Physical appearance
Since 1 September 2011, the residence permit is issued as ID-1 (credit card size) plastic cards with an embedded RFID chip. It is covered with multi-colour guillochés and appears pink-blue from the distance. All information on it is given only in German (except for the English words residence permit).
Front side
The front side shows the symbol for biometric travel documents, the German Eagle, the European bull, and the words "AUFENTHALTSTITEL" and "RESIDENCE PERMIT". It contains the following information:
- Photo of ID card holder (biometric photo)
- Document number (9 alphanumeric digits)
- Access number for RFID chip (6 decimal digits)
- Surname
- Given name(s)
- Validity of residence permit: date of expire or "UNBEFRISTET" (unlimited)
- Place of issue
- First day of validity (dd-mm-yyyy)
- type of document ("AUFENTHALTSERLAUBNIS" or "NIEDERLASSUNGSERLAUBNIS")
- Notes:
- Document number of corresponding passport
- Date of expire of corresponding passport (dd-mm-yyyy)
- If holder is permitted to work: "ERWERBSTÄTIGKEIT GESTATTET" (employment permitted)
- If additional provisions exist: "SIEHE ZUSATZBLATT" (see supplementary sheet)
- Signature of holder
Back side
The back side contains the following information:
Machine-readable zone
The three-line machine-readable zone on the back side contains the following information:
First line
| positions | text | meaning |
|---|
| 1-2 | AR | residence permit |
| 3 | D | issuing country: Germany (Deutschland) |
| 6-14 | alphanumeric digits | document number |
| 15 | decimal digit | check digit over 6-14 |
Second line
| positions | text | meaning |
|---|
| 1-6 | decimal digits | date of birth (YYMMDD) |
| 7 | decimal digit | check digit over 1-6 |
| 8 | alphabetic digit | sex (M or F) |
| 9-14 | decimal digits | date of expire of the residence permit (YYMMDD) |
| 15 | decimal digit | check digit over 9-14 |
| 16-18 | alphabetic digits | nationality of holder (three-letter code) |
| 30 | decimal digit | check digit over 6-30 (first line), 1–7, 9–15, 19-29 (second line) |
Third line
| positions | text | meaning |
|---|
| 1-30 | alphabetic digits<<alphabetic digits<alphabetic digits | SURNAME<< GIVEN<NAMES |
Empty spaces are represented by "<".
Chip
The residence permit contains a RFID chip. The chip stores the information given on the document (like name or date of birth), the holder's picture and, if the holder is at least 12 years old, also his/her fingerprints. The additional provisions are also stored on the chip. In addition, the new ID card can be used for online authentification (e.g. for age verification or for e-government applications). An electronic signature, provided by a private company, can also be stored on the chip.
The document number, the photo and the fingerprints can be read only by law enforcement agencies and some other authorities.
To use the online authentification function, the holder needs a six-digit decimal PIN. If the holder types in the wrong PIN, he has to type in the six-digit decimal access code given on the document to prove he/she really possesses the document. If the wrong PIN is used three times, a PUK must be used to unlock the chip. The data on the chip are protected by Basic Access Control and Extended Access Control.
Security features
The residence permit contains the following security features:
- multicoloured guillochés
- microprinting: EU and DEUTSCHLAND
- fluorescent elements:
- UV overprint: stars, lines, and EU luminesce in various colors under UV light
- randomly distributed fluorescent fibres which luminesce under UV light
- tactile features:
- access number for RFID chip is tactile
- surface embossing: map of Germany and microlettering
- security thread: colour changes when viewed under different angles; is personalized: NNNNNNNNNN<<SURNAME<<GIVEN<NAMES<<<<<<<<<< (NNNNNNNNNN is the document number including a check digit; a total of 42 digits can be found on the thread))
- changeable laser image: shows either the date of expire or the holder's portrait depending on angle
- color-changing ink: the colour of the biometric travel documents symbol changes from green to gold to red
- 2D and 3D holographic security elements:
- colour-changing holograms colour changes depending on angle (violet-blue-turquoise-green-yellow-orange-red)
- holographic portrait: holographic reproduction of the holder's picture
- four eagles at the left side of the holographic portrait: change their colour under a different angle than the portrait itself
- document number: NNNNNNNNN, 9 digits
- holder's name: SURNAME<<GIVEN<NAMES<<<<<<<<<<, 30 digits
- green kinematic structures above the conventional picture:
- EU Kinegram: bright E on dark background changes to dark E on bright background when document is tilted
- hexagon: moves across the picture when document is tilted
- stars: change their size when document is tilted
- text on the left side of the picture; visible only under a certain angle
- macrolettering: BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND
- microlettering: BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND
- machine-verifiable structure: a red spot which can be checked by machines
- 3D eagle: a red-gold eagle visible only under a certain angle
An identity document is any document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card, or passport card. Some countries issue formal identity documents, as national identification cards that may be compulsory or non-compulsory, while others may require identity verification using regional identification or informal documents. When the identity document incorporates a person's photograph, it may be called photo ID.
Permanent residency is a person's legal resident status in a country or territory of which such person is not a citizen but where they have the right to reside on a permanent basis. This is usually for a permanent period; a person with such legal status is known as a permanent resident. In the United States, such a person is referred to as a green card holder but more formally as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).
The French national identity card is an official identity document consisting of an electronic ID-1 card bearing a photograph, name and address. While the identity card is non-compulsory, all persons must possess some form of valid government-issued identity documentation.
The Permanent Resident card is an identification document and a travel document for permanent residents of Canada. It is one of the methods by which Canadian permanent residents can prove their status and is, along with the permanent resident travel document (PRTD), one of the only documents that allow permanent residents to return to Canada by a commercial carrier.
Serbian passports are issued to Serbian citizens at any age, and it is the primary document of international travel issued by Serbia.
The Romanian identity card is an official identity document issued to every Romanian citizen residing in Romania. It is compulsory to obtain the identity card from 14 years of age. Although Romanian citizens residing abroad are exempt from obtaining the identity card, if they intend to establish a temporary residence in Romania, they may then apply for a provisional identity document, which is valid for one year (renewable).
The Montenegrin passport is the primary document for international travel issued by Montenegro.
A Norwegian passport is the passport issued to nationals of Norway for the purpose of international travel. Beside serving as proof of Norwegian citizenship, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Norwegian consular officials abroad.
A German passport is an identity document issued to nationals of Germany for the purpose of international travel. A German passport is, besides the German ID card and the German Emergency Travel Document, the only other officially recognised document that German authorities will routinely accept as proof of identity from German citizens. Besides serving as proof of identity and presumption of German nationality, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from German consular officials abroad. German passports are valid for ten years or six years and share the standardised layout and burgundy red design with other EU passports. Every German citizen is also a citizen of the European Union and part of the Schengen zone which allows travel through the EU without the need of passports when traveling on land. The passport, along with the national identity card, allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland.
A Dutch passport is an identity document issued to citizens of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the purpose of international travel. As the Netherlands only distinguish one category of citizen, for all countries in the Kingdom, passports are the same for all four countries. The passport also serves as a means of identification as required by the Dutch law since 1 January 2005 for all persons over the age of fourteen. Dutch passports are valid for a period of ten years from issuing date. The passport complies with the rules for European Union passports. Since 26 August 2006 all passports are issued as a biometric passport with an embedded contactless smartcard RFID chip for storing biometric data. Every Dutch citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The nationality allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
The Swedish national identity card is a non-compulsory biometric identity document issued in Sweden. It is one of two official identity documents issued by the Swedish Police, the other being the Swedish passport. It is only issued to Swedish citizens, and indicates the citizenship.
North Macedonian passports are issued to citizens of North Macedonia for the purpose of international travel. Responsibility for their issuance lies with the Ministry of the Interior. The validity of the passport is 5 years for persons 4 to 27 years of age and 10 years for those 27 years of age and older. For children ages four and under, the validity of the passport is limited to two years. The passports conform to the recommended standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and are biometric passports.
The Albanian passport is a travel document issued by the Ministry of Interior to Albanian citizens to enable them to travel abroad. They are also used as proof of identity within the country, along with the Albanian ID card.
Serbian identity card is the national identification card used in Serbia. Though the ID card is a primary photo ID, Serbian passport and national Drivers license are used as valid photo IDs for various purposes. It is issued to all Serbian citizens residing in the country above 10 years of age and compulsory for those over the age of 16.
The Albanian identity card (Letërnjoftim) is a national identity card issued by Albanian authorities to Albanian citizens. It is proof of identity, citizenship and residence. The current version is in ID1 format and biometric. The ID card is compulsory for citizens over 16 years of age, costs 1,500 lekë and is valid for 10 years.
The German Identity Card is issued to German citizens by local registration offices in Germany and diplomatic missions abroad, while they are produced at the Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.
The Lebanese identity card is a compulsory Identity document issued to citizens of the Republic of Lebanon by the police on behalf of the Lebanese Ministry of Interior or in Lebanese embassies/consulates (abroad) free of charge. It is proof of identity, citizenship and residence of the Lebanese citizens.
The Ukrainian identity card or Passport of the Citizen of Ukraine is an identity document issued to citizens of Ukraine. Every Ukrainian citizen aged 14 or above that permanently resides in Ukraine must possess an identity card issued by the State Migration Service of Ukraine. Ukrainian identity cards can be used as a travel document to enter Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Turkey.
The Iraqi National Card is an electronic biometric card issued by the Ministry of Interior from January 1, 2016. It replaced the Nationality Certificate and Civil Identification Document and the Residency Card. This card has a high security platform and is connected directly to the Iraqi Civil System, and can be used to travel within Iraq and Arab countries.
Passports of the EFTA member states are passports issued by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EFTA is in this article used as a common name for these countries.
