Implementation measures have been put in place by the Commission to guarantee the enforcement of the new regulations.
Starting from August 1, 2025, Germany will require only digital photo submissions for ID cards and passports, marking a fundamental shift towards secure, biometric digital photo processes in its passport and ID card applications. This new rule follows a transition phase from May 1, 2025 to July 31, 2025, during which both digital and paper photos are accepted within Germany.
During the transition phase, every German passport and ID card office, as well as foreigner's office, is expected to have at least 2D barcode scanners for accepting digital light images from private photo services. However, some communities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria face obstacles such as missing scanners, photo services, or travel distances of over 50 kilometers.
The ministry explains that the main reason for this change is the protection against image manipulations, often referred to as "morphing". This practice endangers the passport or ID card as a tool for identity control. The ministry warns of these threats and emphasizes the importance of high-quality biometric passport photos.
In the new digital process, professional photographers take the photo which is immediately encrypted and sent digitally to the authorities via a secure cloud system, accessible using a QR code at the application office. However, software sometimes accepts photos that do not meet the requirements, such as those with skewed faces or poor lighting. In such cases, applicants may be required to return to the waiting area after data entry by an employee.
Citizens applying for a new ID card or passport must submit their photos digitally from August 1, 2025 onward. Pictures from certified photo studios are allowed, provided they are securely and digitally transmitted to the authority. Printed photos will no longer be accepted for ID cards or passports.
The ministry's letter points out problems with automatic photo verification and the reliance on technology. Despite these challenges, the move towards digital photo submissions is aimed at enhancing security and ensuring high-quality biometric passport photos by eliminating the possibility of photo manipulation.
The transition phase specifically applies within Germany until July 31, 2025, after which the strict digital-only rule begins. It remains unclear if other areas, such as foreign German consulates or embassies abroad, have a longer transition phase. The ministry has warned of the risks associated with image manipulations and emphasized the importance of adhering to the new rules.
- The transition phase within Germany, running from May 1, 2025, to July 31, 2025, requires every passport and ID card office, as well as foreigner's office, to have at least 2D barcode scanners for acceptings digital light images from private photo services, aiming to facilitate lifestyle changes towards a more technology-based process.
- As the ministry emphasizes, the move towards requiring digital photo submissions for ID cards and passports from August 1, 2025, is primarily driven by concerns about image manipulations, also known as "morphing", which pose risks to identity control and underscore the significance of high-quality biometric passport photos and secure technology in today's lifestyle.
