Personalausweis (identity card) - Exemption from the obligation to hold an identity card
Personalausweis - Befreiung von der Ausweispflicht
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
If you are unable to take part in public life on your own, you can be exempted from the Ausweispflicht (obligation to hold an identity card) – that is, from the requirement to have a Personalausweis (identity card). This is possible, for example, if a disability means you can no longer leave the house unaccompanied.
You can reverse the exemption at any time. To do so, it is enough to apply for a Personalausweis (identity card) or a passport.
Book an appointment
Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)
Requirements
• No independent participation in public life
You meet at least one of the following requirements:
• You are expected to be permanently accommodated in a hospital, a nursing home, or a similar institution.
• A legal guardian (Betreuerin or Betreuer) has been permanently appointed for you.
• Because of a disability, you cannot move about in public on your own.
• No valid identity document
You no longer have a valid identity card (Personalausweis) or a valid passport, either because it has expired or, for example, because your ID was stolen.
• German citizenship
• Main residence in Berlin
You live in Berlin and are registered here. A secondary residence in Berlin is not sufficient.
Documents you need
• Written application (may be sent by post)
Please use the form "Antrag auf Befreiung von der Ausweispflicht" (application for exemption from the obligation to hold an identity card) for this; see the "Formulare" (forms) section
• Proof that you are unable to take part in public life unaccompanied
for example through a certificate from your general practitioner, the hospital, the care home, or the care service
• If available: your old Personalausweis (identity card) or your old passport
• If the application is submitted by a representative:
• Proof of power of representation, for example through a power of attorney or a Betreuer-Ausweis (legal guardian's ID)
• The representative's identity document, for example a Personalausweis (identity card) or passport
Forms
• Application for exemption from the requirement to hold an identity card www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/buergeramt/pass
Fees
None
Legal basis
• Personalausweisgesetz (PAuswG, Identity Card Act) § 1 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pauswg/__1.html
Processing time
2-3 weeks
Who is responsible
You can use this service at all Berlin Bürgerämter (citizens' offices).
Responsible for you
Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.
- Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
- Bürgeramt Heerstraße
- Bürgeramt Hohenzollerndamm
- Bürgeramt Wilmersdorfer Straße
- Bezirksamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Bürgeramt 1 (Kreuzberg) Yorckstraße
- Bürgeramt 3 (Friedrichshain) Frankfurter Allee
- Bezirksamt Lichtenberg
- Ausbildungsbürgeramt (Alt- Hohenschönhausen)
- Bürgeramt 1 (Neu- Hohenschönhausen)
- Bürgeramt 2 (Lichtenberg)
- Bürgeramt 3 (Friedrichsfelde)
- Mobiles Bürgeramt
- Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Bürgeramt Biesdorf - Center
- Bürgeramt Helle Mitte
- Bürgeramt Marzahner Promenade
- Bürgeramt Riesaer Straße
- Bezirksamt Mitte
- Bürgeramt KlosterstraßeKlosterstraße 71, 10179 Berlin
- Bürgeramt Rathaus Mitte
- Bürgeramt Rathaus Tiergarten
- Bürgeramt Wedding
- Bezirksamt Neukölln
- Bürgeramt Blaschkoallee
- Bürgeramt Rathaus Neukölln
- Bürgeramt Zwickauer Damm
- Bezirksamt Pankow
- Bürgeramt Karow / Buch
- Bürgeramt Niederschönhausen
- Bürgeramt Pankow
- Bürgeramt Prenzlauer Berg
- Bürgeramt Weißensee
- Bezirksamt Reinickendorf
- Bürgeramt HeiligenseeRuppiner Chaussee 268, 13503 Berlin
- Bürgeramt Märkisches Viertel
- Bürgeramt Rathaus Reinickendorf
- Bürgeramt Reinickendorf-Ost
- Bürgeramt Tegel
- Bezirksamt Spandau
- Bürgeramt Rathaus Spandau
- Bürgeramt Spandau - Hintergrund
- Bürgeramt Staaken CenterObstallee 28, 13593 Berlin
- Bürgeramt Wasserstadt
- Bezirksamt Steglitz-Zehlendorf
- Bürgeramt Lankwitz
- Bürgeramt Steglitz
- Bürgeramt Zehlendorf
- Bezirksamt Tempelhof-Schöneberg
- Bürgeramt Lichtenrade
- Bürgeramt Schöneberg
- Bürgeramt Tempelhof
- Bürgeramt Tempelhof-Schöneberg Backoffice
- Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick
- Bürgeramt Adlershof
- Bürgeramt Rathaus Köpenick
- Bürgeramt Schöneweide
Original
Service number 327044 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327044/