After a name change, your ID card is no longer valid. So if your last name has changed—for example, due to marriage or the establishment of a civil partnership—you must apply for a new ID card. The same applies to your children if their names also change as a result of the marriage.

There is one exception: As long as you have a valid passport or temporary passport bearing your new name, you do not need to apply for a new ID card.

The validity period depends on your age at the time of application:

• Under 24 years of age: The ID card is valid for 6 years.
• 24 years and older: The ID card is valid for 10 years.
• A temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

You can submit your application at the citizens’ office in your primary place of residence. If you do not apply for your new ID card at your primary place of residence, you must have a valid reason. In addition, a surcharge of EUR 13.00 will be added to the fee. If you contact the local government office of your choice in advance, you can find out whether and to what extent the office will accept your reason.

If you need your new ID card immediately after getting married and changing your name, or after entering into a civil partnership and changing your name—for example, to travel abroad— you may apply for your ID card with your new name no earlier than 8 weeks before the planned date of the marriage or the establishment of the civil partnership. As an exception, the citizens’ office will then enter the date of the planned marriage or the establishment of the civil partnership as the date of issuance. The new ID card may not be issued until after the marriage has taken place or until the declaration of name change has been received by the relevant registry office. Before the ID card is issued, your name must be verified using the marriage certificate, a certified copy of the marriage registry, or a certificate of name change.

When you submit your application, the Citizens’ Office will inform you that in all cases where the marriage date specified at the time of application is subsequently postponed to a later date—and consequently the issuance date of the ID card bearing the new last name precedes the new marriage date— the ID card is invalid. It may not be issued. If necessary, you will have to reapply for the ID card, subject to a fee.