German ID card: general information

The identity card with a contactless, electronic chip is a multifunctional card. If the applicant wishes so, the chip in the card can store fingerprints as an additional biometric security detail as well as the photo.
Information on identity cards and their uses can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior: www.personalausweisportal.de. It is not mandatory to acquire an ID. Should you already possess a valid German travel passport, applying for an identity card is optional.

Who can obtain a German ID?

A German ID can only be issued to German citizens. If you are not sure whether you hold the German citizenshiop, this questions needs to be answered first. Information on the German citizenship is available here: German citizenship

Still registered in Germany?

If you still have your residency in Germany, please apply for your ID there. The German Embassy Windhoek is not responsible for such cases and can only render support in exceptional circumstances.

Should there be exceptional circumstances (such as a loss of passport during travel), that means that you cannot apply for a new passport in Germany, the German Embassy in Windhoek will be able to render support.

In addition to the passport fees, you will need to pay a non-responsibility recovery fee (Unzuständigkeitszuschlag) as well as other necessary fees such as telephone costs. The processing time will take longer, since the Embassy will need to receive an authorization from the responsible authority in Germany.

Application documents

Applications for IDs must be handed in personally at the German Embassy Windhoek and only after booking an appointment through the following link: Online Appointment System

The appointment system has been developed for use at a PC with browers Firefox or Microsoft Edge. If you cannot access the page or book an appointment properly, please read our information on trouble shooting here: How to book an appointment with the Consular Section

All documents must be presented as an original.

Documents in other languages than in German and English must be handed in with a translation into German or English.

Please bring the following documents personally to your appointment:

• Completed and signed application for an identity card
• Application form for adults PDF / 614 KB
• Two identical, current biometric passport photos. Please note that photos that deviate from the pattern panel for passport photos cannot be accepted
• Photo template for passport photos PDF / 550 KB
• Last German identity card of passport (if available; if the last identity card is lost or was stolen, please provide the police report)
• Birth certificate
• If applicable: birth certificate of the German parent/s
• If applicable: German passport/s of the German parent/s
• If you were naturalized in Germany: German naturalization certificate or „Registrierschein“
• If you were naturalized in Namibia: Namibian certificate of naturalization and official permission to retain German citizenship (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung)
• If you do not have Namibian citizenship: current residence permit
• If you also have Namibian citizenship: Namibian identity document
• If applicable: certificate of name issued by a German civil registry
• Marriage certificate (if you are or were married)
• If applicable: divorce documents
• If you wish your academic title to be registered: certificate of the degree
• If applicable: deregistration from the last place of residence in Germany

Fees

The fees for the identity card needs to be paid at the application in Namibian Dollar. The below mentioned fees will be converted into Namibian Dollar according to the exchange rate of the Embassy on that day. Payment can be done with cash or credit cards (Visa or MasterCard).

Processing time and validity

German identity cards are produced by the Federal Printing Office in Berlin. Please expect a processing time of 8 to 10 weeks. Identity cards for applicants below 24 years are valid for 6 years. Identity cards for applicants above 24 years are valid for 10 years.