GermanyBerlin Residence Permit Photo: Digital Only — Studio QR Code or €6 PointID Terminal, No Paper Photos
No paper photos for the eAT at Berlin LEA since 14 July 2025: bring a studio QR code or pay €6 for a terminal photo. Ukraine permits still take paper.
Key points
5 points- Since 1 May 2025 German law allows biometric photos only taken digitally at the authority or in a studio that sends them over a secure channel.
- Berlin Immigration Office (LEA): for appointments from 14 July 2025, classic paper photos are no longer accepted.
- Studios and some drugstores give you a QR code — bring it to your appointment.
- Or take the photo on site at a PointID self-service terminal for €6.00.
- Exceptions: permits for refugees from Ukraine, Duldung and Aufenthaltsgestattung — bring paper biometric photos.
If you have an appointment for an electronic residence permit (eAT) or a travel document at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) in Berlin, the printed passport photo in your wallet is no longer enough. The LEA spells out what to bring instead.
What changed
On 1 May 2025 the German law to strengthen security in the passport and ID card system came into force. Since then, biometric passport photos may only be taken digitally — directly in the authorities' offices, or in photo studios that can transmit them to the authorities via a secure electronic channel. The LEA says this also covers the issuing of electronic residence titles and travel documents.
For appointments from 14 July 2025: do not bring classic biometric photos on photographic paper — they are no longer accepted.
Two ways to bring a valid photo
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Studio or drugstore beforehand | The photo goes to the LEA through a secure photo cloud; you get a QR code and bring it to your appointment. The LEA recommends this, especially if you come with children. |
| PointID terminal on site | Take the photo at a self-service terminal during your appointment for €6.00. |
GermanyElectronic Residence Permit (eAT) · requirements · check a photo
Who still brings paper photos
The change does not apply to:
- residence permits for temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine (issued in the passport);
- certificates confirming the temporary suspension of deportation (Duldung);
- certificates confirming permission to reside during an asylum procedure (Aufenthaltsgestattung).
People in these groups should continue to bring non-digital biometric photos on photographic paper.
Example: a new eAT for a new passport
Berlin's service page for reissuing a permanent residence title (settlement permit or EU long-term residence) lists 1 current biometric photo under the digital rule. The fee is €67.00 for adults and €33.50 for minors (Turkish citizens: €27.60 until age 24, €46.00 from 24); the terminal photo adds €6.00, home delivery €15.00. The eAT card is valid for at most 10 years, and the new card takes about 3–4 weeks after the appointment.
Want to see how your face sits in a 35 × 45 mm biometric frame before the studio? Try it on our German residence permit photo page.
05Questions
4 answers01Can I bring a printed passport photo to the Berlin Immigration Office?
Not for an eAT or travel document: for appointments from 14 July 2025 paper photos are no longer accepted. Bring a studio QR code or use the on-site terminal.
02How much is the photo terminal at the LEA?
A photo at the PointID self-service terminal costs €6.00, paid at your appointment.
03Do Ukrainian refugees need a digital photo?
No. Residence permits for temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine are an exception: bring biometric photos on photographic paper.
04How long does a new eAT take in Berlin?
For a reissued permanent residence title, about 3–4 weeks after the appointment.
06Official sources
- Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin — Update: Digital passport photos for residence documents (update of 11.07.2025)
berlin.de - Service-Portal Berlin — Reissue of a permanent residence title (eAT): documents, fees, processing time
service.berlin.de - Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin — digital photos update (Internet Archive copy, 13 June 2026)
web.archive.org
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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