Last updated:
What the note should say
When you hand over a copy of an ID, the usual advice is to say on the copy what it is for, so it cannot quietly be reused for something else. Four things make a good note: that it is a copy, what it is for, who it is for, and the date. A German consumer body, the Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen (page dated 18 February 2025), gives this example: “ID copy for registration at Bank XY on 12.12.2022”.
| Situation | Note |
|---|---|
| A purpose and a recipient | COPY – for [PURPOSE] only, [RECIPIENT] |
| A phone or utility contract | COPY – only for the [NUMBER] line contract |
| A payment | COPY – only for the transfer dated [DATE] |
The three notes are ready in the tool; you replace the text in square brackets with your own details, and the sheet cannot be created while a bracket is still open — so an empty “[PURPOSE]” never ends up printed across an ID.
Why across the card
A line written in the margin can be cropped off. A note repeated diagonally across the card cannot, and it stays readable on a photocopy of the copy. The tool draws it in dark grey at about 40% strength, so the ID underneath stays legible. If you would rather have it plainly visible, a flat strip above the card is offered too.
What to black out
The same consumer page suggests covering details that are not needed to identify you — its examples are the serial number, height, eye colour and signature. What is unnecessary depends on who is asking and why, and requirements differ by country and by recipient, so ask the recipient what they need and cover the rest. If the field is one they have to check, covering it makes the copy useless to them. Boxes are drawn by hand; images have no automatic detection.
A precaution, not a guarantee
A note on an ID copy is a common precaution. On its own it does not promise protection, and we make no claim that it has legal effect; it makes it harder to reuse the copy quietly for something else.
How to watermark an ID copy
This page opens with the ID layout and the “for a purpose” note already selected.
Step 1: Add photos of the front and back
Pick both images together. Shoot in good light without flash, and keep your thumb off the text.
Step 2: Black out what is not needed
Draw boxes over fields the recipient does not need. If you are not sure what they need, ask first.
Step 3: Fill in the note
Replace [PURPOSE] and [RECIPIENT], and add today’s date if you want it.
Step 4: Create the A4 page
Check the boxes and the note in the preview, then download the PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I write on a copy of my ID?
That it is a copy, what it is for, who it is for, and the date — for example “COPY – for verification only, Bank XY, 12 September 2026”. The tool has ready-made wordings with blanks to fill in.
Which fields can I black out?
The Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen names details not needed for identification, such as the serial number, height, eye colour and signature. What is unnecessary depends on the recipient, so ask them what they need.
Why is the note across the card instead of in the margin?
A note in the margin can be cropped off; one repeated across the card cannot, and it survives being photocopied.
Does the note have legal effect?
We do not say it does. It is a common precaution that makes the copy harder to reuse for something else, not a guarantee.
Is my ID photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo, the boxes and the note are handled in your browser; there is no endpoint that accepts files.