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Local Germany
13-05-2025
- Local Germany
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.
Local Germany
25-04-2025
- Local Germany
What foreigners should know about Germany's digital ID cards and residence permits
Using the word 'digitalisation' can understandably raise some eyebrows in Germany: the country is famous for its love affair with fax machines, and efforts to move its analogue processes online can often take years to complete. In some areas, however, there has been a suprising amount of process recently: visa applications from abroad were moved online in January , and states like Berlin have been modernising their processes for updating and applying for residence permits. READ ALSO: How to apply for a residency permit online in Berlin Things are also moving ahead for the country's electronic ID card and residence permits. In May, some key changes should make it possibly to apply for a new eID in just a single visit to your local immigration office or Bürgeramt. Whether you're an EU or German citizen who holds an e-Ausweis (eID card), or a non-EU citizen with an electronic Aufentshaltstitel (residence permit), here's what to know about the new process. How much of the application can be done online? That partly depends on where you live, but in most cases, the first step is to find your nearest local authority and book an appointment online. If you're a naturalised German or EU citizen , your local Bürgeramt , or citizens' office, will be responsible for issuing your new passport or ID card. Advertisement If you're a non-EU citizen , your residence permit application will be handled by your local Ausländerbehörde , or immigration office. An easy way to check where you need to go is to use the government's 'search and find' portal online . This tool lets you search for particular admin services by region or postal code so you can find the local authority responsible for you. In some cases, you may be able to fill in an online application. In others, you can fill in a form beforehand and bring it to your appointment, along with any required evidence and documentation. Once your application has been approved at the in-person appointment, you'll need to wait for your new documents to be issued, which can take a number of weeks. Advertisement What's changing in May? The biggest change entering into force in May is that you'll no longer be able to use paper photos when applying for your new ID card. Over the coming months, immigration and citizens' offices around the country will be gradually equipped with digital photo terminals, branded the 'PointID' system. This means you can get your photo taken on-site for a fee of €6 during your application appointment. READ ALSO: Germany starts next phase of digitalisation for ID and residence cards According to the Interior Ministry, around 90 percent of local authorities are set to have a PointID terminal in future. A woman demonstrates the use of the new digital PointID terminals at a Bürgeramt in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jan Woitas There will be a bit of leeway for people who haven't yet heard about the changes: until July 31st, authorities will be allowed to permit paper photos in some circumstances, or allow people who make an honest mistake to use the digital photo machines free of charge. In addition, people will be able to pay a fee of €15 in order to have their documents delivered to them securely by post. At present, applicants generally have to return to the citizens' or immigration office to pick up their documents in person. Can I still get my photograph taken elswhere? Absolutely - though paper photos are being phased out, digital photos from other providers are still very much permitted. This includes photos taken at professional photo studios or services provided at drugstores like DM. Since your passport or residence permit photo is a sensitive document, you won't just be able to email it to the Bürgeramt or save it on your phone, however. Advertisement Instead, the photo service provider will need to issue you a special matrix code (similar to a QR code) that you can give to your case worker at the immigration office or Bürgeramt . This will allow them to access the photo on a securely encrypted cloud. According cloud provider Ringfoto, around 3,200 businesses have signed up to the service so far. What else is new? The government is currently in the process of making changes to the eID function on electronic ID cards and residence permits. This function, which is automatically activated in new ID cards, allows you to prove your identity digitally in order to access online government portals, apply for a bank account, or rent a car, for example. It can also allow you to prove your age at vending machines where ID is required, such as cigarette machines. READ ALSO: What is Germany's electronic ID card and how do you use it? Currently, proving your identity via the eID function involves downloading the AusweisApp2 on your smartphone and/or computer and using your phone as a card reader during the verification process. A German citizen verifies their identity using their e-ID card and smartphone. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-tmn | Andrea Warnecke Over the next two years, however, the government is planning to roll out a new mobile wallet that can securely store a digital ID card or residence permit. That will mean residents no longer need to carry a physical card or use an external card reader to prove their identity. READ ALSO: Germany's new digital ID app for residents So far, it sounds like German citizens will be the first to benefit from this transition, but by 2027, the EU has mandated that all EU residents should have access to this kind of digital wallet. This will pave the way for digital travel documentation and advanced border checks in the future.
Local Germany
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Everything that changes in Germany in May 2025
Married couples can adopt a double name The rules around changing your name in Germany are quite restrictive, but an important liberalisation is set to come in on May 1st. From that date, married couples will be able to opt for a joint double-barrelled second name, either with or without a hyphen. Previously, only one partner was allowed to take on a double name - usually the woman. READ ALSO: Why Germany is changing its complicated rules around double surnames If the married couple opts to simply keep one name, they can still choose a double-barrelled surname for their child. If they don't choose a specific surname for the child, the double surname will be given automatically. Once a name has been picked for the first child in a family, all future children that the couple has together will be given the same name. Germany gets a new government Around 10 weeks after the federal elections took place in February, Germany's new coalition government is set to enter office on May 6th. Conservative veteran Friedrich Merz, who has long dreamt of taking on the most powerful role in the country, is set to replace the SPD's Olaf Scholz as Chancellor on this date. Merz's centre-right CDU and CSU alliance will govern along the centre-left SPD, marking the fifth 'Black-Red' coalition in Germany's history. Advertisement We won't know who the key ministers in the cabinet will be until early May, but SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has so far been tipped for the Finance Ministry , while Boris Pistorius is likely to stay on in defence. The new government has said it will prioritise revitalising Germany at a time of crisis, rebuilding its infrastructure and military capabilities and modernising the country's economy. No more paper photos for residence permits As part of efforts to digitalise administrative processes, only digital photos will be allowed on applications for passports, ID cards and residence permits from May. Over the coming months, photo terminals will be rolled out at Bürgerämter (citizens' offices) and immigration offices around the country. This will allow applicants for ID documents to take their photo on-site when they come for their appointment. People will still be able to go to photo studios and drugstores like Rossmann and DM to get their photos, but these will need to have access to a new encrypted cloud system. Acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) demonstrates the use of the digital PointID photo terminals at a press event in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jan Woitas If you've already got a paper photo ready for your appointment in May, however, don't panic: a grace period is in place until July 31st, meaning local authorities can still accept non-digital photos in some cases. In another helpful change, passports, ID cards and residence permits can soon be sent directly to your home for a postage fee of €15. That means that, from May, you should only need one visit to the immigration office to apply for a new Aufenthaltstitel . READ ALSO: Germany starts next phase of digitalisation for ID and residence cards Germany celebrates two public holidays May is a great time for public holidays, with two Feiertage happening at the beginning and end of the month. On May 1st, marches and wild raves are held to celebrate Labour Day, while Ascension Day - or Christi Himmelfahrt - falls on May 29th. Advertisement Both of these holidays are on a Thursday this year, making it the perfect opportunity to book a couple of Brückentagen - or bridging days. This clever scheme, beloved of workers in Germany, involves strategically using your annual leave to give yourself a longer period of time off around public holidays. In this case, booking Friday 2nd and Friday 30th would give you two four-day weekends in May - all for price of just two days of your annual holiday. READ ALSO: How employees in Germany can make the most of public holidays in 2025 Tougher rules for organic waste You'll want to take extra care while separating your organic waste ( Biomüll ) from the start of May, because Germany is introducing significantly increased fees for violation of its biowaste regulations. From May 1st, you could face hefty fines up to €2,500 if you fail to properly separate inorganic materials from the food and organic waste in your biowaste bin. This comes as part of a new biowaste ordinance to be implemented nationwide. A woman throws banana peels wrapped in newspaper into a garbage can for organic waste. Violations of biowaste rules are about to get much more expensive. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Felix Kästle To stay on the right side of the law (and the refuse collectors), you'll need to ensure that no more than three percent of your waste is inorganic matter, and no more than one percent is plastic, in future. Of course, the best rule of thumb is to follow a "compostable-only" rule, where your Biomüll is reserved for food, garden waste and small scraps of paper. READ ALSO: Why you'll have to take more care sorting your biowaste in Germany from May Microsoft turns off Skype service For a certain group of millennials, this one may have a nostalgic pang: Microsoft is officially retiring is Skype video-calling service in May and shifting its focus to Teams instead. Following the shutdown on May 5th, people who still have Skype accounts can migrate over to Microsoft Teams instead, where all their previous chats and contacts will be waiting for them. Election of new pope Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, a new head of the Catholic church is set to be elected by a papal conclave in May. These conclaves generally begin 15 to 20 days after a pope's passing - in this case, between May 6th and May 12th. To elect a new pope, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel and vote on potential candidates, with a two-thirds majority required to pick the winner. Advertisement Among the electors are three German cardinals: Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, the Archbishop of Cologne; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, and Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Müller is also believed to be a potential candidate to become the next pope, though he is generally seen as an outlier. READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about the Catholic community in Germany
Local Germany
23-04-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Germany starts next phase of digitalisation for ID and residence cards
The new regulation applies to a range of identity documents, including ID cards, passports electronic residence permits and travel documents for foreigners. However, offices issues driving licences and other official documents will still accept paper photos for the time being. Announcing the changes in Dessau, acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said the transition to digital photos would make the process of applying for a residence permit more efficient in future. READ ALSO: Germany's new digital ID app for residents "In future, our passport and ID documents will be even more secure against misuse or forgery thanks to the digital photographs," the SPD politician explained. "At the same time, we are reducing the administrative burden and simplifying the process, as local authorities will be able to offer citizens the entire application process in just one visit to the citizens' office." As part of the digital switch, the Federal Printing House ( Bundesdruckerei ) will equip immigration offices and citizens' offices ( Bürgerämter ) with specially authorised photo terminals by summer, known as the 'PointID' system. This will mean that residents can secure a digital photo on-site during their appointment to apply for a residence permit, foreigners' travel document, German passport or ID card. The Interior Ministry expects that well over 90 percent of German passport and immigration authorities will be able to provide digital photographs in future. The PointID terminals can be used for a fee of €6. Alternatively, applicants for e-ID cards will still have the option of going to photo service providers such as photo studios and drugstores to secure their digital photos. Their picture will then be submitted to the authorities via an encrypted cloud "to prevent misuse and forgeries", according to the ministry. Advertisement After the photo is taken, the service provider will issue customers a digital matrix code - similar to a QR code. This can then be scanned by the authorities at the Bürgeramt or immigration office in order to securely retreive the digital photo. According cloud provider Ringfoto, around 3,200 businesses have signed up to the service so far. READ ALSO: What is Germany's electronic ID card and how do you use it? Though the new rules will enter into force on May 1st, local authorities will be given a grace period of three months until July 31st to fully implement the changes. During this time, they will still be able to accept some paper photos in some situations. "If citizens have already had a paper passport photo taken in April for their application in May out of ignorance, no one will have to make a new appointment," the Interior Minister explains on its website . Acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) demonstrates the use of the digital PointID photo terminals at a press event in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jan Woitas "The authority will either accept the paper photo as an exception or - if it already has the appropriate technology on site - a digital photo on site. In such cases, the local authorities are obliged to waive the photo fee." In another key change set to come in this May, passports, ID cards and residence permits will be able to be delivered by post in future. Advertisement This will mean applicants can complete the process in a single visit to their local Bürgeramt or immigration office and have their documents delivered to their door. According to the Interior Ministry, this will be available for a fee of €15, which is intended to cover the cost of secure delivery. The transition away from paper photos is one of a number of steps that the German government has taken in recent months to digitalise its adminstrative processes. In October, an app was launched that enables residents of Germany to easily prove their identity . Numerous states, including Berlin, have also rolled out digital applications for residence permits and citizenship, while a national online visa application portal was launched worldwide in January .
