As a German citizen, you are obliged to have a valid identity card from the age of 16. If you find an ID card that was previously reported as lost, you must report this.

Only after you have officially reported your ID card as "found" will the corresponding entry be deleted by the police. You can then continue to use your recovered ID card in Germany without restriction until it expires.

If you have recovered your ID card, you can also have the previously blocked online ID card function unblocked again. This can only be done in person at the Citizens' Registration Office. The Citizens' Registration Office will arrange for it to be unblocked and, if necessary, inform the police that it has been found.

Please note: The Federal Republic of Germany has no influence on how other countries manage or update their police information systems. Therefore, in individual cases it may happen that foreign authorities do not delete the wanted entries or do not delete them in time. In such cases, your recovered ID card may not be accepted abroad or may even be retained.

Further information from the city of Salzgitter on the ID card www.salzgitter.de/rathaus/fachdienstuebersicht/buergercenter/personalausweis.php

The discovery report and submission must be made immediately (without culpable delay).