Digital photos only: What applies to ID cards, passports and the like from May
German passport photos must be taken at the Registration Office or by certified photographers to ensure digital processing and increased security.
Photo recording system from the Bundesdruckerei. The wheelchair symbol for height adjustment is available for people in wheelchairs or smaller people. This means that the person to be photographed is also in the picture.
(Image: heise online)
From May 2025, significant changes to the ID and passport system will come into force in Germany. New rules on how passport photos are created and sent to the issuing authority are important for citizens. From 2025, passport photos must be created digitally and sent directly to the authorities. Photo studios will need their own certification for this.
"The new regulation applies to the taking of photographs when applying for passports, ID cards, electronic residence permits and travel documents under the law on foreigners (travel documents for foreigners, travel documents for refugees and travel documents for stateless persons)", according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI).
Passport photos at the Citizens' Registration Office and private photo studios
Passport photos can be taken for 6 euros directly at machines in the citizens' offices, but also by certified photographers. "According to the cloud provider Ringfoto, more than 3,200 photo service providers have already registered for this across Germany," explains the BMI. The images are then transmitted in encrypted form to a secure cloud. Authorities can retrieve the passport photos using a data matrix code that is given to the applicant. This procedure is intended to prevent identity theft and increase the security of the documents.
"Another new feature is that, from May, it will also be possible to have the ID card sent to you by post," says Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD). Citizens can also enter an e-mail address to receive reminders before the documents expire. This should help citizens to apply for new documents in good time and thus ensure the continued validity of their identity documents.
Due to the extensive changes, according to the BMI, there is a transitional regulation that allows local authorities to "continue to accept paper photographs in exceptional cases" until July 31, 2025. This means that anyone who unknowingly had a paper passport photo taken in April for their application in May should not have to pay twice. "The authority will either accept the paper photo as an exception or – if it already has the appropriate technology on site – a digital photo on site. In such cases, the local authorities are required to waive the photo fee", explains the BMI.
Videos by heise
Simplified address changes
From May, it will also be easier to change the address on ID documents. Previously, this required an official stamp. In the future, this will be replaced by digital change stickers, which will replace the previous manual process. These stickers contain a 2D barcode as a digital seal that is cryptographically protected to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the data. After moving, the passport holder can affix the sticker to the passport themselves. This innovation is intended to simplify the process for both citizens and authorities and increase counterfeit protection.
For over a year now, since January 2024, children aged six and over have also had to provide their fingerprints when applying for an ID card or passport. The biometric passport has also been mandatory for children since the start of 2024. The previous children's passport without a chip and fingerprint will no longer be issued or renewed.
(mack)
