Overview
- The Interior Ministry confirmed Saturday that it is working on a new generation of the Personalausweis and is actively considering dropping the printed residential address from the card.
- Officials say the project is in a concept phase with development targeted for completion by the end of 2027 but no final design or legal decisions have been made.
- The cabinet has backed a central pass-and-ID register to be run by the Bundesdruckerei and the EUDI-Wallet digital ID initiative is scheduled to roll out in early 2027 as a possible way to verify addresses.
- Technical changes under review include stronger cryptographic protections, a Data-Matrix code for machine reading, and a larger photo while biometric data capture such as fingerprints will still require in-person visits.
- The move responds to safety and bureaucratic concerns raised by a Bundestag petitions committee and follows practices in several EU countries, but questions remain about data‑protection safeguards, legal rules and access for people who cannot or will not use digital tools.