Identity card - apply for issue due to change of name on marriage
Has your name changed after the marriage?
Then you must have your identity card issued in your new name as soon as possible.
An identity card with your old name is invalid.
You can also fulfil your identification obligation by having a valid passport issued in the correct name. If this is not possible, you must apply for a new identity card.
Tip: You can apply for a temporary ID card at the same time. This is possible if you already need an identity document for the period until the new ID card is issued.
Responsible authority
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 an identity card must also be processed by an identity card authority that does not have local jurisdiction if you can provide an important reason. An identity card may only be issued with the authorisation of the locally competent identity card authority. This also applies to German nationals residing abroad.
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
Change of name due to marriage
Procedure
- You must submit the application in person at the identity card office.
- You must provide a formally valid signature and complete the declaration of German citizenship.
- When applying, you can have the photograph taken on site - depending on the facilities at the authority - or you can have the photograph taken in advance by a certified service provider (e.g. a photographer or the photo service of a drugstore). 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 photograph from the cloud.
- Since 2 August 2021, fingerprinting has been mandatory for people aged 6 and over. They are stored on the ID chip. If an index finger is missing, the quality of the fingerprint is insufficient or the fingertip is damaged, another fingerprint is taken as a substitute. Fingerprints are only not taken if this is impossible for medical, permanent reasons.
- Since 17 February 2025, you will receivea PIN letter when you apply for your ID card - regardless of your age. This contains a secret number (five-digit one-time PIN) and an unlock number (PUK) for using the online ID card function. You can use the online ID card from the age of 16 as soon as you have set your self-selected, six-digit PIN. When the new ID card is issued, you will receive a letter with the blocking password so that you can block the online ID card if necessary (for example, if you lose the document).
- The ID card is produced centrally by Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.
- You can collect the finished ID card from the authority in due course. Depending on the municipality, you will be notified as soon as you can collect your ID card. The notification information from the ID card authority usually also contains a form for authorisation to collect your ID card. This allows you to collect your ID card yourself or have it collected by an authorised person. The authorised person must identify themselves to the ID card authority beforehand and present the authorisation to collect.
- You must hand in your old ID card when you receive the new document. If you wish, you can take your old ID card back with you as a souvenir.
- From 1 May 2025, you can also select the "direct delivery" option in the application process, which is subject to a charge, and receive the document delivered to your home address where it can be delivered. You must be at least 16 years old and submit the ID card application within Germany to the authority at your place of residence. In addition, you must personally identify yourself to the postal delivery service at the door of your home with a valid German ID document (in this case: passport) and have your old ID card cancelled when you apply for the new ID card. Residents of Büsingen (Hochrhein) and Helgoland cannot use the direct delivery service.
Deadlines
Application:
- at the earliest eight weeks before the marriage or as soon as possible after the marriage
Period of validity:
The period of validity of the new identity card depends on your age:
- under 24 years of age: ID card is valid for six years.
- from the age of 24: ID card is valid for ten years.
It is not possible to extend the period of validity of the ID card.
Required documents
- old identity card
- Certificate of name change from the registry office, marriage certificate or notarised printout from the marriage register
- a current digital biometric photograph
Please note:
- The biometric photographs must comply with the relevant formal requirements. Assistance is provided by the Sample 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 have the photo taken on site when you apply or you can have the photo taken in advance by a certified service provider (e.g. a photographer or the photo service of a drugstore). The photo is then stored in a secure cloud by the service provider. You will receive a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authorities canuse to retrieveyour photograph from the cloud . Please contact your local authority in advance to find out about the options available to you!
Costs
Fees from 7 February 2026:
- applicants aged 24 and over: EUR 46.00
- applicants under the age of 24: EUR 27.60
- for the production of photographs at the authority: EUR 6.00
- for the optional direct dispatch: EUR 15.00
- are free of charge:
- first-time activation from the age of 16
- Blocking the online ID function after loss
- Changing the transport PIN to a personal PIN
- Changing the address in the electronic storage and processing medium
- subsequent activation of the online ID function
- Changing the PIN at the Citizens' Registration Office (e.g. forgotten PIN)
- Unblocking the online ID function
- Costs for an electronic signature certificate: determined by the respective provider
Please note:
- For some of these services, a surcharge of EUR 13 is levied for processing outside office hours.
- You can also submit the application to an identity card authority that does not have local jurisdiction. 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 citizens living abroad.
Processing time
about three to six weeks
Miscellaneous
- You must hand in your old ID card or have it cancelled at the latest when you receive your new ID card.
- If entries in the ID card have become incorrect, you must present the ID card to the relevant office. If you move house or move abroad, your address will be changed (change of address on the ID card).
- You are obliged to report the loss of your identity card to the identity card authority immediately. If you use the electronic proof of identity or the signature function, you must have these functions blocked immediately. You can find details on this in the text"ID card - applying for issue due to loss".
Legal basis
Gesetz über Personalausweise und den elektronischen Identitätsnachweis (Personalausweisgesetz - PAuswG):
- § 1 Ausweispflicht; Ausweisrecht
- § 6 Gültigkeitsdauer des Ausweises; vorzeitige Beantragung; räumliche Beschränkungen
- § 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, 05.02.2026