How is the transition to digital ID photos progressing in Germany?
Since May 1st, Germany's immigration and citizens' offices have been required to accept digital photos for ID cards, passports and residence permits as part of the
latest digitalisation efforts
.
In practice that means that
Ausländerbehörden
and
Bürgerämter
around the country have been equipped with new photo machines where people can take their ID photos on-site for a fee. Alternatively, digital photos (taken at an off-site studio) can be submitted in the form of a scannable code.
The change was intended to help streamline the process of applying for a new ID. But it appears the transition to digital photos has not been perfectly smooth.
One week after the change was enacted, a
Reddit post
on the Berlin subreddit said that the new photo machines at offices in Berlin were not working. The author of the post suggested that people with appointments would be better off taking photos elsewhere in advance, and even bringing a printed backup just in case.
Comments on the post showed mixed responses: some users said they had indeed brought printed photos to their appointments (which had been accepted), a couple users said they had actually been required to provide physical photos, and at least one user said they had used a new digital photo kiosk with no problems.
Advertisement
As is so often the case with German bureaucracy, it seems that the smoothness of obtaining a digitial photo depends on where you live - and is partly luck of the draw.
READ ALSO:
What foreigners should know about Germany's digital ID cards and residence permits
With that in mind, we contacted immigration authorities in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich to get a sense of how Germany's latest digitalisation effort is playing out on the ground.
Berlin reports 'no disruptions' (but you can bring a printed photo just in case)
A spokesperson for Berlin's immigration authority, the
Landesamt für Einwanderung
(LEA), told The Local there would be 'no disruptions to service' following the changes implemented on May 1st.
However, they added that due to long appointment lead times many customers are still bringing printed biometric photos to their appointments, which are still accepted during the transition period.
As
The Local has reported
, local authorities have been given a transition period, or
Übergangszeit
, of three months (until July 31st) before they must switch to only accepting digital photos.
The entrance to Bürgeramt Reinickendorf in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Kalaene
One commenter on the aforementioned Reddit post said they successfully used the on-site photo kiosk at the LEA office on Friedrich-Krause-Ufer.
The new photo kiosks, which should be available at all immigration and citizens' offices in Germany by July 31st at the latest, are called 'PointID' terminals. They are set-up and maintained by the Federal Printing House (
Bundesdruckerei
).
READ ALSO:
Berlin citizenship offices to offer drop-in appointments on May 14th
Frankfurt has yet to turn on the new photo machines
Asked if immigration offices in Frankfurt were having any issues with the PointID photo kiosks, a spokesperson for the City of Frankfurt told The Local the new photo machines were 'not yet operational.'
They added that Frankfurt's immigration office has six PointID devices, but none are currently in service.
These will presumably be working ahead of the July 31st deadline.
Advertisement
In the meantime, the immigration office in Germany's banking capital continues to accept printed ID photos, which can be brought in from external photo studios or taken at a 'Photo-fix' machine on-site.
Customers with upcoming appointments at the immigration office can expect to be informed directly by the
Ausländerbehörde
ahead of their visit as to how the transition to digital photos is progressing.
REVEALED:
The new flights from Frankfurt starting in spring 2025
Munich notes issues taking photos of babies on the new machines
A spokesperson for Munich's District Administration Department (KVR), which is the city's
security and regulatory authorit
y, said that the immigration office as well as all citizens' offices have been using PointID photo machines since May 1st.
'The launch went mostly smoothly,' the spokesperson told The Local, but they added that taking photos of babies and small children with the new machines 'can sometimes be difficult'.
Advertisement
Therefore, the KVR asks parents of children under the age of six to have a biometric photo of their children taken in a certified photo studio before their appointment. A digital copy of these photos can then be retrieved directly from the cloud by case officers.
You can find links to certified photo studio locations in Munich in
this update
on the city website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Germany
3 days ago
- Local Germany
What to study in Germany to land a high-paying career
Most German universities offer high quality teaching, world-class facilities, courses in English, and internationally recognised degrees. Tuition is also state funded at Germany's public universities and colleges. The only additional charge for non-EU/EEA international students is a small 'semester fee' of between €100 and €300. That is except in the state of Baden-Württemberg -- home to Heidelberg University -- which levies a fee of €1,500 per semester on non-EU/EEA students. But which courses, and universities, offer the best prospect of a high-flying career? It's no big secret that to land a high-paying job in Germany, you'd be well advised to study something in the field of engineering or IT. In an effort to advise the next generation of skilled workers who may want to emigrate to Germany, the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard recently compiled a list of the top courses to study with high employment opportunities in the country. Unsurprisingly, six out of ten of those subjects fell into the IT or engineering fields. But arguably as important as picking the right subject to study is picking the right university. After all, the school you enrol in determines the quality of your courses as well as the peers you're exposed to, and often also the opportunities you'll get upon graduation. With all of that in mind, here's The Local's guide to the subjects that are ideal for those looking to secure a well-paid job in Germany after their studies -- and a few of the top German institutions for studying them. READ ALSO: The best-paid jobs you can get without a university degree in Germany Note that the institutions listed here are internationally recognised in the fields indicated, but they're only the tip of the iceberg. With roughly 400 universities and technical colleges, Germany has something to offer everyone. Visit the DAAD website for a comprehensive overview. All salary estimates are from Payscale . Engineering A recognised global centre of excellence for all things engineering, Germany is home to industrial giants including Siemens, Bosch, Volkswagen, and BMW. Graduates in engineering from universities including the Technical University (TU) of Munich, RWTH Aachen University, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are at the heart of Germany's energy transition, as well as numerous new developments in automation. Advertisement Courses in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, automotive engineering and environmental engineering place a strong emphasis on research, design, and real-world applications. An engineer works in the clean room of the pilot production plant for SOEC electrolyzers of Thyssenkrupp. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Martin Schutt According to Payscale, the average salary for an engineer in Germany in 2025 ranges from €44,000 for an environmental engineer to €57,000 for an automotive engineer. TU Berlin, the University of Erlangen Nuremberg, and TU Dresden are particularly well-regarded for electrical engineering. For budding automotive engineers, TU Munich, the University of Stuttgart, and Wolfsburg University of Applied Sciences have strong connections with BMW, Mercedes Benz, and VW respectively – offering access to potential internships and entry-level positions. READ ALSO: Weimar to Heidelberg - The best German university towns for foreign students Computer science, IT, and machine learning Advertisement Like engineering, computer science is a catch-all term covering a range of university courses and an even greater variety of career opportunities, from IT and AI to cybersecurity and software development. Germany is currently investing heavily in digitalisation and AI across sectors including finance, logistics and health – and leading universities typically partner with start-ups and multinationals to provide hands on experience as well as pathways into rewarding tech roles. According to Payscale, the average salary for a computer scientist in Germany is currently €55,000. According to the Study in Germany website, TU Munich, TU Berlin, RWTH Aachen University, the University of Munich, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are the top five institutions in Germany for a degree in computer science. Architecture There are times when it feels as if all of Germany is a building site. With ambitious plans to add to the country's housing stock, as well as to modernise and re-purpose existing buildings, there are numerous opportunities for ambitious young architects. Graduates who want to work abroad will also benefit from the focus at German universities on green design, urban planning, and energy efficiency. Arch20 has a useful list of the top ten architecture schools in Germany, featuring Weimar University, Brandenburg University, and Wuppertal University. The average salary for an architect in Germany is €39,000. Business Administration & Management As with engineering and computer science, German universities offering business administration courses make a point of encouraging students to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. Advertisement Courses typically begin by covering the basics of economics, marketing, and accounting, before offering students an opportunity to focus on a specific area. The University of Mannheim, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and the School of Business & Economics at Berlin's Free University are all renowned for their business administration courses. Payscale estimates that the average salary for business administration graduates in Germany is €55,000 – but, as with many of the jobs listed here, the sky's the limit. Medicine, Healthcare & Psychology Germany is currently suffering from a well-publicised and acute shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals. A strong command of German is required to study many of these subjects in Germany (more so than for subjects such as engineering or computer science), but international students willing and able to make the effort are almost guaranteed to walk into a secure position on graduation. Psychology is currently one of the most popular fields of study in Germany. Photo by Alex Green from Pexels While psychology is currently one of the most popular fields of study in Germany, the number of graduates does not seem to be slowing demand in the workplace. Depending on the area students choose to focus on, a degree in psychology can lead to opportunities across a range of different fields – including healthcare and counselling, as well as jobs in the private sector such as human resources, market research, and marketing. The average wage for psychology graduates varies wildly depending on the chosen career path. As a general rule, however, a career in business tends to attract the highest salary. There are many renowned medical schools in Germany, including Heidelberg University, the Charité in Berlin, and the University of Lübeck. Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Humboldt University in Berlin, and the University of Mannheim enjoy similarly stellar reputations for psychology. RANKED: The 'best' universities in Germany for 2025
Local Germany
3 days ago
- Local Germany
'Tax justice': Germany considers 10 percent levy on internet giants
"This is a question of tax justice," parliamentary state secretary in the digital ministry Philip Amthor told Die Welt newspaper. "Large digital corporations in particular are cleverly engaging in tax avoidance" while German businesses are "treated with no mercy, everything is taxed." "A fairer system must be created here so that this tax avoidance is addressed," he said about the plan to tax advertising revenue from platforms such as Meta's Instagram and Facebook. Germany's media and culture commissioner Wolfram Weimer said earlier the government was drafting a proposal for such a digital tax but would first invite Google and other big tech companies for talks. Weimer -- the former editor of Die Welt and other media -- on Thursday told Stern magazine that "the large American digital platforms like Alphabet/Google, Meta and others are on my agenda". He said he had "invited Google management and key industry representatives to meetings at the chancellery to examine alternatives, including possible voluntary commitments". Advertisement "At the same time, we are preparing a concrete legislative proposal," Weimer added. This could be based on the model in Austria, which has a five percent tax, he said, adding that in Germany "we consider a 10 percent tax rate to be moderate and legitimate". He said that "monopoly-like structures have emerged that not only restrict competition but also over-concentrate media power. This puts media diversity at risk". "On the other hand, corporations in Germany are doing billion-dollar business with very high margins and have profited enormously from our country's media and cultural output as well as its infrastructure. "But they hardly pay any taxes, invest too little, and give far too little back to society." Weimer stressed that "something has to change now. Germany is becoming alarmingly dependent on the American technological infrastructure."
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Seamless Expansion: INTERPORT REAL Enables IT and Telecom Infrastructure for Companies Entering Germany
Interport Real Expanding a business across borders is one of the most significant moves a company can make and, arguably, the most complex. For organizations establishing an office in Germany, the challenges go beyond real estate or legal paperwork. INTERPORT REAL GmbH positions itself as the go-to partner for businesses seeking a reliable, plug-and-play solution for technology infrastructure in the country. The full-service provider acknowledges that opening an international branch is inherently stressful, and Germany presents unique challenges that are usually underestimated. Those unfamiliar with the country's market are likely to view the infrastructure landscape as a bureaucratic and logistical maze. Take, for example, telecom and internet service provisioning. In Germany, securing telecom lines or business-grade internet connections can take anywhere from one to three months. This timeline usually blindsides foreign companies used to faster turnarounds and can derail entire launch timelines. According to Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), nearly 1,800 foreign companies set up new operations in Germany in 2024. INTERPORT REAL helps these companies overcome operational delays due to infrastructure missteps or overlooked regulations. INTERPORT REAL has observed how international companies usually demand that their German branches mirror the technological setup of their home offices right down to specific cable types or router models. This uniformity is crucial for streamlined central administration, compatibility, and long-term scalability. However, German vendors may not carry or prioritize these foreign components, leading to delays or substitutions undermining the company's IT strategy. Dr. Walter Hinder, Managing Director, shares an example: "A logistics company might want specific American-manufactured networking cables across all its sites worldwide to ensure interoperability. Ensuring those requirements are met locally without deviation requires a trusted partner with international sourcing experience and on-the-ground technical execution. That's what we do at INTERPORT REAL." Since its establishment in 2002, INTERPORT REAL has offered fully integrated telecom and IT infrastructure solutions tailored to the needs of international companies entering Germany. It has its headquarters in Grasbrunn near Munich and branch offices in Berlin, Leipzig, and Frankfurt. The company stands out for providing turnkey, plug-and-play solutions that allow foreign businesses to hit the ground running without technical friction. It delivers everything under one roof, from cabling and system installation to sourcing bespoke components and ensuring full compliance with local regulations. This in-house approach helps ensure quality control and schedule reliability, a major differentiator in a market where many vendors spread responsibility thinly across multiple third parties. The INTERPORT REAL process is straightforward. It begins by consulting with client stakeholders to translate centralized IT strategies into workable solutions in Germany. The company ensures that every detail aligns with corporate specifications. Each of its clientele receives a meticulously documented, scalable infrastructure aligned with German standards and their own internal protocols. This includes providing physical network cabling, adapting the power supply (uninterruptible power supply units), planning and building IT infrastructure (i.e., access points, switches, routers, and cameras), providing internet access and services lines, installing telephone exchanges, video conference systems, intercoms, and other technical equipment. Post-installation, INTERPORT REAL offers ongoing maintenance and support. This is a critical factor for foreign companies that may not have local IT staff on-site. INTERPORT REAL's ability to devise workarounds in scenarios where regulatory timelines lag is particularly noteworthy. The firm sets up temporary systems or alternative connections to keep businesses operational when telecom line provisioning delays are unavoidable. Moreover, it provides support for the migration from legacy systems to modern cloud-based architectures, including voice over internet protocol (VoIP) systems and cloud-based private branch exchange (cloud PBX) setups. An Installation by INTERPORT REAL It's worth highlighting that INTERPORT REAL specializes in sourcing and integrating international hardware that isn't typically available through German distributors, allowing global clients to maintain their internal IT standards without compromise. INTERPORT REAL thrives on complex, high-stakes projects. Its ideal partners are ambitious, growth-focused companies seeking to launch or scale their German operations without being hindered by technical, legal, or infrastructural complications. INTERPORT REAL has completed several projects for one of the most renowned e-commerce firms in the world. One of the most impressive projects involved a massive IT infrastructure rollout across an 800-meter-long logistics facility. The project required US-standard equipment, cabling, and systems throughout, despite none of it being standard fare in the German market. "We sourced all components, designed the layout, and executed the full installation within a tightly controlled timeline," Dr. Hinder states. INTERPORT REAL also recently engineered the complete IT infrastructure for a newly refurbished hotel complex. It handled everything, from access point optimization to system planning for seminar halls, canteens, and guest rooms. The team utilized advanced tools to ensure flawless wireless local area network (WLAN) coverage, a necessity in modern hospitality. INTERPORT REAL is currently working on several other projects with the same company. Expanding to Germany should be a milestone and not a minefield. For organizations seeking simplicity amidst complexity, INTERPORT REAL emerges as a strategic partner, delivering turnkey IT and telecom infrastructure solutions.
