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

Who can apply for a child?

Both parents or all legal guardians and the child must personally hand in the application at the German Embassy Windhoek. An appointment has to be booked in good time on the website of the Embassy: Online appointment system

If one of the parents/legal guardians is unable to attend the appointment, his/her signature on the application form has to be certified (through a German authority, a German mission abroad or a competent Namibian authority).
If one parent has the sole right of parental custody of the child, the relevant court order or other documentation like a divorce or death certificate have to be provided.

Still resident in Germany?

If the child still has its place of residence in Germany, please apply for the passport there. The German Embassy in Windhoek is not responsible for such cases.

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.

Declaration of name change

Please note that the family name mentioned in a foreign birth certificate does not automatically need to be the family name under German Name Law. For further information on whether a declaration of name might be needed, please contact the Consular Section.

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 Internet Explorer. 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 and as a copy. Copies certified by German or Namibian authorities can replace the 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; the application needs to be signed by both parents or all legal guardians
  Passport for minors: application form (German - English) PDF / 559 KB
• Two identical, current biometric passport photos
  Photo template for passport photos PDF / 550 KB
  The photo only has to be biometric for children above 6 years. Please note that photos that deviate from the pattern panel for passport photos cannot be accepted
• Last German passport or children’s passport (if available; if the last passport is lost or was stolen, please provide the police report)
• If applicable: deregistration from the last place of residence in Germany
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate of the parents (if the parents are or were married)
• If applicable: birth certificate of the German parent/s
• Current passports of the parents/legal guardians
• If a parent or the child was naturalized in Germany: German naturalization certificate or „Registrierschein“
• If a German parent or the child were naturalized in Namibia: Namibian certificate of naturalization and official permission to retain German citizenship (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung)
• If the child does not have Namibian citizenship: current residence permit
• If the child also has Namibian citizenship: Namibian identity document of the child
• If applicable: certificate of name issued by a German civil registry
• Confirmation of paternity (if applicable)
• Proof of the sole right of parental custody (if applicable): relevant court order, divorce or death certificate

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.