Paper photos soon to be invalid – ePassport photo requirement active since May 2025

ePassport Photo: Looking Back at the 2025 Digital Change

The ePassport photo process for German passports and identity cards was introduced on May 1, 2025. A technical transition allowing paper photos in exceptional cases ended on July 31, 2025. This deadline has passed.

What is changing?

Printed photos are no longer accepted for this German application process. Photos must be taken digitally and securely transmitted directly to the local Bürgeramt (citizens’ registration office) through an encrypted system. This aims to enhance document security and prevent photo manipulation through morphing techniques.

Where can I get a digital passport photo?

• At your local Bürgeramt: Many municipal offices now offer photo booths that automatically upload images to the system.
• From certified photographers or service providers: These professionals are authorized to take digital ID photos and send them securely to the authorities.

Good to know

The change does not invalidate existing passports or identity cards. It concerns photo submission for a new application and does not, by itself, require an early replacement of your document.

Arrange your digital photo before your authority appointment. For background, see the German Federal Government’s May 2025 update (German). Check separate requirements for foreign passports and other documents.

More Info or Book a Session:

➡️ Passport Photos at PM Studios – Certified Photo Studio in Munich

ePassport photo requirements: how to use this older notice

This article explains the 2025 transition. The ePassport photo change is not an instruction to replace an otherwise valid identity document simply because it contains an older picture. The delivery process becomes relevant when applying for a new document. When finding an old deadline through a search engine, check the publication date and the current instructions from your issuing authority before planning your visit.

Identify the document before arranging a photograph

Write down whether you need a German identity card, a German passport or another document. Foreign passports and visas can have different requirements. Ask the issuing office if anything is unclear, and share its instructions with the studio when booking. A general passport-photo article cannot settle the specifications for every country or document. Clarifying this first helps avoid ordering an unsuitable format.

Plan the two appointments separately

The ePassport photo process concerns the image, not every part of your application. Check the other paperwork and appointment arrangements independently. Booking a photography session does not reserve an appointment at the citizens’ office. Allow time between the visits to resolve questions about the photograph or retrieval code. If your application is urgent, ask directly about availability instead of assuming immediate service.

Keep the code for the application

If the studio supplies a retrieval code, keep it available until your authority appointment. The code allows access to the supplied photograph; it is not an identity document, an application receipt or a promise of a particular processing time. If it is lost, contact the studio before booking another session. Having the session date and booking details available will help identify the original visit.

Check separate applications separately

If you need several documents, ask whether the same photograph can be used for each one. The relevant authority’s requirements and the currency of the image matter. A child’s appearance can change, and a previously issued code does not automatically answer whether a picture remains suitable. Confirm the requirements rather than assuming that one file will be accepted by every office.

A practical next step

Use this historical notice to understand why printed submissions were replaced in this process. For your appointment, rely on current authority instructions and the relevant studio service. An ePassport photo session can then be planned around the correct document: clarify the requirements, arrange the picture, retain the retrieval information and bring it to the application. This avoids confusion between a photograph, its delivery code and the application itself.