Overview

• From August 1, all new passport and ID applications must include biometric photos captured at certified offices or providers and uploaded via TR-03170–compliant encrypted cloud services.
• Municipalities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bavaria and other rural districts can continue accepting paper photos until September 30 under Interior Ministry exemptions for delayed equipment deliveries.
• The Bundesdruckerei reports that recent software updates have resolved early technical glitches, though some offices still rely on alternative systems where terminals are pending.
• Under the new system, applicants receive a retrieval code from certified drugstores or photo studios that local authorities use to access images electronically.
• The Deutsche Städtetag warns that an imminent €5 increase in passport fees will burden local budgets and calls on the federal government to adjust applicant charges.