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Postident ID Verification Germany: What Every Moroccan Applicant Needs to Know

2026-01-15

Learn how Postident ID verification works in Germany, when to use VideoIdent, which documents are accepted, and how to avoid common rejection mistakes.

Opening a German bank account or signing up for an online service from Morocco — or right after arriving in Germany — almost always hits the same wall: you need to verify your identity first. Postident ID verification is Germany's most widely used system for this, and if you don't know exactly how it works, you can easily waste days on failed attempts. This guide walks you through every step, from choosing the right verification method to which documents actually work for non-EU citizens.

What Is Postident and Why Does Germany Use It?

Germany has strict anti-money-laundering laws (Geldwäschegesetz) that require banks and many other services to confirm your real identity before letting you open an account or sign a contract remotely. Rather than building their own verification infrastructure, most providers outsource this to Deutsche Post's Postident system.

When you apply for a German bank account — say with N26, DKB, or ING — or register for certain government portals, the provider sends you a Postident coupon code or directs you to complete a Postident process. Deutsche Post then acts as a neutral third party, confirms your identity, and reports the result back to the provider.

You are essentially asking a post office clerk (or a video agent) to look at your original documents and confirm you are who you say you are. Simple in theory, but there are several ways it can go wrong — especially for Moroccan nationals with non-EU documents.

Postident vs. VideoIdent: Which One Should You Choose?

The two main Postident methods are Postident Classic (in-person at a Postfiliale) and Postident Video (sometimes called VideoIdent, done on your phone or laptop). A third option, Postident Digital, uses the eID chip on German ID cards and is not relevant for most Moroccan applicants.

Postident Classic — In-Person at a Post Office

This is the traditional route. You visit a Deutsche Post branch (Postfiliale), show your original identity document, and the clerk scans your Postident coupon and your document. The process takes about 5 minutes.

Best for: People already in Germany, or people who have a valid Moroccan passport and want a reliable, low-tech process.

What you need:

• Your Postident coupon (printed or shown on your phone from the provider's email)
• One valid original identity document (see the accepted documents section below)
• No appointment needed at most locations

You can find your nearest Postfiliale at standorte.deutschepost.de. Type in your German city or postal code. In Berlin alone there are over 80 locations; Munich has more than 60.

VideoIdent — Remote Verification from Anywhere

VideoIdent lets you complete the process from Morocco or from your apartment in Germany using a smartphone or laptop with a camera. A live Deutsche Post agent connects with you via video call and checks your document in real time.

Best for: People still in Morocco who need to open a German bank account before arriving, or people with mobility issues.

What you need:

• A smartphone or laptop with a working front-facing camera and microphone
• The Postident app (available free on iOS and Android) or a browser link from your provider
• A valid passport — more on document restrictions below
• A stable internet connection (weak WiFi causes the most failures)

Important: Not every bank or service offers VideoIdent. DKB, for example, currently only accepts Postident Classic for non-German ID documents. N26 uses its own VideoIdent system through IDnow, not Deutsche Post. Always check which method your specific provider supports before starting.

Which Documents Are Accepted for Non-EU Citizens?

This is where many Moroccan applicants run into trouble. Germany's identity verification rules distinguish between EU and non-EU documents.

Documents That Are Generally Accepted

• Moroccan biometric passport — accepted at Postfiliale locations and for VideoIdent in most cases. The document must be valid (not expired) and machine-readable (the MRZ strip at the bottom of the photo page must be intact and scannable).
• German residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) — if you already have one, you can use it alongside your passport. Some providers require both.
• German driving licence — only valid if issued by a German authority, and not accepted for all providers.

Documents That Are NOT Accepted

• A Moroccan national ID card (Carte Nationale d'Identité, CIN) — this is not accepted for Postident. Germany only accepts EU/EEA national ID cards from their respective countries for this process.
• An expired passport, even if it was valid when you entered Germany.
• Photocopies or digital scans — you must present the physical original document.
• A Moroccan driving licence.

Practical tip: If your passport expires in less than 6 months, renew it at the Moroccan consulate in Germany before starting your verification. Some providers reject passports with fewer than 3 months of remaining validity even if they are technically still valid.

Step-by-Step: Completing Postident Classic at a Postfiliale

1. Receive your Postident coupon from your bank or service provider (usually by email as a PDF, or directly in their app).
2. Find your nearest Postfiliale using the Deutsche Post location finder. Look specifically for branches that show the "Postident" service tag — not all Paketshops or DHL service points offer it.
3. Go to the branch during opening hours. Most Postfiliale locations are open Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00 and Saturday 09:00–13:00.
4. Take a numbered ticket at the counter or join the queue.
5. Hand the clerk your coupon (printed or on-screen) and your original passport.
6. The clerk scans both, asks you to confirm some details, and the process is done. You receive a confirmation slip.
7. Your bank or provider is notified automatically — usually within 1–2 business days, though many providers confirm same-day.

Total cost to you: €0. Postident Classic is free for the applicant.

Step-by-Step: Completing VideoIdent from Morocco

1. Download the Postident app from the App Store or Google Play, or click the VideoIdent link sent by your provider.
2. Enter your coupon code when prompted.
3. Grant the app permission to access your camera and microphone.
4. Wait to be connected to a live agent. Wait times are typically 2–10 minutes during business hours (German time, Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00).
5. The agent will ask you to hold your passport up to the camera, tilt it to show the hologram, and turn it to show the back. Follow their instructions carefully.
6. The agent may ask you basic questions to confirm your identity.
7. You receive an on-screen confirmation. Your provider is notified within minutes to a few hours.

Cost: Free for the applicant in most cases, though your mobile data usage applies.

Common Pitfalls: What People Get Wrong

This is where most failed verifications happen. Avoid these mistakes:

• Going to a Paketshop or DHL Packstation instead of a Postfiliale. These do not offer Postident services. Only branches explicitly listed as "Postfiliale" or "Postbank Filiale" with the Postident service tag work.
• Using a Moroccan national ID card (CIN). As noted above, it is not accepted. Only your biometric passport works.
• Starting VideoIdent with bad lighting. The agent cannot read your document if your room is dark or the camera is low quality. Use natural daylight and a recent smartphone.
• Trying VideoIdent through a VPN. Deutsche Post's system sometimes rejects connections routed through VPNs. Turn it off before starting.
• Waiting too long after receiving the coupon. Postident coupons expire — typically after 60 days but sometimes sooner depending on the provider. Check the expiry date in your coupon email.
• Assuming N26 uses Deutsche Post Postident. N26 uses IDnow, a separate system. Searching for a Postfiliale for N26 verification is a common mistake that wastes time.
• Not having a German address ready. Most providers that use Postident also require a registered German address (Meldeadresse). If you have not yet done your Anmeldung (city registration), sort that first.

Which German Banks Actually Use Postident?

Here is a quick reference for 2024:

• DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank): Uses Postident Classic. Non-EU passports accepted at the branch. Very popular with Moroccan students and Ausbildung trainees because there are no account fees.
• Comdirect / Commerzbank: Uses Postident Classic or VideoIdent.
• ING Germany: Offers VideoIdent via Deutsche Post for account opening.
• Postbank: Uses Postident Classic at its own branches (Postbank Filialen also serve as Postfilialen for this purpose).
• N26: Uses IDnow VideoIdent — not Deutsche Post. Do not look for a Postfiliale for this one.
• Bunq: Uses its own in-app verification and does not use Postident.

If you are opening an account specifically to receive your Ausbildung salary or to set up direct debits, DKB is a particularly practical choice because it has no monthly fee and accepts Moroccan passports reliably at Postfiliale branches.

Conclusion

Postident ID verification in Germany is straightforward once you know which method your provider supports, which documents work as a Moroccan national, and which locations actually offer the service. The single most important thing: always use your biometric Moroccan passport, always go to a proper Postfiliale (not a Paketshop), and double-check whether your bank uses Deutsche Post Postident or a different system like IDnow.

If you are preparing your move to Germany for an Ausbildung or job and need help building a strong CV and cover letter that gets you to the banking and registration stage in the first place, Book a consultation with our specialist and use our CV builder to start your application the right way.