Unlocking the budget with the Electronic Identification of the German National Identity Card (“Online-Ausweis”)

Here you can find out how to activate your budget of 100 euros using the online function of your German ID card.

+++ The 2006 cohort will be able to activate their budget by 31 December 2024 and spend their KulturPass budget in 2025. +++ For the 2005 vintage, activation was possible until 31 December 2023. Their budget can be used until 31 December 2024. +++


Information on the online function of your German ID card


To activate your KulturPass budget of €100, you need the online function of your German ID card to identify yourself. This identification procedure is used to check whether you meet all the requirements for the KulturPass.

The requirements for the KulturPass budget are

  1.   Permanent residence in Germany
  2.   Year of birth 2006

Note: All German citizens over the age of 16 can obtain an identity card, as this is when the so-called identification obligation begins. This is in credit card format. Since the new legal regulation on compulsory ID cards in July 2017, ID cards have only been produced and issued with the online function activated. If the activation has been objected to, the function can be activated retrospectively. You have not yet activated the online function on your ID card? You can find out how to do this here: Activate the online function of your German ID or Eurpean eID


This is how identification with the online function of your ID card works

Proceed step by step:

1. open the "KulturPass DE" app and log in with your access data (e-mail address and password).
2. click on the banner “Confirm your identity to receive your budget.” at the top of your start page.
3. you will be informed which documents you can use to identify yourself. Click on "Agree".
4. now you can see who will receive your data and which data the KulturPass would like to request. Click on "Continue".
5. switch on the NFC function of your smartphone.
6. follow the instructions on how to place your ID card on your smartphone to read your data and click on "Start".
7. a. You already have a personal PIN for your online ID card function: By entering your personal PIN, you agree to the request for your data. Click on "Continue".
7. b. You have not yet assigned a personal PIN for your online ID function: Then you can do this in the app by clicking on "To transport PIN entry". You can find the transport PIN in your PIN letter, information here: Information on PIN, PUK, CAN and lock password
8. place your ID card on the smartphone again and click on "Start". The data is transmitted with end-to-end encryption.
9. you will now be informed that your identification was successful. Click on "Done".

You are now identified and can get started! It may take some time for your budget to be activated in the app.

Please note: If you have identified yourself before your 18th birthday, your budget will be made available from your birthday.


If you have any questions, please contact us at support@kulturpass.de.