Description
Description
If you are a German citizen, you can apply for an identity card. This also applies to children from birth. If you are under 16 years of age, 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 and must be renewed after that. A temporary identity card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
The ID card becomes invalid before the end of its stated validity period if
- the information on it is no longer accurate, or
- you are no longer clearly recognizable in your photo. This can be the case, in particular, with ID cards for infants or very young children.
A change of address does not invalidate your ID card.
As of August 2, 2021, the EU logo was introduced on the front of newly issued ID cards. However, ID cards without this logo do not become invalid as a result.
You can generally use your ID card as electronic proof of identity. For children and adolescents up to the age of 16, this feature is automatically disabled. If you are at least 16 years old, you can have the feature activated retroactively, free of charge, at the citizens’ office at your primary residence or online via the PIN reset and activation service.
You can submit the application to the ID card authority at your primary residence, which is usually the Citizens’ Office. Applications may be submitted to any other ID card authority if you have a valid reason. In that case, you will pay an additional fee.
As of May 1, 2025, citizens can only apply for ID cards and passports with digital photos.
Further information from the city of Salzgitter on the ID card http://www.salzgitter.de/rathaus/fachdienstuebersicht/buergercenter/personalausweis.php