Identity card report due to recovery

If you find your lost identity card, you must report this.

As a German citizen, you are obliged to have an identity card from the age of 16.

If you lose your identity card or temporary identity card, you are obliged to inform the identity card authority in your (residential) municipality immediately. An identity check is required there.

The identity card authority must also be notified if your identity card is found again and the previously lost identity card must be presented. As a new document is usually issued, this is essential, also to prevent problems when using these identity documents.

Only when you have officially reported your ID card as "found" will a corresponding entry be deleted by the police. You can then continue to use your recovered ID card in Germany without restriction until the end of its validity.

Please contact the Citizens' Office.

recovered identity card

You had previously reported your identity card as lost.

Report in person at a citizens' office that you have found your ID card again

You must report it immediately if you find your ID card again.

Your message will be recorded immediately.

You will not incur any costs as a result of the notification.

If you find your ID card again, you can also have the blocked online ID card function unblocked again. This can only be done in person at your local Citizens' Registration Office. The Citizens' Registration Office will then arrange for it to be unblocked and, if necessary, inform the police that the ID card has been recovered.
Please note: Germany cannot influence whether and how other countries set up their national police information systems or whether and how often they are updated. It is therefore possible in individual cases that foreign authorities do not delete the search or do not delete it in time and therefore do not recognize the recovery of your ID card for use abroad or even confiscate it.
If you want to avoid such possible inconveniences when traveling internationally, it is advisable to apply for a new ID card when you report the loss or theft of your ID card.