Germany has announced that its citizens will be required to submit photographs in line with biometrics standards to obtain identification documents starting in May 2025.
The move is intended to increase convenience for German citizens, especially while crossing the border. The new procedure will also lower the risks of fraud and the misuse of identity documents. The photos will have to meet the international requirements for biometric matching as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said the government in an announcement.