Personalausweis beantragen wegen Namensänderung bei Heirat

Have you got married and therefore changed your name? Then you must apply for a new identity card if you do not have a valid passport document with the new name.
If your children's surname has changed, their documents with the old name are also invalid.

Your ID card is invalid after a name change. So if your surname has changed, for example following a 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 when you get married.

There is one exception: as long as you have a valid passport document, i.e. passport or temporary passport, with the new name, you do not need to apply for a new ID card.

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

• under 24 years: ID card is valid for 6 years.
• from the age of 24: ID card is valid for 10 years.
• A temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

You can submit the application at your local citizens' office at your main place of residence. If you do not apply for your new ID card at your main place of residence, you need an important reason. A surcharge of EUR 13.00 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.

If you need your new ID card immediately after marriage with a change of name or after establishing a civil partnership with a change of name, for example for a trip abroad, you can apply for your ID card with the new name at the earliest 8 weeks before the planned date of marriage or establishment of a civil partnership. As an exception, the Citizens' Registration Office will then enter the date of the planned marriage or civil partnership as the date of issue. The new ID card may only be issued after the marriage has taken place or after the name declaration has been received by the relevant registry office. Before the identity card is issued, the name must be checked against the marriage certificate or the certified printout of the marriage register or the certificate of the name.

When submitting the application, the Citizens' Registration Office will draw your attention to the fact that in all cases in which the marriage date stated at the time of application is subsequently postponed to a later date and consequently the issue date of the ID card with the new surname is before the new marriage date, the ID card is invalid. It may not be issued. You may have to apply for a new identity card for a fee.

• Biometric passport photo: The photo must be
  • be up-to-date and
  • meet the requirements for photos for electronic ID cards.
• for early applications:
  • valid identity card, passport, temporary passport or temporary identity card
• if applying after marriage with a change of name:
  • if available: a valid passport or temporary passport with the new name
  • if no valid passport document with the new name is available: Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate or certified excerpt from the marriage or civil partnership register or certificate confirming the use of the name
• for children under the age of 16: if applicable, a declaration of consent from the custodial parent who is not present
  • if there is only one legal guardian, additional proof of custody

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,
• do not have a valid passport or temporary passport with the new name.

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

• EUR 37.00 for applicants aged 24 and over
• EUR 22.80 for applicants under 24 years of age
• EUR 10.00 for the temporary identity card
• EUR 13.00 surcharge for applications submitted outside office hours or not at the main place of residence
• EUR 30.00 surcharge for issuance by consular or diplomatic representation abroad

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

If you are getting married or entering into a civil partnership with a change of name, proceed as follows to apply for a new ID card:

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. You can find out what options your Citizens' Registration Office offers on its website, for example.
• When you apply, your Citizens' Registration Office will inform you when you can collect your ID card.
• Your ID card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei GmbH.
• You can arrange a collection date online, by e-mail or by telephone at many citizens' registration offices. You can find out which options your local citizens' office offers on their website, for example.
• If you apply early, you will only receive your new ID card after the marriage or after the name declaration has been received by the relevant registry office. Before the identity card is issued, the authorities will check the name on the basis of
  • the marriage certificate,
  • the certified printout of the marriage register or
  • the certificate on the use of the name.

It usually takes at least 2 weeks from the date of application before you can collect your ID card from the Citizens' Registration Office.

You must apply for a new identity card immediately after the marriage if you have changed your name and do not have a valid passport or temporary passport with the new name.

• New identity card issued due to change of name on marriage
• A new identity card is required for a name change due to marriage if no valid passport document (passport or temporary passport) with the new name is available
• also applies to children if their surname has also changed with the marriage
• The period of validity of the identity card depends on the age at the time of application:
  • Persons under 24 years of age: 6 years
  • Persons aged 24 and over: 10 years
• Costs:
  • EUR 37.00 for applicants aged 24 and over
  • EUR 22.80 for applicants under 24 years of age
  • EUR 10.00 for the temporary identity card
  • EUR 13.00 surcharge for applications submitted outside office hours or to an authority that does not have jurisdiction
  • EUR 30.00 surcharge for issuance by consular or diplomatic representation abroad
• Processing time: at least 2 weeks from application
• Responsible: Identity card authority at the main place of residence or any other citizens' office