Digital ID in Germany: eID card, AusweisApp and wallet
How to prove who you are online in Germany: the eID function of the ID card, AusweisApp, PIN reset letter, Smart-eID and the German EU wallet due in January 2027.
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In Germany you identify yourself online with the eID function of your identity card. You hold the card against an NFC smartphone, start the AusweisApp and enter your six-digit PIN. The state EU wallet is due in early 2027. This page explains the system and where things stand in October 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| National eID or ID card with eID function | ID card, eID card for EU and EEA citizens and electronic residence permit, all with the online ID function |
| Mobile or app solution | AusweisApp (Android, iPhone, Windows, macOS); Smart-eID on selected smartphones |
| Bank-ID | No separate bank ID; banks use the eID function or Postident for account opening |
| eIDAS notification and level | Online ID function notified in 2017 at high; Smart-eID described by its makers as substantial |
| EUDI wallet, October 2026 | d-you, start announced for 2 January 2027; sandbox and pilots running |
| Responsible body | Federal Ministry of the Interior (notifying authority), BSI, Bundesdruckerei; wallet: Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernisation (BMDS) with SPRIND |
The national system
The online ID function has existed since 2010. Today it sits in the identity card, in the eID card for EU and EEA citizens and in the electronic residence permit. On newly issued cards it is switched on by default. The chip holds your identity data, and a service provider may only request the data it holds an official authorisation certificate for.
The federal citizen account BundID is central: through it you apply for administrative services from the federal government and many states, signing in with the eID function or an ELSTER certificate. Other typical uses are tax returns, pension statements, certificates of good conduct, vehicle registration and opening a bank account, covered in our guide to digital identity for banking. Why the high level matters is explained in levels of assurance.
How to get it and use it
What you need: a valid card with a chip, your PIN, an NFC smartphone or card reader, and the free AusweisApp. You receive a PIN letter by post with a five-digit transport PIN, which you change once to your own six-digit PIN. In short: choose the service, select the online ID option, hold the card to the back of the phone, check the requested data, enter the PIN.
Forgotten PIN? The free PIN reset service was suspended at the end of 2023 for cost reasons, and afterwards the function could only be reactivated at the ID office. A restart was announced for the second half of 2026, free of charge. According to press and municipal reports the reset letter can now be ordered online again: you authenticate in the AusweisApp with the CAN on the front of the card, and the letter with a new PIN and an activation code is delivered through Postident. Check the ID card portal before ordering to see whether the service is running. If you do not want to wait, the ID office can help in person.
Smart-eID: it stores your identity in the secure element of a smartphone so that the card can stay at home. It is tied to compatible devices, initially selected Samsung models. We could not establish how widely it is available in October 2026, so check the device list on the AusweisApp site.
The EU wallet in Germany (October 2026)
The German wallet is called d-you and is developed by the federal digital ministry together with the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND) and the BSI. The ministry names 2 January 2027 as the start, days after the EU deadline at the end of December 2026. It is meant to be free and voluntary for all residents.
At launch it offers a digital proof of identity (PID), and around 40 partners from business, science and administration plan applications. Certificates, qualified electronic signatures, anonymous logins and payments are to follow. Administrations can connect through BundID or directly. Dresden has been testing a local pass in the wallet since mid-2026, and the BundID connection is being piloted in the second half of 2026.
Press reports say the first identification will probably run through the eID function, with the ministry examining alternatives because many people no longer know their PIN. Security researchers criticise some design choices. The schedule is a plan, not a finished product. See our guides to the EU Digital Identity Wallet and the rollout timeline.
What to do now
To prepare for the wallet, check three things. First, is the online ID function switched on for your card? The AusweisApp shows this when it reads the card, and the authority can activate it if needed. Second, do you know your six-digit PIN? The AusweisApp lets you change the PIN, which doubles as a test, and offers a self-service view of the data stored on the chip. Third, is your smartphone NFC-capable and up to date? The ministry’s wallet page lists device requirements closer to launch, so rely on its information.
If you no longer know your PIN, order the reset letter or visit the ID office, preferably before the wallet starts, because appointments could become scarce once demand rises. Also check the expiry date of your card: a card that is about to expire should be renewed in good time, since the chip and the online ID function are set up again with the new document.
Use abroad and by foreigners
The eID function was notified in 2017, and EU-wide mutual recognition has applied since September 2018. Public services in other member states that are connected to the eIDAS network must accept it, though not every service is connected; see using your national eID in another EU country. In the other direction, citizens of other states with notified eIDs can use connected German services. Non-EU nationals need the electronic residence permit with its eID function. Neighbours take their own paths, for example Austria with ID Austria and Switzerland with its new E-ID.
Privacy and security
With the eID function, data travels encrypted directly between the chip and the provider, and the app only mediates. You see who requests which data beforehand and can deselect items. Enter your PIN only in the AusweisApp, never on a website. After three wrong attempts the PIN is blocked and can be unlocked with the PUK. If the card is lost, the blocking hotline 116 116 disables the online function. Fingerprints cannot be read through it.
Official sources: AusweisApp, the ID card portal and the BMDS wallet page.
Frequently asked questions
I forgot my PIN. What can I do?
You can set up the online ID function again. Since 2026, press and municipal reports say the PIN reset letter can be ordered online once more; it arrives through the Postident service, and you need the AusweisApp, an NFC phone and the card access number (CAN). Alternatively the local ID office can reset the PIN in person, often by appointment.
Do I need a card reader?
No. An NFC-capable smartphone with the free AusweisApp is enough, and a card reader on a computer is an alternative. The app is available for Android, iPhone, Windows and macOS.
When will the German EU wallet arrive?
The federal digital ministry gives 2 January 2027 as the start date. The wallet is meant to be free and voluntary and to begin with a digital proof of identity. A test sandbox is already running.
Can I use the German eID in other EU countries?
In principle yes. It is notified under eIDAS, so connected public services in other member states have to accept it. How many services are actually connected differs from country to country.