Germany is mandating the issuance of identity documents with biometric photographs, set to be implemented in 2025.
Only digital photographs will be accepted for all types of ID documents such as ID cards, passports and immigration documents. The biometric documents will be stored in secure databases for example for border control.
The requirement follows a 2023 pilot and announcement which hailed biometric documents as ensuring advanced verification of the ID holder. The process of scanning and matching a biometric photo is much quicker to identify a passenger or citizen than using a basic ID document photo. The photo which must have consistent specifications across all types of documents contains accurate characteristics of the real ID holder and is unlikely to be counterfeited using deepfake or morphing techniques.
The Citizens’ Registration Office or the Immigration Office will verify photographs shared with their officers via a secure connection from 1st May, 2024.
“The biometric requirements for photographs are important to enable secure and quick identification. Citizens should be spared inconveniences, especially during border controls. The capture of biometric data and the unequivocal identification of the applicant are therefore a central part of applying for an identification document from the local authorities”, the Ministry of Interior says.
