Identification Card; Reporting a Loss and Recovery

If your ID card or temporary ID card is lost, you are required to report this immediately to the ID card office in your municipality (of residence). An identity verification is required there.

You must also notify the ID card office if you find the document and present the previously lost ID card. Since a new document is usually issued, this is essential, also to prevent problems when using these identification documents.

If a criminal offense is suspected, contact your local police station (see “Reporting a Crime to the Police; Filing a Report” under “Related Topics”).

Failure to report the loss to the ID card authority—or reporting it late—constitutes an administrative offense that may be punishable by a fine.

If you also wish to use your ID card as a travel document, it is recommended that you apply for a new one. This is because even after reporting that a lost document has been recovered, using recovered documents can lead to travel difficulties, as other countries may not recognize them or may confiscate them.

To prevent misuse, the ID cardholder must immediately report the loss (loss, theft) of the ID card to the blocking hotline (116 116) or to the ID card authority immediately to block the online ID function (see “Related Topics”).

If you have also added an electronic signature to your ID card, you must have the signature function blocked separately. To do so, please contact the provider from whom you purchased the signature certificate and report the loss to them. Neither the blocking hotline nor the ID card authority can block the signature function.