Citizens’ offices that set PINs, city by city
Most citizens’ offices, the Bürgeramt or Bürgerbüro, can activate the online function of your ID card or set a new PIN, but they differ on walk-in access and on which cards they handle. Your city’s offices show whether you need an appointment and whether they also take EU eID cards and electronic residence permits.
Aachen
Paul-Küpper-Platz 1, 52078 Aachen
Bring your original card and book a visit, as nobody else can do this for you.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A signed authority does not allow a representative to complete activation, unblocking or a PIN change for you. Confirm the office and requested online-ID task in the appointment confirmation.
Aachen
Heinrich-Thomas-Platz 1, 52080 Aachen
Say when booking whether you need activation, unblocking or a new PIN, so you get the right slot.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A signed authority does not allow a representative to complete activation, unblocking or a PIN change for you. Confirm the office and requested online-ID task in the appointment confirmation.
Aachen
Germanusstraße 32-34, 52080 Aachen
Book a visit to activate or unblock your card’s online ID, which you can use from age 16.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A signed authority does not allow a representative to complete activation, unblocking or a PIN change for you. Confirm the office and requested online-ID task in the appointment confirmation.
Aachen
Schulberg 20, 52076 Aachen
Book ahead, as walk-in PIN changes are only offered at the Bahnhofplatz and Katschhof information points.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A signed authority does not allow a representative to complete activation, unblocking or a PIN change for you. Confirm the office and requested online-ID task in the appointment confirmation.
Aachen
Rathausstraße 12, 52072 Aachen
Book a visit and arrive on time, since the check-in terminal can’t be used more than five minutes late.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A signed authority does not allow a representative to complete activation, unblocking or a PIN change for you. Confirm the office and requested online-ID task in the appointment confirmation.
Aachen
Roermonder Straße 559, 52072 Aachen
Activation, unblocking and PIN changes are all done in person, so book a visit by phone or online.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A signed authority does not allow a representative to complete activation, unblocking or a PIN change for you. Confirm the office and requested online-ID task in the appointment confirmation.
Aachen
Hackländerstraße 1, 52064 Aachen
Change your PIN without an appointment during opening hours, or check ahead if you need activation or unblocking.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A representative cannot complete this service for you. Before choosing a postal PIN-reset service, check current availability and conditions on the federal service’s website, including any effect on your existing PIN and online-ID function. A postal letter is not needed for a counter reset.
Aachen
Johannes-Paul-II.-Straße 1, 52062 Aachen
Reset your PIN at the counter with no postal letter needed, and walk in during opening hours.
Bring your original Personalausweis and attend yourself. A representative cannot complete this service for you. Before choosing a postal PIN-reset service, check current availability and conditions on the federal service’s website, including any effect on your existing PIN and online-ID function. A postal letter is not needed for a counter reset.
Augsburg
An der Blauen Kappe 18, 86152 Augsburg
Book a PIN change in person for a German identity card, an EU or EEA eID card or an electronic residence permit.
Bring the card whose PIN needs changing. A PIN enables online identification but does not make every online procedure available to every cardholder. If you need a first EU/EEA eID card instead, select eID-Karte Antragstellung: applicants must be non-German EU/EEA nationals aged 16 or over with their main home in Augsburg; bring a valid recognised passport or identity document and pay €37. That card is not a travel document or residence permit.
Berlin
Karl-Marx-Allee 31, 10178 Berlin
Get a new six-digit PIN if you have forgotten it or no longer have the PIN letter, usually on the spot.
Bring the valid original identity card or eID card; the request is made personally at the counter. Choose your own private six-digit PIN. If you still know your current PIN, you can also change it yourself using AusweisApp and a suitable NFC device or card reader. For an eAT use the LEA contact form for your responsible department instead of treating this as a Bürgeramt service.
Bielefeld
Niederwall 23, Neues Rathaus, 33602 Bielefeld
Book the PIN service rather than a new card application, at the Mitte location in the new town hall.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Germanenstraße 22, 33647 Bielefeld
Only for people registered in Bielefeld, so book a visit to activate your online ID or set a new PIN.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Wefelshof 9, 33729 Bielefeld
Book a visit if you are missing your PIN letter or have forgotten your PIN, and a new one is set for you.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Wertherstraße 436, 33619 Bielefeld
Pick the PIN or online-function service when booking, not an application for a replacement card.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Nazarethweg 7, 33617 Bielefeld
Come in person for help with your PIN, as the online booking only reserves a time and resets nothing.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Salzufler Straße 13, 33719 Bielefeld
Get help with the card you already have, as this appointment is not for ordering a replacement.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Detmolder Straße 617, 33699 Bielefeld
Get your card’s switched-off online ID function turned on again and a new PIN set in one visit.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Amtsstraße 13, 33739 Bielefeld
This help is for the German identity card, so ask separately about a residence permit or an EU or EEA eID card.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Margaretenweg 29, 33611 Bielefeld
Registered Bielefeld residents can book personal help with the online ID of the card they already have.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Bielefeld
Windelsbleicher Str. 242, 33659 Bielefeld
Book the PIN service for a forgotten PIN or a missing PIN letter, not a replacement card application.
Bring the identity card whose online function needs attention. You do not need to recover the lost PIN letter before asking for help: losing it is expressly one of the reasons for this service. If your issue concerns an electronic residence permit or a separate EU/EEA eID card, ask the city which appointment applies.
Guides
Related services
For people who cannot cover rent, food or other basic costs. See whether the Sozialamt or the Jobcenter is your starting point and how to reach them.
For freelancers, sole traders and new business owners. See how tax registration works, what the Steuernummer is for and which tax office can help.
For people who already live in Germany and move to a new home. See how to update your registered address and which office takes it.
For students, workers and family members from outside the EU. See which office handles your stay and how applications start.
For anyone moving into a home in Germany from another country. See what the registration involves and which office in your city deals with it.
For anyone who has to show where they live. See what the certificate covers and which office in your city issues it.
Other countries
Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.
Most offices in Madrid, Córdoba, and Barcelona
Most offices in Rotterdam, Groningen, and Nieuwegein
Most offices in Warsaw, Kraków, and Bydgoszcz
Most offices in Sint-Niklaas, Ghent, and Bruges
Most offices in Reykjavík, Akureyri, and Egilsstaðir
Where to next
For anyone who cannot log in with their ID card or residence permit. See what the online ID needs and where to get it activated or reset.
Jump straight to another part of the manual.