German ID cards and residence permits have included a contactless chip as a security feature since 2010 and 2011, respectively. These two types of eID cards are largely identical from a technical standpoint. As a result, they can use the same infrastructure for both sovereign purposes and secure mutual identification by means of the eID function.

Framework conditions

The technical foundation for eID cards is provided by Technical Guideline BSI TR-03127. The smartphone as card reader function is specified in the Remote IFD addendum to part six of Technical Guideline BSI TR-03112. Technical Guideline BSI TR-03105 is used to check the conformity of eID cards.

Testing tools like GlobalTester are suitable for reviewing and achieving interoperability with other components of the eID infrastructure.

Development system

The virtual card simulator PersoSim can be used in the development system for test scenarios involving an eID card. This tool incorporates a virtual card reader into the system and simulates the presentation of an ID card. From the perspective of an eID client, PersoSim behaves like a physical sample card on a card reader. It connects to the eID client via a virtual Personal Computer/Smart Card (PC/SC) card reader driver or the smartphone as card reader interface. The card simulator also comes with an editor that can personalise simulations with any data records the user chooses. The PIN is freely configurable and can even be reset to the 'five-digit transport PIN' mode.

Test system

The virtual card simulator PersoSim can also be used without restrictions in the test system.

For testing purposes involving a physical eID card, the test PKI includes issued sample cards with the following profiles:

• ID card for 'Erika Mustermann'
• ID card for 'Drebenbusch-Dalgoßen' (umlauts, pseudonym, doctorate)
• ID card for 'Annekathrin Lerch' (blocked)
• Electronic residence permit 'Andre Mustermann'

Ordering physical sample cards in the Bundesdruckerei eShop

Physical eID sample cards can be ordered directly in the Bundesdruckerei eShop. A customer account is needed before placing the first order. To set up a customer account the following customer data is required in advance:

• Company name of the customer
• Title of the person placing the order
• First name and surname of the person placing the order
• E-mail address of the person placing the order
• Telephone number of the person placing the order
• Delivery address

Interested parties should send an e-mail with the subject 'Bestellung eID-Testmusterkarten' and the required customer data to the following functional mailbox at Bundesdruckerei: support@bdr.de

Active system

Only real ID cards can be used in the production system. Due in particular to legal reasons, tests in the production system are only possible to a very limited extent.