New law: Passport photos only directly from the town hall from May 2025!

New law: Passport photos only directly from the town hall from May 2025!

From May 1, 2025, it will no longer be possible to submit paper photos for passports and ID cards to ID authorities in Germany. The aim of this new regulation is to prevent image manipulation, particularly through morphing techniques. How Mercury reported, biometric images will in future have to be sent directly to the passport offices by certified photo studios or service providers.

However, town halls that have the necessary technology can take passport photos themselves and charge a fee of six euros for this. Loud Mercury Almost all town halls in the district are planning to offer passport photo machines or stand-alone machines. Only the municipalities of Gmund and Schliersee forego this option. In Schliersee there is no suitable location for a vending machine, while Gmund is afraid of the expense of a stand-alone device, but can offer a photo service nearby.

New technologies and data protection

In addition, the introduction of photo machines in authorities is expected from May 2025, which will be provided either by private providers or the Bundesdruckerei. How Privacy Notices explain, biometric data allows a person to be uniquely identified based on facial images, fingerprints and facial geometry. This innovation requires a data protection-compliant integration of the machines as well as a data protection impact assessment in accordance with Art. 35 GDPR.

The town halls have different options for facial capture: in Warngau a stand-alone device is used, while in Otterfing a table-top device is planned. Holzkirchen is planning a self-service machine in the entrance area. Bad Wiessee has ordered a sample device for testing, but is not planning on using a machine for the time being. Hausham, on the other hand, only uses the device for emergencies because there is a photographer in the community. Bayrischzell, on the other hand, will develop a software solution to create digital passport photos with a cell phone, as no machine is available.

The municipalities are aware of the problems for photographers, but prioritize citizen-friendliness. While some municipalities expect the devices to be delivered at the beginning of the year, others expect delivery by May. The municipalities are not charged for the costs of the devices.

– Submitted by West-East media