Identity card - apply for a provisional identity card

Related forms and processes

Prerequisite

• You have German citizenship.
• You need an identity document immediately and do not have a valid passport.

Responsible department

The identity card authorities in Baden-Württemberg are

• the municipalities as local police authorities
• the administrative communities,which perform or fulfil the tasks of the registration authority.

As a rule, the citizens' offices or the citizens' offices fulfil the tasks of an identity card authority.

The identity card authority in whose district you are registered with your home, or your main residence if you have more than one home, is responsible for you.

Please note

Your application for a temporary identity card must also be processed by an identity card authority that does not have local jurisdiction if you can provide an important reason. A temporary ID card may only be issued with the authorisation of the locally competent ID card authority.This also applies to German nationals residing abroad. It is not possible for foreign representations to issue temporary identity cards.

Procedure

• You must apply for the provisional ID card in person at the ID card authority and provide credible evidence that you need an ID card immediately.
• You can also apply for the provisional and the new ID card at the same time.
• When applying, you can have the photo taken on site - depending on the equipment at the authority - or you can have the photo taken in advance by a certified service provider (e.g. photographer or photo service at dm drugstores). The service provider will send you a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authority can use to retrieve your photo from the cloud.
• The identity card authority will issue the temporary identity card immediately.

Please note:

• For children and young people under the age of 16, both parents submit the application jointly if they have joint custody.
• Children and young people for whom the application is made must always appear in person, as the identity card authority must check their identity. They must also sign if they are 10 years or older at the time of application.

Deadlines

Period of validity:

The temporary ID card is valid for a maximum of three months .

Required documents

The same supporting documents are required for the application as for the application for a new ID card.

Further documents may be required to substantiate the need for urgency.

Notes:

• Ask the relevant office which documents you need to submit.
• The biometric photographs must comply with the relevant formal requirements. Assistance is provided by theSample photo table for identity documents.
• From 1 May 2025, only digital photographs will be accepted for ID card applications. Depending on the equipment at the authority, you can take the photo when applying on site or you can have the photo taken in advanceby a certified service provider (e.g. photographer or photo service at dm drugstores).The photo is then stored by the service provider in a secure cloud. You will receive a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authority canuse to retrieveyour photo from the cloud .During the transition period, a paper-based photo may also be accepted in exceptional cases and under certain conditions.Please contact your authority in advance to find out about the options available there!

Costs

• 10.00 EUR
• 13,00 EUR surcharge, if
  • the identity card authority processes your application outside official office hours or
  • a non-authorised identity card authority issues the document
• eUR 6.00 for the production of a photograph at the authority when using the Bundesdruckerei photographic technology

Please note:

• For some services, a surcharge of EUR 13.00 is levied for processing outside office hours or when visiting an office that is not responsible.
• You can also submit the application to an identity card authority that is not locally competent. This authority must process your application if you provide important reasons. The authority may also charge a surcharge of EUR 13 for this processing, or EUR 30 for German nationals living abroad.
• A different fee may be charged if the photo capture technology of a manufacturer other than Bundesdruckerei is used at the authority.

Processing time

immediately

Miscellaneous

You must have your temporary ID card cancelled at the latest when you receive your new ID card.

Appeal

none

Legal basis

Personalausweisgesetz (PAuswG):

• § 1 Ausweispflicht
• § 3 Vorläufiger Personalausweis
• § 6 Gültigkeit
• § 7 Sachliche Zuständigkeit
• § 8 Örtliche Zuständigkeit
• § 9 Ausstellung des Ausweises
• § 27 Pflichten des Ausweisinhabers

Verordnung über Gebühren für Personalausweise und eID-Karten für Unionsbürger und Angehörige des Europäischen Wirtschaftsraums (Personalasuweis- und eID-Karten-Gebührenverordnung-PAuswGebV):

• § 1 Gebühren für Ausweise

Release note

Machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 01.05.2025