Taking a passport photo online – is that still allowed?
Create a passport photo online – quickly, conveniently and from home? This was possible for a long time. Since May 1, 2025, however, the situation has changed fundamentally.
Clear legal requirements now apply to official identification documents such as ID cards and passports: The passport photo must be created digitally and transmitted securely to the relevant authority.
Find out here what this means in concrete terms and what options you still have today.
Taking a passport photo online – is that still allowed?
Create a passport photo online – quickly, conveniently and from home? This was possible for a long time. Since May 1, 2025, however, the situation has changed fundamentally.
Clear legal requirements now apply to official identification documents such as ID cards and passports: The passport photo must be created digitally and transmitted securely to the relevant authority.
Find out here what this means in concrete terms and what options you still have today.
Is it possible to create a passport photo online?
The short answer: an online passport photo is no longer permitted for official ID documents.
It used to be possible to take passport photos yourself, edit them online and then print them out. This process is no longer permitted today.
Since May 1, 2025, passport photos must be taken digitally and transmitted to the authorities via a secure connection. A self-taken or online-generated passport photo does not usually meet this requirement.
Why are online passport photos no longer permitted?
The new requirements were introduced to significantly increase the quality and security of biometric passport photos.
A passport photo must not only be visually correct, but must also meet the technical requirements and be transmitted in a forgery-proof manner.
Passport photos created online often do not meet these requirements because:
- there is no direct and secure transmission to the authority
- biometric requirements are not reliably met
- there is no control over the image quality
- Manipulation cannot be ruled out
For this reason, only passport photos that are provided digitally and securely will be accepted for ID documents.
How does a passport photo work today?
The process has been simplified and made more secure at the same time:
- Your passport photo is taken at a provider
- The image is digitally checked and saved
- You will receive a QR code
- The authority retrieves your passport photo directly in digital form
A printout is no longer necessary – the passport photo is used completely digitally.
The right solution: have your passport photo professionally taken
If you want to be on the safe side, have your passport photo taken by a photographer. This will ensure that all requirements are met and that your appointment runs smoothly.
A professionally created passport photo offers you decisive advantages:
- Exact compliance with the biometric specifications
- High image quality thanks to professional recording
- Secure digital transmission to the authority
- No additional effort for you
In addition, in many cases your passport photo can be retrieved over a longer period of time and can be used flexibly.
Find a photographer near you now
Have your passport photo professionally taken – quickly and in compliance with the law
Conclusion: online passport photo is no longer an option
Creating a passport photo online sounds practical, but no longer meets current legal requirements.
If you want to save time and make sure your passport photo is accepted, the easiest way is to have it taken by a local provider.
With alfo.passbild you can quickly find a photographer in your area and prepare your appointment in the best possible way.
