The electronic residence permit

The most important things first

You have received an electronic residence permit from the immigration office. This can be a German residence permit, an EU Blue Card, an ICT card, a Mobile ICT Card, a permanent German residence permit, or a permanent EU residence permit. As a rule, with your residence permit together with your passport, you can prove your identity on a day-to-day basis, for example at local authorities, at the bank, or towards public authorities.

On the internet it is different: When you visit an internet page, the provider is not standing right in front of you. As a rule, you can still identify yourself, provided that the online identification function of your electronic residence permit has been activated by the immigration office. This electronic identification process is made possible by the electronic memory device (the chip) in the card. On it, your data (name, date of birth, nationality, address), biometric features (photograph and fingerprints), and supplementary provisions (conditions) are stored. With it, you can avail yourself of official and commercial services offered online easily and quickly through the internet.

When you do, your data will always be reliably protected from theft and wrongful use. This is important because identities are often stolen on the internet: somebody gets hold of your identification data, for example, your user name and passwords, uses your identity, and acts in your name. The online identification function of your electronic residence permit will protect you from this. The use of online identification functions is voluntary. In this brochure, you will learn what you can use your electronic residence permit for in everyday life in Germany, how you can use it in the digital world, and with which security mechanisms it protects your personal data.

Furthermore, you can read how the biometric data in your electronic residence permit are used, how important the PIN letter is that you will receive after the production of your electronic residence permit, and what security advice you should observe.

Your electronic residence permit

AT A GLANCE

On the front of the electronic residence permit, your surname and first name(s), the place where the electronic residence permit was issued and the date until which the residence permit is valid are entered.
The type of your residence permit and any comments on the supplementary condi- tions are also noted on the electronic residence permit. The period of validity depends, among other things, on the type of residence permit. The electronic resi- dence permit is only valid for as long as the registered passport or substitute pass- port to which it belongs is valid. Therefore, please make sure that you apply for a new pass port or substitute passport in good time before it expires.
On the left of the card is the photo, on the top right the serial number of the card, and on the bottom right the card access number (CAN) and your signature.

  1. PHOTO
  2. SYMBOL FOR THE ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICE (CHIP)
  3. SURNAME, FIRST NAME
  4. SERIAL NUMBER
  5. LAST DAY OF VALIDITY
  6. CARD ACCESS NUMBER (CAN)

On the back of the electronic residence permit, your person- al data such as place and date of birth, nationality, gender, height, the colour of your eyes, your address and the immi- gration office which issued the residence permit are stated.
The electronic residence permit contains an electronic memory device (a chip). With the aid of a card reader or an appropriate, NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet (NCF Near Field Communication) you can use the online identifi- cation function for business transactions and activities on the internet and at cash machines.
The logo on the right indicates all internet applications, automats and card readers for which you can use the online function.

  1. DATA AND PLACE OF BIRTH
  2. ADDRESS
  3. NATIONALITY
  4. ISSUING AUTHORITY
  5. LOGO: ONLINE IDENTIFICATION FUNCTION
  6. MACHINE-READABLE ZONE(CONTAINS NO ADDITIONAL PERSONAL DATA)
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