German identity card


The German Identity Card is issued to German citizens by local registration offices in Germany and diplomatic missions abroad, while they are produced at the Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.

Obligation of identification

According to the German law of obligation of identification, it is compulsory for everyone in Germany age 16 or older to possess either an identity card or a passport. While police officers and some other officials have a right to demand to see one of these documents, the law does not stipulate that one is obliged to submit the document at that very moment.
As everyone in Germany must possess an ID card or a passport, acceptance of other official documents as proof of identity is not guaranteed, especially for old driving licences with less security. Driving licences issued before 2013 are not replaced in Germany, so the same document is kept.
German citizens travelling inside Europe or to Egypt, Georgia, Montserrat, Turkey, and on organized tours to Jordan and Tunisia can use their ID card, which is a machine-readable travel document, instead of a passport.
Just like German passports, German identity cards are valid for ten years.
The ID card currently costs 28.80€.

History

In 1938 the Nazis obliged men of military age and Jews to carry identity cards. Shortly after the start of the war, this was extended to apply to all citizens over the age of 15.
In 1951 both the West German and the East German authorities began issuing booklet identity cards in the ID-2 format.
In West Germany an improved identity card was developed in the 1980s and issued from April 1987 on. The card consisted of a single laminated sheet of paper with a machine-readable zone. To prevent counterfeiting, it contained watermarks, security printing#Geometric lathe work, microprinting, fluorescent dyes, and multi-colour fluorescent fibres. In addition, the holder's name was laser engraved into the plastic film and the holder's picture was printed on the document, so it could not be removed and replaced by a different one.
When East Germany joined West Germany on 3 October 1990, the West German identity card was introduced in the former East German territory; unexpired East German identity cards could still be used until 31 December 1995.
In November 2001, the so-called feature was added - a number of holographic security elements, including a three-dimensional German Eagle, a holographic copy of the holder's picture, a holographic copy of the machine-readable zone, holographic microprinting, and kinematic elements.
The current ID-1 type has been issued since November 2010. It contains an RFID chip similar to that in biometric passports. The chip stores the information given on the ID card, the holder's picture, and, if the holder wishes so, also his/her fingerprints. In addition, the new ID card can be used for online authentication. An electronic signature, provided by a private company, can also be stored on the chip.

Physical appearance

The current ID card is an ID-1 plastic card with an embedded RFID chip. It is covered with multi-colour guillochés and appears green-brown from a distance. All the information on it is given in German, English, and French.

Front side

The front side shows the German Eagle and the words "BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND / FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY / RÉPUBLIQUE FÉDÉRALE D'ALLEMAGNE" and "PERSONALAUSWEIS / IDENTITY CARD / CARTE D'IDENTITÉ". It contains the following information:
The rear side shows the Brandenburg Gate. It contains the following information:
The three-line machine-readable zone on the back side contains the following information:

First line

positionstextmeaning
1-2IDidentity document
3Dissuing country: Germany
6-14alphanumeric digitsdocument number
15decimal digitcheck digit over 6-14

Second line

positionstextmeaning
1-6decimal digitsdate of birth
7decimal digitcheck digit over 1-6
9-14decimal digitsdate of expiry
15decimal digitcheck digit over 9-14
16Dnationality of holder: German
30decimal digitcheck digit over 6-30, 1–7, 9-15, 19-29

Third line

positionstextmeaning
1-30alphabetic digits<<alphabetic digits<alphabetic digitsSURNAME<< GIVEN<NAMES

Empty spaces are represented by "<".

Different spellings of the same name within the same document

The three possible spelling variants of the same name in different documents sometimes lead to confusion, and the use of two different spellings within the same document may give persons unfamiliar with German orthography the impression that the document is a forgery.
Names originally written in a non-Latin writing system may pose another problem if there are various internationally recognised transcription standards.
For example, the Russian surname Горбачёв is transcribed

"Gorbatschow" in German,

"Gorbachev" in English,

"Gorbatchov" in French,

"Gorbachov" in Spanish,

"Gorbaczow" in Polish, and so on.
German naming law accepts umlauts and/or ß in family names as a reason for an official name change.

Chip

Newer ID cards contain an ISO 18000-3 and ISO 14443 compatible 13.56 MHz RFID chip that uses the ISO 7816 protocols. The chip stores the information given on the ID card, the holder's picture and, if the holder wishes so, also his/her fingerprints. In addition, the new ID card can be used for online authentication. An electronic signature, provided by a private company, can also be stored on the chip.
The document number, the photo and the fingerprints can supposedly be read only by law enforcement agencies and some other authorities.
All ID card
agencies have been supplied with reading devices that have been certified by the German
Federal Office for Information Security. Agency staff can use these modules to display
all of the personal data stored on the chip, including the digital passport photo and, where
applicable, the stored fingerprints.
To use the online authentication function, the holder needs a six-digit decimal PIN. If the holder types in the wrong PIN, he has to type in the six-digit decimal access code given on the ID card to prove he/she really possesses the ID card. If the wrong PIN is used three times, a PUK must be used to unlock the chip.
The data on the chip are protected by Basic Access Control and Extended Access Control.

Security features

The identity card contains the following security features:
Identity cards in East Germany came in the form of paper booklets in a blue plastic cover, much like modern day passports. On the outside, the Emblem of the German Democratic Republic as well as the words "DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK" are embossed. Inside the cover page there is a notice to the bearer:
Bürger der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
Dieser Ausweis ist Ihr wichtigstes Dokument
Sie haben deshalb:
1. diesen Personalausweis stets bei sich zu tragen, sorgfältig zu behandeln, vor Verlust zu schützen und auf Verlangen der Volkspolizei vorzuzeigen bzw. auszuhändigen;
2. keine eigenmächtigen Eintragungen im Ausweis vorzunehmen, diesen nicht als Pfand oder zur Benutzung anderen Personen zu überlassen bzw. von anderen Personen entgegenzunehmen;
3. jeden Wohnungswechsel innerhalb von drei Tagen bei der zuständigen VP-Dienststelle zu melden;
4. jeden Verlust dieses Ausweises unverzüglich bei der nächsten VP-Dienststelle anzuzeigen.

Which translates to:

Citizen of the German Democratic Republic
This identity card is your most important document
Therefore you must:
1. carry this identity card with you at all times, handle it with care, protect it from loss, and show or hand it to the Volkspolizei on demand;
2. not make any entries into this identity card, give it to another person as a pawn or to be used, or accept it as such;
3. notify the responsible VP office of any change of residence within three days;
4. immediately report any loss of this identity card to the nearest VP office.