Fewer administrative procedures: How to save a lot of money and time with the official ID app

Digitization is not exactly exemplary in Germany, but at least things are progressing a bit. The federal government’s ID app is slowly becoming more useful – we’ll show you how you can use it to save yourself a lot of administrative work.

Good things take time, especially when it comes to a large digitization project in Germany. The new ID card was launched in November 2010, its main features: credit card size (ID 1 format) and built-in RFID chip.

Personal data and personal characteristics can be stored in it, i.e. a photo and two fingerprints. For a long time, storing fingerprints was optional, but they have only been mandatory since November 2021, which many data protection officials criticize.

In practice, however, completely different problems arose for a long time: users needed a certified card reader in order to be able to use the online ID function on the PC. You had to spend around 30 euros for this and then you could hardly use the function anywhere because there were hardly any providers who accepted the online ID. But there are now many smartphones with NFC chips and the official ID app for Android and iOS.

Use online ID

But what can you do with the online ID? On the start page of the apps you will find the “Provider” area and there is also a list online. There you can browse where you can use the online ID card, but it is mainly the authorities who integrate the function. This is also due to the obligation imposed by the Online Access Act. For example, you can use it to:

Submit BAföG applications
Apply for disability ID cards
apply for unemployment benefits
Obtain pension information
apply for a driving license
Get scores in Flensburg

Wherever the online ID card is accepted, you should also find the corresponding logo, which is also used for the ID card app.

Requirements for the online ID card

The requirements are not too high, but a few things are necessary to get the online ID card up and running:

Online identification function of the ID card is activated (since 2017 for all new Persos Standard)
Self-selected, six-digit PIN is known
The current version of the ID app is installed on the mobile phone
The cell phone is NFC-enabled

Details on each point are summarized on this support page. It is also worth a visit if you want to use the online ID with a card reader under Windows. Don’t worry, if you can’t answer any of the points on the list above unequivocally, the ID app will help with a small check.

Do a functional check of the ID app

If you open the app and have your ID ready, the function check only takes a minute. In the ID card app, tap on “Check device and ID” and then on “Start check”. Then you have to hold the person close to the cell phone, the right place is usually at the top on the back of the device.

Ideally, you will now see a large green tick and many small ones below it that list the individual functions, such as NFC support or activated online ID function. Try out by tapping on “Continue” whether the data can be read out. Select “View my data”.

What is important now is the six-digit PIN that you have set yourself. If you know, confirm the query with “Yes” and type it in. Don’t be surprised why it suddenly appears that you have contacted Governikus GmbH & Co. KG should identify. The company is developing the ID app on behalf of the BSI.

After entering the PIN, hold the ID close to the mobile phone again. A green tick followed by a list of your personal data indicates that everything went well.

Solve PIN problems

The first attempts to use the ID app often fail because of the PIN. You may have given them years ago and have now forgotten them, or you may not have given them yet. What you should have is a letter with a five-digit transport PIN. You can use the ID app to set the six-digit PIN if you have the transport PIN.

No idea what the PIN could be and you can’t find the transport PIN either? Then you either have to go to the citizens’ office and set a new PIN there or apply for a PIN reset letter on this page. Important, you must accept this letter personally.

If your smartphone doesn’t play along, you can look up the compatible models on this list.

Turn your cell phone into a card reader

The online ID function works quite easily on the cell phone using the ID app. However, you might also want to use the online ID card on your computer. There is a Windows or Mac version of the ID app for this and you can convert your cell phone into a card reader. However, this only works if the mobile phone and computer are in the same WLAN.

The prerequisite is, of course, that the function check above has been successfully completed and that you know your PIN. On Windows, install the ID card app and follow the setup wizard. Select “Yes” when it comes to setting up a card reader.

In the smartphone app, tap on “Remote access” and “Start remote access”. The mobile phone displays a code via “Start pairing”, which you type in the Windows app. If the mobile phone and PC are linked, you should also do a small function test here via “View my data”.