Shortly before the switch to digital photos for ID cards and passports on May 1st, some Saxon municipalities are struggling with delays in implementation. Although new ID cards may only be applied for with digital photos in future, several municipalities in Saxony have announced that the necessary technology is still lacking in many places.
According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the passport photos can either be taken directly in the citizens' offices or uploaded to a secure cloud by certified photo studios. The technology required for this is provided to the municipalities free of charge. There is a fee of six euros per photo. Due to delays in equipping the authorities, a transitional arrangement is now in place until the end of July - paper photos will continue to be accepted during this period.