Applying for a disability card (Schwerbehindertenausweis) in Köln
In Köln, you apply for the severe disability card (Schwerbehindertenausweis) at the city's Schwerbehindertenstelle (disability office), Ottmar-Pohl-Platz 1 in Kalk. The application is free of charge and can be made by email, online or in writing; a personal visit is not required. Behördenfix fills in the application with you and submits it with your authorisation: €59.
Disability card in Köln at a glance
- Responsible office
- Schwerbehindertenstelle der Stadt KölnAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
- Address
- Ottmar-Pohl-Platz 1, 51103 Köln (Kalk)As of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
- Official fee
- no feesAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
- How to apply
- informally by email · online portal · application form in writing · personal visit not requiredAs of: 22.10.2026 · Stadt Köln
All details (5)Show less
- Processing time
- not published
- Power of attorney
- Enclose a power of attorney if an authorised representative or legal guardian applies
- Online application
- possible online: application to determine the degree of disability, for special markings (Merkzeichen) and for the card · send a photo · check the processing status
- Contact
- Phone 0221 / 221-30702 and 221-30703 · Fax 0221 / 221-30744 · Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 to 12:30, Tuesday 8 to 18, closed on Wednesday
- Behördenfix fixed price
- €59 for filling in, submitting and tracking the application
How your application works with Behördenfix
- 1Enter details and payGive your name, email and federal state, then pay the fixed price online.
- 2Upload documentsCopies of recent medical reports, the doctors treating you and a photo.
- 3SignYou sign the application, the release from medical confidentiality and the power of attorney.
- 4Submit and trackWe submit to the Schwerbehindertenstelle and keep an eye on the status.
Applying yourself at the Schwerbehindertenstelle Köln
The way without us, step by step
The Schwerbehindertenstelle Köln offers several ways, all without a fee and without having to visit in person.
- Informally by email to schwerbehindertenstelle@stadt-koeln.de. The city then sends you the application form.
- Via the city of Köln's online portal. After applying, you receive a confirmation of receipt with a security code; with it you can see the processing status and upload the photo.
- With the application form for first applications and changes, filled in and signed. The city recommends the form for quick processing.
- Help with filling in: on request, staff fill in the application with you in a personal meeting.
- Costs if you apply yourself: €0. With us you pay €59. For this we take care of filling in, putting the documents together, submitting and follow-up.
Which documents the application needs
- Completed and signed application.
- Release from medical confidentiality, so that the city can request medical findings.
More documents (4)Show less
- Copies of recent medical, hospital discharge or rehabilitation reports, at most two years old. The city asks for copies, not originals.
- A current photo, digital or on paper, for the card.
- Your tax identification number and your consent to electronic notification to the tax office (Finanzamt); the application form asks for both.
- With us also: your power of attorney for Behördenfix.
What applies in Köln: the city, not a pension office
The city, not a pension office
In Köln, the city's Schwerbehindertenstelle decides on the application, not a pension office (Versorgungsamt). It is located at Ottmar-Pohl-Platz 1 in Kalk; the entrance was moved there for better accessibility.
More about Cologne (3)Show less
Getting there according to the city: light rail lines 1 and 9 to Kalk Kapelle (wheelchair accessible) or Kalk Post, buses 159 and 193, S 12, S 13 and RB 25 to Trimbornstraße. Entrance, lifts and toilets are fully accessible for wheelchair users, and there are marked disabled parking spaces.
Since 1 January 2026, the city only reports its decision to the tax office electronically. For this it needs your tax identification number and your written consent in the application.
According to the city, an objection by simple email is not enough. It requires a letter with an original signature; a scanned signed objection is not enough either.
Frequently asked questions about the disability card in Köln
Where do I apply for a disability card in Köln?
At the city of Köln's Schwerbehindertenstelle, Ottmar-Pohl-Platz 1, 51103 Köln. It is responsible for residents of Köln and charges no fees. A personal visit is not required. We put the application together with your details and submit it there with your authorisation.
Can I apply online in Köln?
Yes. The city of Köln accepts the application informally by email or via its online portal. After an informal email, it sends you the application form, which you submit filled in and signed. We prepare this form for you; you only need to sign.
How long does processing take in Köln?
The city of Köln does not publish a processing time. It does write, however, that after receiving the signed application and the release from confidentiality it requests findings from your doctors. According to the city, enclosing recent reports straight away speeds this up. We track the status for you.
How do I extend my disability card in Köln?
For an extension, the city of Köln only needs an informal application with your reference number, in writing, via the contact form or by phone on 0221 / 221-30702. If there is no photo on file or you have not agreed to it being stored, the city needs a new photo. We are happy to write the application for you.
Which documents must I enclose with the application?
The signed application, the release from confidentiality and, if available, copies of recent medical, hospital or rehabilitation reports, at most two years old. According to the city, do not send originals. For authorised representatives, a power of attorney is added. We put the documents together with you and check that they are complete.
How does my photo get to the city of Köln?
If there is no photo yet, you receive a letter with a link and user code for uploading it together with the decision notice. You can also send the photo by post to the Schwerbehindertenstelle, with your reference number and name on the back. With us, you upload the photo together with the documents.
Official sources
- Stadt Köln – Schwerbehindertenausweis beantragen oder verlängern, read on 22.10.2026
- Stadt Köln – Online-Verfahren und telefonische Beratung der Schwerbehindertenstelle, read on 22.10.2026
- Antragsformular Schwerbehindertenrecht NRW (Bezirksregierung Münster, verlinkt von der Stadt Köln), read on 26.10.2026
- SGB IX § 152 – Feststellung der Behinderung, Ausweise
Reviewed by M. Gabal on 28.10.2026
Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix fills in, submits and tracks the application. We do not give legal advice and do not assess your individual case. Only the Schwerbehindertenstelle decides on the degree of disability and special markings.