You can report the loss of your ID card

• to any ID card office—usually your local municipal office—or
• the police.

You must also apply for a new ID card if you

• are over 16 years of age, are registered in Germany, and
• do not have a valid travel document, i.e., a passport or provisional passport.

You can apply for a new ID card at the citizens’ office in your city of primary residence.

All ID cards automatically include the online ID function. For ID cards issued on or after July 2017, this function is generally activated. This allows you to verify your identity with government agencies and companies when using online services that require a high level of trust, as soon as you have set a six-digit PIN of your choice. You may use the online ID card after your 16th birthday.

When you apply for your ID card, the fingerprints of both your index fingers are stored on the card’s chip. Children under the age of 6 are exempt from this requirement. 

If you find your ID card, you must report this in person to your local ID card office. Only then will the record with the police be deleted.

Provided you have not applied for a new ID card, you may continue to use your reported-as-recovered ID card without restriction within Germany until the end of its validity period.

• You have lost your ID card and have reported it accordingly.

If you want to report the loss of your ID card:

• Report the loss to an ID card office—usually the municipal office—or to the police. You can file the loss report in person. Many municipalities also offer a digital option for filing a loss report.

If you want to apply for a new ID card after losing it, follow these steps: 

• Schedule an appointment at your local Citizens’ Office.
  • If you are applying for your ID card outside your primary residence, you must have a valid reason and will be required to pay a surcharge on the fee.
• Bring the required documents with you.
• Pay the fee.
• Your fingerprints will be taken on-site and stored in the ID card’s chip.
• You’ll immediately receive a new one-time PIN to activate the online ID function on your newly applied-for ID card. You decide for yourself when you’d like to use this option.
• When you apply, your local government office will inform you when you can pick up your ID card.
  • Alternatively, in many cases, you can have the ID document mailed to your home address and delivered in person to your doorstep if you are 16 years of age or older.

If you lose your ID card, you can also block its online function yourself by calling the blocking hotline.

You must report the loss as soon as possible.

• Validity period: 10 years Your identity card
  will be valid for 10 years if you apply for it at the age of 24 or older.
• Validity period 6 years
  Validity period of your identity card if you apply for it before the age of 24.

Once you have submitted your application, it usually takes at least two weeks before you can collect your identity card from the citizens' office.

• Biometric digital passport photo: taken on-site at the government office or by a registered domestic photo service provider, such as a photographer
• if available and not yet invalidated: passport 
• If no valid passport is available: birth certificate or marriage certificate
• if available: police report of loss
• For children under 16: if applicable, a declaration of consent from the parent with custody who is not present
  • If there is only one legal guardian, proof of custody is also required
• If available: a valid or expired child’s passport

A fee reduction or exemption is possible under certain conditions.

• Fee: EUR 15.
  00 Fee for shipping to your home address if the applicant is 16 years of age or older.
• Fee: EUR 10.
  00 For a temporary identity card.
• Fee: EUR 46.
  00 For applicants aged 24 and over.
• Fee: EUR 30.
  00 Surcharge for issuance by consular or diplomatic missions abroad.
• Fee: €27.60
  For applicants under 24 years of age.
• Fee: EUR 13.
  00 Surcharge for applications submitted outside office hours or not at the main place of residence.
• Fee: EUR 6.
  00 Fee for passport photo if the authority uses the PointID photo system from Bundesdruckerei GmbH. If the authority uses photo systems from other manufacturers, the fee may vary.

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