Lost or stolen identity card
If your ID card is lost or stolen, there is some information to bear in mind. You can find it here.
Description
In very urgent cases, you can apply for a temporary ID card, which you can take with you immediately. This is valid for three months. Please bring an additional biometric passport photo with you.
- If you have your main residence in Munich, you must report the loss/theft of your ID card to the Citizens Office. You can do this online, in writing or in person. You will need an appointment to visit our citizens' offices. We recommend that you report the loss or theft to the police.
- All German citizens are required to have a valid identity document as soon as they turn 16. You must therefore apply for a new identity document if you do not have a valid passport. To do this, you must come in person and sign a declaration of loss/theft or present the loss or theft report to the police.
- If you still have a passport as your identity document, you can wait a little longer before applying for a new one. The lost ID card may turn up again or be handed in to the police.
If your new electronic ID card in cheque card format is lost or stolen, please also note the following:
- If the online ID function (eID function) is switched on, you must have it blocked immediately by calling the emergency blocking service (telephone number +49 116 116 - free of charge from within Germany - and +49 (0)30 40 50 40 50). Misuse can only be prevented if the electronic proof of identity (eID) is blocked.
- Please inform the Citizens Office as soon as possible. We can also arrange for it to be blocked.
- If you have activated the electronic signature function, you must also have the electronic signature (QES) blocked. To do this, you must contact the provider from whom you purchased your signature certificate.
Temporary ID card for urgent cases:
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In very urgent cases, you can apply for a temporary ID card that you can take with you immediately. This is valid for three months. Please bring an additional biometric passport photo with you.
If your lost/stolen ID card turns up, please inform your Citizens Office immediately to avoid problems when travelling abroad. You can do this online, in writing or in person. You will need an appointment to visit the Citizens Office.
Required documents
- Loss or theft report from the police (if available)
- Identity document (passport, child's passport or child's identity card as proof of identity - if available)
For the reissue of an identity card additionally:
- Current biometric passport photo
- For persons under the age of 16: Identity card or passport of all persons with parental authority
- If required: Declaration of consent from the absent parent (available for download)
Important:
In cases of doubt, the ID authority may request further documents (e.g. custody orders, current civil status certificates, proof of German citizenship). In these cases, you may have to visit the office again in person.
Questions & Answers
If your lost or stolen ID card turns up again, please inform your Citizens Office immediately to avoid problems when travelling abroad. You can do this online, in writing or in person. You must make an appointment to visit our citizens' offices.
The reason: all lost or stolen identity documents are reported to the police's Inpol search programme. The Citizens Office, in co-operation with the police, must cancel the Inpol search as soon as the ID card has been recovered. If this is not done, the ID card can no longer be used and there will be problems at border controls and it cannot always be expected that the alert will be cancelled immediately worldwide in the police search files. It is therefore possible that a recovered identity document cannot continue to be used without restriction and may cause inconvenience when travelling internationally at a later date. If the online ID function was activated in your ID card before it was lost or stolen, you will need to go in person to reactivate it after it has been blocked.