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Digital photographs in the town hall: new passport and ID card applications!
From now on, citizens in Pfatter can have digital photos taken for ID documents in the town hall - safely, quickly and easily.
Digital photographs in the town hall: new passport and ID card applications!
From September 16, 2025, the application process for identity cards and passports in the municipality will be significantly simplified and digitized. Citizens now have the opportunity to have their photographs taken directly at the town hall, which makes the application process much easier. The service costs €6.00 and, unlike previous regulations, digital passport photos can no longer be accepted in printed form. This is a key measure to increase security when issuing identification documents.
As Pfatter.de reports, it is also possible to have photographs taken by certified photo service providers, where the images are digitally transmitted to the authority via the cloud. Citizens who choose this route must receive a printed QR code that allows digital access to the photos. These new regulations are intended to make forging ID cards more difficult, as printed photos have often been considered a security risk in the past.
Photo submission changes and security enhancements
From May 1, 2025, printed passport photos may no longer be submitted. As digitaleslichtbild.de explains, all biometric photographs must then be available digitally. This applies not only to the local authority, but also to German embassies and consulates abroad. The photos are transmitted either on site in specially equipped authorities or by a certified photographer who securely digitally transfers the images.
One of the main motivations behind this change is to increase the security of identification documents. Traditional printed photos offer more targets for counterfeiting. That is why the digital requirement is being introduced not only for identity cards, but also for passports and electronic residence permits. Children who would like to apply for a child ID card in the future should note that it will only be valid for one year.
According to stern.de, citizens can decide whether they want to use the photo service in the authority or in a photo studio. In both cases, it is important that the image transmission takes place securely in order to prevent manipulation such as “morphing”.
Further information and accessibility
The decision to no longer accept paper-based passport photos is part of a nationwide initiative to improve security and prevent misuse of ID documents. If you have any questions about the new regulations, the Citizens' Office is available to provide citizens with comprehensive advice and information about the application process.