Apply for an identity card due to expiry of validity

In Germany, people aged 16 and over are required to have a valid ID card. From the age of 16, you must therefore apply for a new ID card in good time before the validity of your old one expires. This applies if you are over 16 and do not have a valid passport document, i.e. passport, temporary passport.
The application can be made at the citizens' office at your main place of residence. If you submit the application to another citizens' office for good cause, additional costs will be incurred.
The period of validity depends on your age:

• under 24 years: ID card is valid for 6 years.
• from 24 years of age: ID card is valid for 10 years.

It may not be possible to issue the new ID card within the remaining period of validity. In this case, it may also be necessary to apply for a temporary ID card for the transitional period. A temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

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 accept your reason.

• You can make an appointment online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' registration offices.
• When you apply, your Citizens' Registration Office will let you know 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 local citizens' office offers on its website, for example.

Contact the Citizens' Registration Office at your main place of residence.

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 and
• do not have a valid passport document, i.e. passport or temporary passport.

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 that is responsible at your main place of residence.
• Exception: The temporary ID card cannot be applied for abroad.

• Biometric passport photo: 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. Therefore, citizens can no longer bring their own photograph with them.
• old identity card, valid passport or old (expired) passport
• birth certificate or family register, if applicable
• for children under the age of 16: both custodial parents or, if applicable, a declaration of consent from the custodial parent who is not present
  • in the case of sole custody, a negative certificate from the youth welfare office

Fee reductions or exemptions are possible for people in need. This is at the discretion of the identity card authority.

for applicants aged 24 and over

Fee: EUR 37,00

for applicants under the age of 24

Fee: EUR 22,80

for the temporary identity card

Fee: EUR 10,00

Application outside working hours or not at the main place of residence

Surcharge: EUR 13,00

Issued by a consular or diplomatic mission abroad

Surcharge: EUR 30,00

If the validity of your old ID card has expired and you are over 16 years old, you must apply for a new ID card immediately if you do not have a valid passport document.

Forms available: No

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: Yes

Online services available: No

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs

17.10.2024