New rules for passport photos in Kleve: Citizens have to act digitally!

New rules for passport photos in Kleve: Citizens have to act digitally!

From May 2, 2025, new rules apply in Kleve to apply for ID documents. The city has decided that corresponding biometric passport photos may only be transmitted via digital means. This affects all ID documents, including personnel cards, preliminary identity cards, travel passes and temporary passports. Printed biometric photographs are no longer accepted, which is a significant change for applicants. The digital transmission must be carried out via certified providers that are available locally, which is why photo studios, specialist dealers and selected drugstores in Kleve will offer the necessary services.

Mayor Wolfgang Gebing has declared that the city does not install photo machines in registration authorities in order not to compete with private companies. This decision is intended to support local service providers, especially in the currently difficult economic situation. The new regulation is part of a more comprehensive law that was decided in December 2020. The aim is to strengthen the security in pass, ID and foreign law documents.

technical foundations of the new requirements

According to the provisions of the law introduced on December 11, 2020, specific security measures are also required for the electronic transmission of the photographs to authorities. These measures are defined in the technical guideline BSI TR-03170, which regulates the safe cloud-based exchange of biometric photographs. From May 1, 2025, the photographs must be created digitally and securely transmitted to the responsible authorities. However, the previous process for creating and transmission remains unchanged by this date.

The exclusion of independent photographs by citizens is another central change. Photographers are now obliged to transfer their photographs via a certified cloud solution. This means that you have to register and demonstrate your identity. This regulation ensures that security standards increase and manipulations, as possible by the technique of morphing, are excluded.

• Important points for the new regulation:
• from May 2, 2025, only digital transmission of passport photos is permitted.
• The transmission must be carried out by certified providers.
• certified service providers are available in Kleve (photo studios and drugstores).
• The city will not provide its own photo machines.

The law to strengthen security in the document system has the goal of increasing the quality of the passport photos and ensuring the integrity of the identity examination. The complete implementation of these regulations helps to strengthen confidence in the document exhibition and prevent potential abuse. Further information on the technical requirements and the certification process is available on the BSI website.