Citizens' Service

ID documents / Passport

Frequently asked questions on identity cards and passports

1. Are digital photographs acceptable for identity cards/passports?

Yes, provided the passport photograph corresponds to the sample photograph gallery, and the material used exhibits the same properties as conventional photographic paper. It must be impervious to moisture (such as the perspiration on your hands). The mechanical stability of the surface finish is also important (e.g. no residues must remain when an adhesive strip is removed). The paper on which the photograph is printed must not be too thin.
According to the Passport Act, it is the sole responsibility of the relevant identity card or passport authority to evaluate identity card and passport photographs to determine their usability.

2. Are German ID cards and passports machine-readable?

The EU passport and the German ID card have been issued in a machine-readable format since 1988 and 1987 respectively (this can be seen in the machine-readable zone at the bottom of the passport and ID card).

PROVISIONAL passports and ID cards are not machine-readable to date. However, the provisional documents and children's passports have been upgraded in the meantime and will be issued in a machine-readable format in the future. The new security concept will be implemented in 2004 with a two years transition period.

Should you have any queries, please contact your local citizens? registration office.

3. What does the final digit in the bottom line of my identity card or passport mean?

The last digit in the second line of the machine-readable zone of the identity card or passport is a check digit for the digits contained in this line.
Read more about the machine-readable zone in the Identity Card and Passport Act.

4.Why does the serial number on passports and ID cards now have only 9 digits?

The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) recommends to have a nine-digit serial number on ID documents. In order to comply with this recommendation, passports and ID cards comprise nine digits instead of ten as of January 2004. The check digit has been dropped. This involves the following changes:

The serial number on passports has been changed from ten to nine digits:

• on the front of the passport card in the field ?passport no.?
• on the back of the passport card
• on the inner pages of the passport (laser perforation).

The serial number on ID cards has been changed from ten to nine digits:

• on the front of the ID card.

In shortening the serial number, the last digit (former check digit) has been dropped. Please note that the serial number still has ten digits in the machine-readable zone of the passport and ID card.

As it happened with other production changes, there will be a ?grey area? around the deadline of 2 January 2004 regarding the change to the nine-digit serial number. This is the reason why orders placed in December 2003 may already have a nine-digit serial number.

5. Who decided on the design of the identity card / passport?

The identity card was designed by Bundesdruckerei in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for the Interior and the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation.
As manufacturers of personalised documents, we act on behalf of our clients, the Federal Ministry for the Interior. Identity card and passport designs are stipulated in a legal ordinance.

6. How long have you been producing the passport / identity card in its current format? 

The German electronic passport in its current form has been issued since 1 November 2007 and the new ID card in its current version since 1 November 2010. 

7. Does Bundesdruckerei GmbH have a central archive containing personal data?

No, data protection regulations prohibit the centralised storage of personal data. Such data may only be stored locally at the citizens' registration offices.
Once a document is completed at Bundesdruckerei GmbH, all personal data is deleted or destroyed.

8. Where can I obtain a sample photograph gallery?

The sample photograph gallery is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed A4 envelope to Bundesdruckerei GmbH, Oranienstrasse 91, D-10969 Berlin. It can also be viewed on the Bundesdruckerei GmbH homepage.