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Has your ID card been lost or expired and you need a new one? Then you can apply for a temporary ID card at the Citizens' Registration Office.

You can use the temporary ID card, for example, to bridge the time until a regular ID card is issued.

Your temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.

You must return the old temporary or regular ID card when you are issued with the new temporary ID card.

• Current biometric passport photo
• If available and not yet validated: old identity card or passport or temporary identity card or children's passport (valid or already expired)
• If no valid passport or identity card is available: Birth certificate, marriage certificate
• For children under the age of 16: if applicable, a declaration of consent from the parent with custody who is not present
  • if there is only one parent or legal guardian, additional proof of custody

From May 1, 2025, only digitally created biometric photographs will be accepted in the application process.
The photo can be taken by external service providers (e.g. photographers) who make it available to the ID card authority in a cloud for retrieval.
Alternatively, digital photos can usually also be taken at the ID card authority. Find out before your appointment whether the photo can be taken at the authority.
Printed passport photos you have brought with you or digital passport photos you have taken yourself cannot (or can no longer) be processed.

You can apply for a temporary identity card if

• you have German citizenship,
• are registered in Germany and
• do not have a valid identity card.

You are obliged to apply for a temporary ID card if you

• have German citizenship,
• are registered in Germany,
• do not have a valid identity card or passport and
• have reached the age of 16.

Surcharge for digital photographing at the authority
Fee: EUR 6.00

You must apply for the temporary ID card in person.

• Apply for the temporary ID card at the citizens' office at your main place of residence.
  • If you do not apply for your temporary ID card at your main place of residence, you need an important reason. Please contact your chosen Citizens' Registration Office to find out whether they will accept your reason.
• The Citizens' Registration Office will issue you with the temporary ID card.

The following information is available:

• You can apply for the provisional ID card and the new, regular ID card in Germany at the same time.
• You cannot apply for the provisional ID card abroad.

• Provisional ID card issue
• Provisional ID card must be returned when the new regular ID card is issued
• Applicants are usually issued with a provisional ID card immediately after submitting their application to the competent authority.
• Validity period: maximum 3 months
• Costs:
  • EUR 10.00
  • 13.00 EUR surcharge for applications made outside office hours or not at the main place of residence
• Responsible: Citizens' office at the main place of residence or any other citizens' office

Service hotline for the ID card and the online ID function
Phone +49 301 86812-3333
E-mail eID_buergerkommunikation@bmi.bund.de
WWW contact form for citizen communication on the ID card portal
Opening hours Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 15:00 Chargeable: EUR 0.039 per minute from a German landline, maximum EUR 0.42 per minute from a German mobile network.
Other information Chargeable: 0.39 EUR
per minute from a German landline, maximum EUR 0.42 per minute from a German mobile phone

Ministry of the Interior, Building and Digitalization Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania