Last updated: August 2026
Since May 1, 2025, biometric photos for German identity documents and electronic residence permits have generally had to be created and transferred digitally.
This means that applicants can no longer rely on bringing an ordinary printed passport photo to the appointment.
The new process applies to digital photos for German ID cards, passports and several immigration documents issued in Germany.
For international residents, the most important document is usually the electronic residence permit, known in German as the elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel or eAT.
You can normally obtain the required photo in one of two ways:
directly at the responsible authority
through a certified photo provider connected to the secure transfer system
A photo saved on your phone, sent by email or stored on a USB drive is generally not accepted.
What changed in May 2025?
Before the change, applicants usually brought printed biometric photos to the Bürgeramt or foreigners authority.
Since May 1, 2025, the required photo has generally had to be:
taken by the authority or an authorized provider
transferred through a secure digital system
retrieved electronically during the document application
A temporary transition period allowed some authorities to continue accepting printed photos until July 31, 2025.
That transition has ended.
Applicants in 2026 should no longer assume that a printed photo will be accepted as a backup.
The reform is intended to improve document security and prevent manipulated images from entering the application process.
It also avoids quality loss caused by printing and rescanning the same image.
Which documents require a digital biometric photo?
The process can apply to applications for:
German identity cards
German passports
electronic residence permits
residence cards for employment
EU Blue Cards
student residence permits
family reunification residence permits
settlement permits issued as cards
permanent EU residence cards
travel documents for foreign nationals
For non-German citizens, digital photos for German ID cards are therefore only one part of the reform. The same secure photo process is also relevant when applying for or renewing many residence documents.
The exact procedure can depend on:
the document
the responsible authority
the city or district
the equipment available at the office
Check the appointment confirmation and the website of your exact authority before attending.
Option 1: Take the photo at the authority
Some Bürgerämter and foreigners authorities have their own photo system.
The photo is taken during or shortly before the application appointment and transferred directly into the authority’s document system.
The standard fee charged by the authority is generally €6.
This can be the simplest option because you do not need to visit an external provider in advance.
However, do not assume that every office offers the service.
Possible local limitations include:
no photo terminal at the location
the terminal being temporarily unavailable
the device being located in another part of the building
the machine not being suitable for small children
the system being usable for passports but not residence permits
different systems being used by the Bürgeramt and foreigners authority
A photo terminal available at one municipal department may not be connected to the system used by another department.
For example, a Bürgeramt terminal may be available for German passports and identity cards but not for electronic residence permits handled by the foreigners authority.
Check the exact location and document type.
Arrive early if the appointment instructions state that the photo should be taken on site before your appointment begins.
Option 2: Use a certified photo provider
You can also have the photo taken by a certified photographer or participating photo service.
The provider creates the biometric image and sends it to the secure system.
You then receive a retrieval code, usually in the form of a QR code or Data Matrix code.
Bring this code to your appointment.
The authority uses it to retrieve the image electronically.
The provider determines the price, so the cost may be higher than the €6 charged by an authority.
Some certified providers may also give you printed copies for private use. These printed copies do not replace the secure electronic transfer.
Before having the photo taken, ask:
Do you offer the secure digital e-passport photo service?
Is it suitable for a German residence permit?
Will I receive a retrieval code?
Is the photo transmitted to the official secure system?
Do not ask only for a “biometric passport photo.” A provider may offer printed biometric photos without participating in the required digital transfer system.
Are drugstores allowed to take the photo?
Some branches of participating drugstores offer the secure photo service.
Certified photographers and specialized photo shops can also provide it.
Do not assume that every branch of a particular chain is connected to the system.
Before visiting, confirm that the exact location offers:
the secure digital biometric photo process
electronic transmission for official German documents
a retrieval code for the authority
A normal photo kiosk that only prints passport photos may not be sufficient.
What does “digital” actually mean?
Digital photos for German ID cards are not ordinary image files that applicants manage themselves.
The approved process does not normally involve:
uploading a JPEG file yourself
emailing the image to the authority
bringing it on a USB drive
showing the photo on your phone
printing a photo generated by an app
using an edited or filtered image
The photo must enter the authority’s system through an approved secure channel.
This is why the retrieval code is important.
The code allows the authority to access the image stored within the authorized system. It does not normally require you to download, save or transmit the image yourself.
Keep the code available and protected until your appointment.
What should you bring to the appointment?
The required documents depend on the application, but for the photo process you should usually bring:
your valid passport
your current residence document, if applicable
your appointment confirmation
the retrieval code from the certified provider
any other documents requested by the authority
If the photo will be taken at the authority, confirm whether:
you need to arrive earlier
payment by card or cash is possible
the photo is taken before or during the appointment
the device is suitable for the applicant
Do not rely on a printed photo as an alternative if the retrieval code is missing.
The authority may require you to obtain a new compliant digital photo and return later.
Can you use a selfie or passport photo app?
Generally, no.
A selfie may look biometric, but it does not meet the secure transmission requirement.
The same applies to an image created through:
a mobile phone app
an online passport photo service
photo editing software
a home printer
a private camera
The issue is not only whether the face appears correctly.
The authority must also be able to verify that the image was created and transmitted through an approved process.
A technically compliant image file is therefore not automatically an acceptable official digital photo.
What if the authority cannot take your photo?
If the office does not offer an on-site photo service, you will normally need to use a certified provider.
The same may apply if:
the terminal is broken
the device cannot capture a compliant image
the applicant is too young or too short for the machine
the applicant needs assistance
the authority’s system cannot use the photo for the requested document
Check this before the appointment where possible.
A technical problem with the authority’s machine does not necessarily mean that a paper photo can be accepted instead.
The office may ask you to obtain a digitally transmitted photo from an external provider.
Photos for babies and young children
The requirement for secure digital transmission also applies to documents issued to children.
However, self-service terminals are not always suitable for babies or very young children.
It can be difficult for a machine to obtain a compliant image when a child:
cannot sit independently
moves frequently
cannot maintain the required facial position
is too small for the equipment
A certified photographer is often the more practical option.
Contact the authority beforehand if you are unsure whether its equipment is suitable.
The same applies to applicants who need physical assistance or cannot use a standard self-service terminal.
How long is the photo available?
The storage and retrieval process is handled through the authorized system.
Local authorities may use the image within a limited time window.
The precise storage period and whether the same code can be used for another document can depend on:
the provider
the authority
the date of the photo
the document type
local technical arrangements
Do not assume that one code can be used indefinitely or by every authority.
Arrange a new photo if the code has expired, cannot be retrieved or no longer reflects your current appearance.
Can the same photo be used for different documents?
Possibly, but not automatically.
Whether one digital photo can be used for multiple applications may depend on:
how recently it was taken
whether the authority can retrieve it
whether both documents use the same system
whether the photo still reflects your appearance
local administrative procedures
A photo taken at one authority may not be available to another department.
A terminal used for a German passport may not necessarily provide a photo usable for an electronic residence permit.
Ask the authority or provider rather than assuming that the image will be shared across all municipal systems.
Common mistakes to avoid
Bringing only a printed photo
Printed passport photos are generally no longer accepted for the documents covered by the new process.
Using an uncertified provider
A shop may produce biometric printed photos without being connected to the secure digital system.
Forgetting the retrieval code
Without the code, the authority may not be able to access the photo.
Assuming the authority has a terminal
Not every office offers on-site photo capture.
Using the wrong municipal terminal
A device at the Bürgeramt may not be usable by the foreigners authority.
Arriving exactly at the appointment time
If the photo must be taken on site first, arriving late can disrupt the appointment.
Bringing a photo on your phone
A phone image does not replace secure electronic transmission.
Expecting the photo to speed up the entire application
A correct photo prevents one avoidable problem. It does not shorten the general processing time for the residence permit.
Does the new process make applications faster?
The digital system can simplify how the photo enters the document application.
It may prevent delays caused by:
unsuitable image size
poor print quality
damaged photos
scanning errors
images that do not meet biometric requirements
However, it does not affect:
appointment availability
document review
qualification checks
employer approval
processing by the Federal Employment Agency
production of the residence card
delivery of the completed document
A correctly prepared photo does not guarantee that the application will be completed in one appointment.
Does this rule apply to visa applications abroad?
This article mainly explains the procedure for identity documents and residence documents applied for inside Germany.
Visa applications at German embassies and consulates abroad can follow different local processes.
Do not assume that the system used by a German Bürgeramt or foreigners authority applies in exactly the same way to every German mission abroad.
Follow the instructions provided by:
the German embassy or consulate
the official visa portal
the authorized application center
The requirements for the visa application photo may differ from the process for an electronic residence permit after arrival in Germany.
Practical checklist
Before your appointment:
Check which document you are applying for.
Read the appointment confirmation.
Confirm whether the authority offers on-site photo capture.
Check whether the machine can be used for your document type.
Use a certified provider if necessary.
Confirm that the provider offers secure digital transmission.
Keep the retrieval code.
Bring your passport and requested documents.
Arrive early if the photo will be taken at the authority.
Do not rely on a printed photo, selfie or phone image.
Following these steps can prevent one avoidable delay in your application.
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This article provides general administrative information. Local procedures, technical systems and document requirements can differ between authorities. Always check the appointment confirmation and official website of the authority responsible for your application.
