Paper-based biometric photos will no longer be accepted for the application of sovereign identification documents as of 1 May 2025.

The Passport Regulation stipulates that only passport photos created either directly at the authority or provided digitally by photographers may be used for the application of identification documents.
The reason for this regulation is the intention of the legislator and regulation authorities to effectively counter the risk of forged photos in identity documents.
You may keep your old passport photos as souvenirs or, if they are still sufficiently up to date, for applications for swimming passes, fishing licenses, or other types of identification documents.

From 1 May 2025 onward, biometric photos for identification documents must be submitted exclusively in electronic form by photo studios, using secure electronic transmission channels to the local ID issuing authority.

If a photograph is to be used for an identity document, the photographer must upload the image to a secure cloud starting from 1 May 2025. You will receive a printout of a data matrix code (similar to a QR code), which the authorities will use to locate and download your photograph from the cloud. Without the printed data matrix code, the authorities will not be able to find your photograph in the cloud. Apart from the image, no other personal data will be stored in the cloud. Please enquire directly with the photographer about any charges for their service.

Alternatively, the responsible authority may offer to take biometric photos electronically on site and integrate them directly into the application process without any media disruption.
Please check with your local ID issuing authority, for example via their website or by phone, whether the equipment to capture biometric photographs is available.

You can find your responsible authorities at servicesuche.bund.de