(1) In Germany, the identity card authority in the district in which the identity card applicant or holder is required to register his/her residence or main residence shall have local responsibility. If the applicant does not have a place of residence, then the identity card authority in the district where the applicant is temporarily staying shall have local responsibility.
(2) Outside Germany, the diplomatic missions abroad designated by the Federal Foreign Office in the district in which the identity card applicant or holder is usually resident shall have local responsibility. Identity card holders shall provide proof of their usual place of residence.
(3) For masters of inland vessels who have no residence in Germany, the identity card authority of the place where the vessel is registered shall have local responsibility; for seamen who have no residence in Germany, the identity card authority of the place where the vessel's owner has its headquarters shall have local responsibility.
(4) An identity card application must also be processed by an identity card authority which does not have local responsibility if there is a compelling reason to do so. Identity cards may be issued only with the permission of the locally responsible identity card authority.