In short
Since 1 May 2025 you can no longer bring your own photo for a German ID card, passport or electronic residence permit; those need a digital photo from a registered provider or the authority. For the health insurance card, many driving licence offices, visas, disability ID and job applications you can still make the photo yourself.
Last updated: · FotoKlar editorial team
For which documents can I make my own photo?
| Document | Own photo? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance card | Yes | Insurers such as DAK and hkk say it does not have to be biometric |
| Driving licence | Yes, usually | Printed biometric photo; some offices (e.g. Stuttgart) accept no self-made photos |
| Disability ID card | Yes, usually | Rules depend on the office |
| Visa | depends on the country | e.g. the US DS-160 accepts your own digital photo |
| Job application | Yes | No legal rules |
| ID card, passport | No | Digital only since May 2025 |
| Electronic residence permit | No | Digital only since May 2025 |
How to make your own passport photo
- 1Take the photo with your phone – tips on passport photo with your phone.
- 2Upload it in the tool above and choose your document.
- 3FotoKlar crops, replaces the background and checks face size, light and pose.
- 4Download the file and print sheet for €7.99 and print at a photo lab if needed.
What you need: phone, light, background
Details on distance and camera settings are on passport photo with your phone; all rules on biometric photo requirements.
- A phone with a main camera – someone takes the photo from about 1.5 metres, or use a stand and the self-timer
- Daylight from a window in front of you, no flash, no harsh shadows
- A plain, light wall – FotoKlar replaces the background anyway
- A neutral expression, mouth closed, hair away from your eyes
Self-made vs. photo studio vs. citizens’ office
Making the photo yourself works for documents that accept your own photo; for the ID card and passport there is no way around the citizens’ office or a registered photographer.
| Option | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Self-made with FotoKlar | €7.99 | Driving licence, health insurance card, visas, job applications |
| Photo studio | set by the studio | ID card and passport (registered studios), job applications, children |
| Citizens’ office terminal | €6.00 (Federal Printing Office terminals) | ID card, passport – digital, taken just before your appointment |
Why ID cards and passports changed
The law aims to prevent manipulated photos (morphing): the photo now reaches the authority only through a secured digital channel.
More on how the digital photo works and what it costs on digital passport photo.
Sources
- City of Stuttgart: digital-only photos for ID documents from 1 May – checked 21/10/2026
- City of Stuttgart: digital photo for ID cards and passports – checked 21/10/2026
- City of Nuremberg: photo stations in the citizens’ offices – checked 21/10/2026
- DAK: what to consider for the health card photo – checked 21/10/2026
- hkk: photo for the health insurance card – checked 21/10/2026
- Tübingen district office: photo for the driving licence – checked 21/10/2026