New legal regulations for biometric photos have been in force since May 1, 2025. According to these regulations, biometric passport photos for ID documents may only be taken digitally directly at the authorities or in certified photo studios and transmitted to the authorities via a secure electronic channel. The exemption valid until July 31, 2025, according to which printed photographs can still be accepted temporarily, has not been extended.
The following citizens' offices are currently equipped with a terminal for biometric passport photos:
Over the next few months, further citizens' offices in the state capital of Stuttgart will be equipped with terminals for taking photos directly on site. We will update this on this page on an ongoing basis. Please note that the photos taken at the citizens' offices cannot be used to issue electronic residence permits (eAT).
Please note: The terminals in the citizens' offices are currently not yet suitable for taking digital photos of small children (up to approx. 4 years of age). In addition, the terminals in the Stammheim and Untertürkheim Citizens' Offices can only be used from a height of approx. 1.40 m due to technical conditions. In these cases, please contact a certified photo studio directly.
Alternatively, you can also have your digital photo taken at a certified photo studio or at dm. The photos are then made available to the citizens' offices via a secure, electronic channel. You can find certified photo studios in your area (opens in a new tab) here.
This change is part of the law to strengthen security in the passport, ID and immigration document system. The aim is to prevent the manipulation of official documents (in particular through so-called morphing techniques) and to further increase the security of your ID documents. The high security standards of German ID documents, for example, allow you to enter 170 countries worldwide without a visa.
Please take note of this new regulation the next time you apply for a passport or ID card. A printed photograph is still required to apply for a driving license.
Prerequisites
Procedure
Processing time
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More information
Legal basis
How to contact us:
Citizen office Mitte
Induction and training office
Citizens' Advice Bureau Bad Cannstatt
Citizen's Office Obertürkheim
Citizen office Plieningen
Citizen's office Stammheim
Citizen office Untertürkheim
Service hotline
You have questions? Call us: from any network, without an area code. Authorities number 115: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can usually reach the authorities number 115 at fixed network tariffs and thus free of charge via flat rates. Sign language telephone: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.