Apply for an identity card for people up to the age of 16

Anyone of any age who is a German citizen can apply for an ID 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. A parent with custody can be represented by an authorized representative of the other parent when submitting the application.

Your ID card is valid for 6 years and must then be reapplied for. A temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
The ID card will become invalid before the expiry date if

• entries become incorrect or
• the photograph is no longer clearly suitable for identification purposes. This can be the case in particular with ID cards for infants or very young children.

There is one exception: a change of address does not invalidate the card.

The new ID card is equipped with the electronic proof of identity function. This function is automatically deactivated for children and young people up to the age of 16. Later activation (from the age of 16) is possible free of charge at the citizens' office at the main place of residence.

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

• For children and young people under the age of 16, both parents submit the application together if they have joint custody. One custodial parent can be represented by the other custodial parent by power of attorney.
• The children and young people for whom the application is made must also appear in person, as the authorities will check their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.
• Children aged 6 and over will have their fingerprints taken for storage in the document.
• When you apply, your Citizens' Registration Office will inform you when you can collect your ID card.
• The ID card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH in Berlin.
• You can arrange a collection date online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' offices. You can find out which options your local citizens' office offers on their website, for example.

Submit the application to the identity card authority at your main place of residence. This is usually the Citizens' Registration Office.

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

• have German citizenship and
• are registered in Germany.

• old identity card, old passport or children's passport (valid or already expired)
• if no old identity document is available: Birth certificate
• 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
• Biometric passport photoPhoto: From May 1, 2025, only digitally available biometric photos will be used for new official documents. The photographs will either be taken at the authorities or by photographers. This means that citizens can no longer bring their own photograph with them.

Current civil status certificate, depending on marital status, a certificate of parentage/birth or marriage certificate and, if applicable, proof of name change.

eduction or exemption from fees is possible for people in need. This is at the discretion of the identity card authority.

Fee: EUR 22,80

for the temporary identity card

Fee: EUR 10,00

Application outside of working hours or to a non-responsible authority

Surcharge: EUR 13,00

Issued by a consular or diplomatic mission abroad

Surcharge: EUR 30,00

You must apply for an identity card at the latest when you turn 16. Exception: you have a valid passport document.

It usually takes at least 2 weeks from the date of application before you can collect your ID card from the Citizens' Registration Office.

Applications can be submitted to any other identity card authority if an important reason is presented. This will incur a surcharge for lack of jurisdiction, which means that the costs of issuing the card will increase.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs

17.10.2024