Apply for an identity card provisionally
Online services
Have you lost your identity card or has it expired and you need a new one quickly? If so, you can apply for a temporary identity card at the Bürgeramt (citizens' office).
What do I need to know?
Service description
The temporary ID card allows you to bridge the gap until a regular ID card is issued.
Your temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
You must return the temporary ID card when you receive your new regular ID card.
From May 1, 2025, we will only be allowed to use digital photos taken by a certified studio or drugstore (you will then receive a code) or directly at a self-service terminal in the administration office when applying for passports and identity cards. These are currently available at the citizen service center in the Kaiserstraße town hall and in the local administrations of Altstadt, Hartenberg-Münchfeld, and Lerchenberg.
- Germans aged 16 and over are required to have an ID card. An exception is made if you have a valid passport.
- The temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of 3 months.
- When issuing the temporary ID card, we must confiscate the old ID card.
Application:
- This must be done in person, as you will need to sign the application.
- Children aged 10 and over must also sign their identity card in person.
Children and young people under the age of 16:
- They can apply for an identity card. This is necessary, for example, for travel within the EU.
- Three months before reaching the age of 16, it is possible to apply without the presence of a legal guardian.
Children and young people under the age of 15 years and 9 months:
- Both legal guardians must give their consent.
- It is not necessary for both parents to be present when applying. However, we do require a declaration of consent from the parent who is not present.
We will issue the temporary ID card immediately.
The temporary ID card does not have any online functions.
Prerequisites
You can apply for a temporary identity card under the following conditions:
- You have German citizenship
- You are registered in Germany
- You do not have a valid identity card
- You urgently need a valid identity document.
Procedure
You must apply for the temporary ID card in person.
- Apply for the temporary identity card at the citizens' office at your main place of residence.
- If you do not apply for your temporary identity card at your main place of residence, you will need a valid reason. Please contact your chosen citizens' office to find out whether they will accept your reason.
- The local authority office will usually issue you with a temporary identity card immediately.
Remark
Legal basis
Deadlines
- Validity period: 3 months
What do I need to bring or submit?
- Biometric digital passport photo: taken on site at the authority or by a registered domestic photo service provider (photographer)
- if available and not yet invalidated: old identity card or travel or child's passport (valid or already expired)
- If no valid passport or identity card is available: birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable
-
For children under 16 years of age: declaration of consent from the absent parent with custody, if applicable
- if there is only one legal guardian, proof of custody must also be provided
- Old identity card or passport as proof of identity
- Old child ID card, child passport, or birth certificate
If you do not have a current photo, you can have one taken at the self-service terminal at the Citizen Service Center and the local government offices in Altstadt, Hartenberg-Münchfeld, and Lerchenberg. This costs €6.
Simply follow the blue arrows in the entrance area of the Citizens' Service Center. The photo taken at the Citizens' Service Center or the local government offices in Altstadt, Hartenberg-Münchfeld, and Lerchenberg can also be accessed by the local government offices within 14 days.
If the applicant is under 15 years and 9 months of age, we also require the passport or identity card of the parent present.
If the parents are not registered at the same address, both parents must be present with their identification documents. Otherwise, we require the consent form of the parent who is not present and a copy of their identification.
If there is only one legal guardian, we require proof of custody.
- If the family name has changed due to marriage, we also require the original marriage certificate with proof of the name change.
- If you are registering a doctoral title, we also require the doctoral certificate. You must submit the original certificate in German.
You can find out whether a doctoral degree obtained abroad is recognized in Germany by contacting the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs.
Graurheindorfer Straße 157
53117 Bonn
Postfach 2240
53012 Bonn
Phone: 0228 501-664
Email: zabservicekmkorg
How much does it cost and how can I pay?
Fees
A reduction or exemption from fees is possible under certain conditions.
- 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. - Fee: EUR 10.
00 Provisional identity card
Payment methods
Cash / EC
Similar services
Contact us
Address
Bürgerservice
Stadthaus Kaiserstraße Lauteren-Flügel
Kaiserstraße 3
55116 Mainz
Postal address
55026 Mainz
Telephone, fax and e-mail address
Your way to us
Opening hours
Visits are by appointment only. Make an appointment online (opens in a new tab)
The opening hours of the citizen services office are:
Monday: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Customers with appointments should present the appointment confirmation sent to them by email at the information desk. They will then be granted access. Please arrive on time for your appointment, i.e., not too early, but also not late. This is the only way to ensure that security measures can be maintained.
Please note that almost all services can also be provided at the local government offices (opens in a new tab).
Accessibility
Information on accessibility
- Barrier-free access is available
- The WC is barrier-free