How does the identity check via photo work?

To start the identity check via photo, you will receive a link from your contracting party, or they will forward you directly to the POSTIDENT portal.

  • Download the POSTIDENT app for identity verification via smartphone. Alternatively, you can also complete the process on your PC or laptop with a webcam.
  • Start the identity check by scanning the QR code that is displayed online or by entering your case ID in the app.
  • Take photos of your documents and a short video sequence of your face with your smartphone.
  • Ensure that the lighting is sufficient and that the data on your documents is easy to read.
  • Then send all the data you have recorded to Deutsche Post for verification. You will be informed of the identification process results in just a few minutes and the required identification data will be transmitted to your contracting party in encrypted format.

The following items are required:

Valid ID card and/or driver's license

  • Stable Internet connection
  • Webcam & webcam-compatible browser

Recommendation: Download the POSTIDENT app from the Play Store or the App Store for a quick and easy identity check using your smartphone.

Frequently asked questions about photo identification

Authorized ID documents are valid German ID cards, official foreign identity cards that are equivalent to a German ID card, and passports, provided that these documents contain a photograph and are accepted by Deutsche Post for verification.

Please note that not all available ID documents can be accepted due to the required security features for documents.
If your ID document is not accepted by POSTIDENT via photo, you can also use our POSTIDENT via post office procedure (if available) or contact your contracting party to discuss other options.

An authorized ID document must contain the information required for identification and be legible (i.e. at minimum be written in Latin characters and Arabic numerals) and decipherable for the service agents.

Authorized driver’s licenses are valid German driver’s licenses, valid European driver’s licenses in credit card format (with the exception of Greek driver’s licenses), as well as foreign driver’s licenses, provided they contain a photograph and are accepted by Deutsche Post for verification.

Please note that not all available ID documents can be accepted due to the required security features for documents.
If your driver’s license is not accepted by POSTIDENT via photo, please contact your contracting party to discuss other options.

An authorized driver’s license must contain the information required for identification and be legible (i.e. at minimum be written in Latin characters and Arabic numerals) and be decipherable for the service agents.

  • Ensure that all information is legible.
  • Ensure that the lighting is sufficient so that all information is easy to read.
  • Avoid backlighting and reflections (caused by windows in the background, for example).
  • Fill the image section with the image as far as possible without cutting off areas of the document.
  • Ensure that your fingers are not covering any information.

For identification while on the go, you will need your valid documents (depending on the intended purpose, this may be an ID document and/or driver’s license) and a smartphone or tablet running an Android or iOS operating system. You can complete the identity verification process by using the POSTIDENT app.

After installing it, enter the case ID that was sent to you by e-mail.

Download the POSTIDENT app from the App Store or Play Store.

Please visit our help area if you have any additional questions

Additional information on POSTIDENT by photo

The photo identification process enables you to easily verify your identity at any time by taking a picture of your ID document and yourself. Driver’s licenses can also be verified, for example when you register for a car sharing service. The verification process is performed by trained service agents from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays (except on national holidays in Germany)