As a German citizen with permanent residence abroad, you are not subject to the general registration requirement and, consequently, are not required to carry identification within Germany.

However, you may apply in person for an identity card at selected German diplomatic missions abroad that have been designated as identity card issuing authorities by the Federal Foreign Office, or, under certain conditions, at any local registration office in Germany.

Note:
Please check in advance with the diplomatic mission in the district where you are staying to see if it can issue identity cards, as not all diplomatic missions are also identity card authorities.

When submitting your application, you must provide:

• A digital biometric passport photo
• If you have moved away from Germany (including: people without a fixed residence, world travelers):
  • A certificate of deregistration from your last German place of residence, if a German address is still listed on your most recent identification document;
• If you want your foreign address to be entered on your ID card: additionally, proof of your habitual residence abroad, such as a foreigner’s ID card, a registration certificate from your host country, a lease agreement, or telephone, electricity, or gas bills.

Please note that the online functions of an identity card can only be used if a foreign address is recorded.

• Your current national ID card or passport, or child’s passport,
• if the old document has been lost: additionally, a police report of loss;

for a first-time application or in the event of changes:

• Birth/ancestry certificate, or alternatively a German marriage/civil partnership certificate, or German family register;
• If you are or were married or in a civil partnership:
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate with a note regarding the use of your name, or an extract from the family register with a note regarding the use of your name if you were married abroad; if applicable, a certificate of name under German law;
• if applicable, certificate of acquisition of German citizenship (certificate of naturalization for first-time applications);
• if applicable, a certificate of acquisition of foreign citizenship;
• if applicable, a doctoral degree certificate (in German or English, with name and date of birth), if the doctoral degree is not indicated on a previous passport or ID card and the applicant wishes to have it entered in the new passport or ID card;

For children under 16 years of age, additionally:

• If born in Germany after January 1, 2000, and at least one parent did not hold German citizenship at the time: an extract from the birth register;
• For children of married parents: parents’ marriage certificate;
• for children of divorced parents with sole custody granted to one parent: proof of sole custody through a custody order or divorce decree; if applicable, recognition of a foreign divorce decree under German law;
• For children of parents who were not married at the time of birth: acknowledgment of paternity and custody agreement in accordance with the law of the child’s country of residence;
• if applicable, certificate of acquisition of German citizenship;

Please bring both the originals and copies of all documents. Please note that in some cases, you may be required to submit additional certificates and documents.