The eID cardfor citizens of the European Unionand the European Economic Area

2 | SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Sources of information
Onlinehttps://www.personalausweisportal.de/EN/home/home_node.html
Information about the eID card and the eID function
https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de/en/ausweisapp2-home/
Download of the free AusweisApp2 for the eID function
Videos about how to use the eID function
Telephone and email support
https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/TheBSI/thebsi_node.html
Information on online safety

Contact
Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community
Public enquiry service
Telephone+49 (0) 180 1 33 33 33
3.9 cents/min. from a German landline,
Max. 42 cents/min. from a mobile,
also available from abroad

Contactwww.bmi.bund.de/contact

Federal Office for Information Security
Service centre
Telephone
0800 2741000
free of charge from a
German landline

Emailmail@bsi-fuer-buerger.deINTRODUCTION | 3

First things first
With your eID card you can identify yourself on the internet, at vending
machines (i.e. to confirm your age) and the self-service terminals in publicauthorities.
To do this, you use the electronic identification (eID) function of your eID card.
Technical basis for the eID function ist the same as it is in the German ID card.
The electronic identification process is possible through the electronic
memory device (the chip) which is in your eID card. You can get administrative
procedures and business matters done online using your eID function – in aneasy, quick and secure way.
In this brochure you will learn how you can use the electronic identification
function with your smartphone or computer in the digital everyday world
and find out what security mechanisms it uses to protect your personal data.
Furthermore, you will find out• how important the PIN letter is that you will receive
after your eID card is issued,• what security advice you
should follow and• how you can block theeID function.

4 | THE EID CARD

The eID card
At a glance
Surname,forename(s)Serial number
Logo eID
function
Date of expiry

Date of birth

Card accessnumber (CAN)

Place of birth

Chip

Issuing authority

THE EID CARD | 5

The eID card
Some facts
Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area that arenot Germans are able to apply for an eID card (a card with an electronic
identification function).
The eID card is issued to you for a period of ten years and for a fee of € 37.00.
Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
The validity of your eID card cannot be extended.
Before your eID card expires, you may apply for a new one if you candemonstrate a legitimate interest in having a new one issued.
In Germany, you can apply for an eID card at the identity card authority ofyour local municipal office.
To apply for your eID card from outside of Germany, please contact theFederal Foreign Office and its designated missions abroad in the district inwhich you have your usual place of residence.
Further information on the eID card is available here:
www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_eidkg/englisch_eidkg.html#p0013

6 | THE EID FUNCTION

The eID function
Your eID card for the digital worldYour eID card is equipped with a chip. This allows you to use the ID function
online.
With the eID card, you can identify yourself online and at citizen service
terminals. You can deal with official or business matters simply andelectronically, which saves time, money and travel.
Your data is always protected in the digital world.
You can see who will receive your personal data, the provider authorised touse the eID function and which data is transmitted.
Your personal data will be transmitted electronically only after entering yoursix-digit PIN, chosen by you.
Your personal data is always end-to-end encrypted when it is transmitted
and cannot be intercepted or viewed.
With the electronic identification function you decide for yourself whether
to transmit your encrypted personal data and to whom.

WHAT YOU NEED | 7

What you need
Prerequisites for the eID function
You can use your eID function with a smartphone or computer.
What you need is …

******Your eID card witheID function

Smartphone orcard reader

The six-digit PIN
you have chosen

Software, e.g.
AusweisApp2

8 | HOW IT WORKS

How it works
Online identification is easy
This logo is on the front of your eID card.
Wherever you see this logo, which represents the electronic
identification function, you can identify yourself digitally.

1

The online service asks for your identification.
You connect your eID card with your smartphoneor card reader.

2

Now you can see who will receive your data
and what data the provider of the online service
wants to know.

3

You agree to the data collection by entering
your personal PIN.

4

The chip checks whether the provider isauthorised to collect your personal data.

5

If, and only if, the provider is authorised tocollect your personal data, the data is transmitted– securely with end-to-end encryption.

6

After the online identification process, youcan disconnect your eID card and smartphoneor card reader.

******

EFFECTIVE PROTECTION ONLINE | 9Effective protection online
More protection for your data
The following security mechanisms provide reliable protection for yourpersonal data:
Pseudonym (depends on the provider of the online service)Your data is only required at the first registration, for example when signingup for a user account. After that, the system will recognise you and yourrespective user account when you log in with your pseudonym and your PIN.
This means that no usage profiles can be created.
After an eID card replacement, you may be required to re-register with the neweID card. In this case, your pseudonym will then work with the new eID card.
Combination of possession and knowledge (two-factor authentication)
Only those who are in possession of your eID card and know your PIN can
use the eID function.
No data transmission without you knowingYour data will only be transmitted if the eID card is connected to the card
reader or smartphone and if the PIN has been entered.
In the event of loss or theft of your eID card, your personal data is also
safeguarded.
Reciprocal identificationWith the electronic identification function, both sides always identify
themselves. You can therefore always see whom your data is transmitted to.
Encryption
Your data is always encrypted before transmission.
End-to-end encryption means your data is protected against theft and misuse.

10 | APPLICATIONS

Let’s goApplications for the eID function
The eID function is offered by public or private service providers that wish to
make registration procedures easier and more secure for you.
You can identify yourself not only on the internet, but also at vending
machines (i.e. to confirm your age) and the self-service terminals in publicauthorities.
With your eID card, you can use digital administration services on theadministrative portals of the federal and state governments and set up yourown user account for the electronic proof of identity.
Some companies, such as mobile telecommunications providers and financial
service providers, also offer you the use of the eID function.
You will find most of the digital services with eID identification that areoffered in Germany by authorities and businesses listed here:
www.personalausweisportal.de/Anwendungen.
More and more authorities of EU member states also offer digital services
that may be used with the German eID function. This option will be indicatedon their websites.

ON-SITE READING | 11

On-site reading
Automatic form filling
Whenever personal data, such as name and address, is needed to fill in a form,
on-site reading makes sense, e.g. in banks, for mobile telecommunications
providers and in hotels. Your PIN is not used for this purpose.
Instead of copying or typing in the identification data, you place your eID cardon a card reader. The data is read out electronically and used to automaticallyfill out the respective form. This works fast and prevents typing errors.
For on-site reading, authorities and companies need government authorisation, a card reader and software that is suitable for on-site reading.

How it works
1

You identify yourself on site with your valid
passport or official ID.

2Your eID card is placed on the reader.

3

The chip in your eID card checks whether theauthority or the company is authorised to retrieve
your data.

4

The card access number (CAN) is entered.
The CAN is on the front, below the date of expiry.

5Your data is securely transmitted onto the form
with end-to-end encryption and without errors.

12 | YOUR PIN LETTERYour PIN letter
Important information for you
After your eID card has been issued, you will receive a letter with information
about your eID card and the eID function. This letter is called “PIN letter”.
The PIN letter contains the following important information for you:
• Your five-digit transport PIN• Your personal unblocking key (PUK)• Your blocking code
This information is for your eyes only.
Please therefore keep your PIN letter in a safe place.

******Your eID function will only be technically ready for use when you have set yourown six-digit PIN. It can then be used for online identification.
You can set the PIN in the identity card authority of your local municipal office,at citizen service terminals and in apps suitable for the eID function.

SECURITY ADVICE | 13

Security advice
Your contribution to security
 eep your PIN letter in a safe place.
KThe PIN letter contains important information.
Always keep your eID card in a safe place.
Only you may know the six-digit PIN you have chosen.
Use neither an easy-to-guess combination of numbers, e.g. 123456, nor yourdate of birth or numbers that can be read on your eID card.
Do not tell others your PIN.
Never note the PIN on the eID card.
Do not keep the PIN and the eID card together in the same place.
Cut the connection between the smartphone or card reader and eID card
immediately after online identification.
Regularly update your operating system, antivirus program and firewall.
If you have lost your eID card or it has been stolen, please immediately
report this loss to an identity card authority or at any police station. Theseauthorities will block the eID function. This blocking will ensure that any
attempt at wrongful use is detected at once.
More information about your security can be found athttps://www.bsi-fuer-buerger.de (available in German only)

14 | BLOCKING HOTLINE

Blocking hotline
Accessible around the clock

116 116
The blocking hotline can be reached free of charge seven days a weekaround the clock at the following number: 116 116.
From abroad, please call either 0049-116 116 or 0049-3040 50 40 50(subject to charges).
Please have the blocking code that was sent to you in the PIN letter to handfor the call.
Online identification and on-site reading will no longer be possible afterblocking.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION | 15

Publication information
Published by:Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, 10557 Berlin, Germany
Contact: www.bmi.bund.de/contact
Internet: www.bmi.bund.de/EN
Valid as of:December 2020
Design
ORCA Affairs GmbH, 10117 Berlin
Picture credits
Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community / P. 3, 4
Online ordering (PDF)
Item number: BMI20019
www.bundesregierung.de/publikationen
This publication is issued by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community as
part of its public information work. It is available free of charge and is not for sale. [It may not
be used by any political party, candidate or campaign worker during an election campaign for
purposes of campaign advertising. This applies to elections at the European, federal, state andlocal levels.]

https://www.personalausweisportal.de/EN/home/home_node.html