied by your parents. Your parents or legal guardians will take care of the application for you.

Your identity card is valid for a maximum of 6 years, after which you must apply for a new one. A temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

The ID card becomes invalid before the expiry date entered on it if

• entries no longer apply or
• you are no longer clearly recognisable in your photo. This can be the case in particular with ID cards for babies or very young children.

Changing your address does not invalidate your identity card.

From 2 August 2021, the EU logo was introduced on the front of the ID card for newly issued ID cards. However, ID cards without this logo will not become invalid.

As a rule, you can use your ID card as electronic proof of identity. This function is automatically switched off for children and young people up to the age of 16. If you are at least 16 years old, you can have the function subsequently activated free of charge at the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence or online via the PIN reset and activation service.

You can submit the application to your identity card authority at your main place of residence, which is usually the Citizens' Registration Office. Applications can be made to any other identity card authority if you have an important reason. You will then pay a surcharge.

• § Section 1(4)(1) of the Identity Card Act (PAuswG)
• § Section 9 Act on Identity Cards and Electronic Proof of Identity (Identity Card Act - PAuswG)

• Old identity document, regardless of whether it is valid or has already expired:
  • old identity card,
  • old passport or
  • old child passport
• if no old identity card or passport is available:
  • Birth certificate
• Birth certificate, if applicable, depending on the local regulations of the authority
• with only one custodial parent present:
  • Declaration of consent from the parent with custody who is not present
• if there is only one person with parental authority:
  • Proof of custody
• Passport photo that
  • current and
  • is biometric (exceptions apply for infants and small children according to the photo sample table)

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.

You can obtain an identity card if you are under 16 years of age if you

• have German citizenship and
• are registered in Germany.

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.

Your parents or legal guardians must apply for the ID card in person and together with you at the Citizens' Registration Office:

• If you are under 16 years of age, your parents will submit the application jointly if they have joint custody.
• A custodial parent can be represented by the other custodial parent by power of attorney.
• If you are the person for whom the application is being made, you must appear in person as the authorities will check your identity. You must also sign if you are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• Bring the necessary documents with you to the appointment.
• Children aged 6 and over are fingerprinted for storage in the document.
• Your Citizens' Registration Office will inform you when you apply when you can collect your ID card.
• 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.

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

II 310

• Applying for an identity card as an under 16-year-old in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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