(1) Identity cards shall be issued in accordance with uniform models.
(2) In addition to the issuing authority, date of issue, date of expiry, access number and the data listed in subsection 4 second sentence, identity cards shall clearly indicate only the following information about the card holder:
1. family name and name before marriage,
2. given names,
3. doctoral degree
4. date and place of birth,
5. photograph,
6. signature,
7. height,
8. eye colour,
9. address; in case of an address outside Germany, then the statement "no main residence in Germany",
10. nationality,
11. serial number, and
12. religious name / stage or pen name.
(3) Temporary identity cards shall include the information in subsection 2 nos. 1 through 12 as well as the issuing authority, date of issue and date of expiry.
(4) Identity cards shall have a machine-readable area. This area shall contain only the following clearly printed information:
1. Abbreviations
a) "IDD" for identity card of the Federal Republic of Germany or
b) "ITD" for temporary identity card of the Federal Republic of Germany,
2. family name,
3. given names,
4. serial number,
5. "D" for German nationality,
6. date of birth,
7. date of expiry,
8. check digits, and
9. empty spaces.
When verifying identity pursuant to Section 17, the printed access code may be machine-read as well.
(5) Identity cards shall contain an electronic storage and processing medium on which the following data shall be stored:
1. the data listed in subsection 2 nos. 1 through 5, 9 and 12.
2. the data of the machine-readable area according to subsection 4 second sentence, and
3. fingerprints pursuant to subsection 9 and information on which fingers were used for fingerprinting and on the quality of the prints.
(6) The stored data shall be secured against unauthorized alteration, deletion and retrieval.
(7) In derogation from subsection 5, children under age 6 shall be issued identity cards with an electronic storage and processing medium on which only a photograph and the data of the machine-readable area according to subsection 4 second sentence are stored.
(8) The serial number, check digits, blocking code and blocking attributes may not contain any of the identity card holder’s personal data or reference to such data.
(9) Fingerprints shall be stored only at the request of the card applicant. The applicant's fingerprints shall be stored on the identity card's electronic storage and processing medium as flat prints of the left and right index fingers. In case of a missing index finger, injured fingertip or poor-quality print, a flat print of the thumb, middle or ring finger shall be stored instead. Fingerprints shall not be stored if it is not possible to take prints for medical reasons of a more than temporary nature.
(10) The data stored on the electronic storage and processing medium shall also enable the electronic identification function pursuant to Section 18.