Despite criticism from business community: Cabinet decides on higher ID card fee

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The ID card is set to become pricier. The Federal Cabinet decided on Wednesday to increase the fee from 37 to 46 euros. In addition, a photo fee of 6 euros will still apply if the passport photo is taken by the authorities. The changes will come into effect if the Bundesrat also approves them after the Cabinet.

However, business associations are sharply criticizing the planned fee increase and hope to prevent it. It constitutes “impermissible cross-subsidization,” according to a current statement from the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). The increase is intended to finance the “PointID” photo recording system of the state-owned Bundesdruckerei, “at the expense of retailers and private terminal providers.”

DIHK: State grants Bundesdruckerei a monopoly

Background to the dispute: Theoretically, municipalities can freely choose whether to use the Bundesdruckerei's PointID system or systems from private providers in their citizens' offices. In the spring, the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) decided, however surprisingly, that municipalities can use PointID free of charge. According to the BMI, the development, production, and support of the devices are now to be financed “according to the principle of solidarity” through the general ID card fee.

“It cannot be that the state subsidizes the Bundesdruckerei on the backs of customers and the private sector, effectively giving it a monopoly,” criticizes Dirk Binding, Head of Digital Economy at the DIHK. The de facto obligation to use PointID now presents photo retailers, drugstores, and terminal operators with existential challenges. For many photo shops, passport photo creation accounts for up to 50 percent of their revenue, Binding said.

The BMI rejects the accusation of discrimination against private providers. The free offer serves the public welfare and the creation of equal living conditions throughout the federal territory, the ministry argues. According to the ministry's presentation, the costs for PointID also have a “rather minor” impact on the planned fee increase.

Currently no valid certificate for PointID

Regardless of the dispute over financing, there is another problem with PointID: According to an overview from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Bundesdruckerei system currently does not have a valid BSI certificate for use. The original certificate was only valid from April 30, 2025, to October 31, 2025. It has therefore expired. Instead of five years as usual, it was only valid for half a year.

“The certificate was issued with conditions and is therefore limited to half a year,” a BSI spokesperson explained upon request. According to the conformity report, which c't has access to, PointID passed 21 test cases and failed eight. Among other things, the background replacement worked poorly: in several cases, parts of the background were visible and “major changes were made to the core area of the face (e.g., eyes) and/or the outline of the hairstyle was altered,” the report states.

Furthermore, the duration of the recording process exceeded the required maximum time of 30 seconds, and the lighting was set so dark that “the user frequently receives the message to keep their eyes open.” In short, the device's software was apparently still quite immature at the time of testing.

“Provisional operating permit” allows use

Nevertheless, municipalities are still allowed to use PointID for passport photos. “The Bundesdruckerei currently has a provisional operating permit for the operation of the PointID systems, which allows operation even without a valid certificate,” a spokesperson for the BMI explained upon request. They expect a certification without conditions soon.

The BMI estimated the costs for the development, production, and support of the state-owned PointID systems at 171 million euros over a five-year period in 2020. The fee increase now decided by the Federal Cabinet is part of numerous other changes within the framework of the “Ordinance for the Relief of the Federal Police and Administration in the Area of Passports and ID Cards as well as for the Amendment of further Regulations.”

(cwo)