German identity card
.jpg)
It is compulsory for all German citizens age 16 or older to possess either a Personalausweis (identity card) or a passport but not to carry one. While police officers and some other officials have a right to demand to see one of those documents, the law does not state that one is obliged to submit the document at that very moment. But as driver's licences are not legally accepted forms of identification in Germany, most persons actually carry their Personalausweis with them.[citation needed]
At present, German ID cards are issued in ISO/IEC 7810 ID-2 format. Beginning in November 2010, German ID cards will be issued in the more common ID-1 format and can also contain an integrated digital signature, if so desired.