Latest news with #eID
Local Germany
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Berlin citizenship offices to offer drop-in appointments on May 14th
As part of a special "action day" throughout the city, citizenship offices in nine of Berlin's 12 districts will offer drop-in appointments for a number of services on Wednesday. This will allow Berlin residents to get some of their administrative tasks cleared off their desks without waiting weeks for an online appointment. According to a press release on the Berlin Senate Website, the offer will only extend to appointments regarding passports and electronic ID cards. Scarce 'Anmeldung' appointments, where citizens can register a new address, will still need to be booked in advance. (However you can also apply for this online with a working eID card or electronic residence permit.) "The citizens' offices are there for Berliners - and already offer a great service," Berlin May Kai Wegner said in a statement announcing the move. "With the day of action on May 14th, we are making citizens an additional offer: they can come to the citizens' office without booking an appointment in advance and apply for a new passport or ID card." READ ALSO: Germany starts next phase of digitalisation for ID and residence cards During the 24-hour action day, the universal jurisdiction of the Bürgerämter will be suspended, meaning residents can only visit the citizens' office in the district where they are registered. That means bad luck for those living in Pankow, Reinickendorf and Lichtenberg: these boroughs aren't participating in the action day, so residents will have to book appointments as usual. According to Berlin Digitalisation Secretary Martina Klement, however, if the action day is successful, it could be rolled out as a more regular service throughout the city. Advertisement "We could usefully supplement the service portfolio of the citizens' offices with appointment-free offers," she said. "On May 14th, we want to carry out a practical test to see how an appointment-free service works." However, Klement cautioned visitors that there could be long waits when they drop in on the day. "Should there actually be longer waiting times on site, we ask for your understanding in advance," she added.
Local Germany
25-04-2025
- Local Germany
What foreigners should know about Germany's digital ID cards and residence permits
Using the word 'digitalisation' can understandably raise some eyebrows in Germany: the country is famous for its love affair with fax machines, and efforts to move its analogue processes online can often take years to complete. In some areas, however, there has been a suprising amount of process recently: visa applications from abroad were moved online in January , and states like Berlin have been modernising their processes for updating and applying for residence permits. READ ALSO: How to apply for a residency permit online in Berlin Things are also moving ahead for the country's electronic ID card and residence permits. In May, some key changes should make it possibly to apply for a new eID in just a single visit to your local immigration office or Bürgeramt. Whether you're an EU or German citizen who holds an e-Ausweis (eID card), or a non-EU citizen with an electronic Aufentshaltstitel (residence permit), here's what to know about the new process. How much of the application can be done online? That partly depends on where you live, but in most cases, the first step is to find your nearest local authority and book an appointment online. If you're a naturalised German or EU citizen , your local Bürgeramt , or citizens' office, will be responsible for issuing your new passport or ID card. Advertisement If you're a non-EU citizen , your residence permit application will be handled by your local Ausländerbehörde , or immigration office. An easy way to check where you need to go is to use the government's 'search and find' portal online . This tool lets you search for particular admin services by region or postal code so you can find the local authority responsible for you. In some cases, you may be able to fill in an online application. In others, you can fill in a form beforehand and bring it to your appointment, along with any required evidence and documentation. Once your application has been approved at the in-person appointment, you'll need to wait for your new documents to be issued, which can take a number of weeks. Advertisement What's changing in May? The biggest change entering into force in May is that you'll no longer be able to use paper photos when applying for your new ID card. Over the coming months, immigration and citizens' offices around the country will be gradually equipped with digital photo terminals, branded the 'PointID' system. This means you can get your photo taken on-site for a fee of €6 during your application appointment. READ ALSO: Germany starts next phase of digitalisation for ID and residence cards According to the Interior Ministry, around 90 percent of local authorities are set to have a PointID terminal in future. A woman demonstrates the use of the new digital PointID terminals at a Bürgeramt in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jan Woitas There will be a bit of leeway for people who haven't yet heard about the changes: until July 31st, authorities will be allowed to permit paper photos in some circumstances, or allow people who make an honest mistake to use the digital photo machines free of charge. In addition, people will be able to pay a fee of €15 in order to have their documents delivered to them securely by post. At present, applicants generally have to return to the citizens' or immigration office to pick up their documents in person. Can I still get my photograph taken elswhere? Absolutely - though paper photos are being phased out, digital photos from other providers are still very much permitted. This includes photos taken at professional photo studios or services provided at drugstores like DM. Since your passport or residence permit photo is a sensitive document, you won't just be able to email it to the Bürgeramt or save it on your phone, however. Advertisement Instead, the photo service provider will need to issue you a special matrix code (similar to a QR code) that you can give to your case worker at the immigration office or Bürgeramt . This will allow them to access the photo on a securely encrypted cloud. According cloud provider Ringfoto, around 3,200 businesses have signed up to the service so far. What else is new? The government is currently in the process of making changes to the eID function on electronic ID cards and residence permits. This function, which is automatically activated in new ID cards, allows you to prove your identity digitally in order to access online government portals, apply for a bank account, or rent a car, for example. It can also allow you to prove your age at vending machines where ID is required, such as cigarette machines. READ ALSO: What is Germany's electronic ID card and how do you use it? Currently, proving your identity via the eID function involves downloading the AusweisApp2 on your smartphone and/or computer and using your phone as a card reader during the verification process. A German citizen verifies their identity using their e-ID card and smartphone. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-tmn | Andrea Warnecke Over the next two years, however, the government is planning to roll out a new mobile wallet that can securely store a digital ID card or residence permit. That will mean residents no longer need to carry a physical card or use an external card reader to prove their identity. READ ALSO: Germany's new digital ID app for residents So far, it sounds like German citizens will be the first to benefit from this transition, but by 2027, the EU has mandated that all EU residents should have access to this kind of digital wallet. This will pave the way for digital travel documentation and advanced border checks in the future.
