German ID Card

type: Article

With your German National Identity Card you can prove your identity in everyday life, for example at the Bürgeramt (public administration office), at banks or at hotel receptions.

The German National Identity Card was introduced on 1 November 2010, based on the Act on Identity Cards and Electronic Identification (Identity Card Act - PAuswG).

At a glance

German ID Card

Thanks to its practical format of a typical credit-card the ID card easily fits into your wallet. It is the size of 8.6 cm x 5.4 cm. The card consists of several layers of plastic protecting the ID card against wear and tear and damage in everyday use.

The front side of the identity card with eID function, featuring the details of the fictional person Erika Mustermann.

Important to know

The ID card with eID function is a photo ID and an official document used, for example, for identification in police or border inspections. The countries you may enter only with your ID card and without your passport can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

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