The eID card is a chip card that you can use to prove your identity electronically. With the eID card, you can identify yourself online and, for example, deal with public authorities or business transactions digitally.

You can obtain the German eID card as a citizen of another member state of the European Union as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway (European Economic Area) - regardless of whether you live in Germany or not.

The online ID function of the eID card offers you, as a citizen of these countries, the same electronic function as the German electronic ID card or the electronic residence permit in Germany. You can apply for the eID card regardless of whether your home country has an eID system or not.

If you use the eID card, you can decide for yourself and control whether and to whom you transmit personal data digitally.