German · Ausländerbehörde
At the immigration office they take your biometric photo and fingerprints: what to say in German
At the immigration office they take your biometric photo and fingerprints.
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How it's done. For the Aufenthaltstitel card you need a biometric photo (light background, no glasses, neutral face) and fingerprints; it is best to have the photo made where they know the biometric requirements.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Bitte nehmen Sie Platz. Für den Aufenthaltstitel brauche ich ein biometrisches Foto und Ihre Fingerabdrücke.BEE-teh NEH-mayn zee plahts. Fyoor dayn OW-faynt-khuhlts-tee-tel BROW-kheh eekh ighn bee-oh-MEH-tree-shes FOH-toh oont EE-reh FEEN-geh-ruhb-dryoo-keh.
Please take a seat. For the residence permit I need a biometric photo and your fingerprints.
They might also say:
Setzen Sie sich bitte. Ich brauche von Ihnen ein aktuelles Foto und die Fingerabdrücke.
ZEH-tsayn zee zeekh BEE-teh. Eekh BROW-kheh fohn EE-nayn ighn uhk-too-EH-les FOH-toh oont dee FEEN-geh-ruhb-dryoo-keh.
Please sit down. I need a current photo and the fingerprints from you.
YOU REPLY
Ich habe ein Passbild dabei. Ist das richtig?
Eekh KHAH-beh ighn PAHS-beelt duh-BIGH. Eest dahs REEKH-teekh?
I have a passport photo with me. Is that right?
Or say:Hier ist mein Foto. Ist das so in Ordnung?
Kheer eest mighn FOH-toh. Eest dahs zoh een ORD-noong?
THEY SAY
Lassen Sie sehen. Ja, das Bild ist gut. Es muss ohne Brille und ohne Lächeln sein.LAH-sayn zee ZEH-ayn. Yah, dahs beelt eest goot. Es moos OH-neh BREE-leh oont OH-neh LEH-kheln zighn.
Let me see. Yes, the picture is fine. It has to be without glasses and without a smile.
They might also say:
Zeigen Sie mal. Das passt. Das Gesicht muss neutral sein, ohne Brille.
TSIGH-gayn zee mahl. Dahs pahst. Dahs geh-ZEEKHT moos noy-TRAHL zighn, OH-neh BREE-leh.
Show me. That fits. The face has to be neutral, without glasses.
2
YOU REPLY
Und wie funktioniert das mit den Fingerabdrücken?
Oont vee foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT dahs meet dayn FEEN-geh-ruhb-dryoo-kayn?
And how does it work with the fingerprints?
THEY SAY
Legen Sie bitte die Finger nacheinander auf das Gerät. Das dauert nur einen Moment.LEH-gayn zee BEE-teh dee FEEN-guh nuh-khigh-NAHN-duh owf dahs geh-RET. Dahs DOW-ehrt noor IGH-nayn moh-MAYNT.
Please put your fingers on the device one after the other. It only takes a moment.
3
YOU REPLY
So? Ist das richtig?
Zoh? Eest dahs REEKH-teekh?
Like this? Is that right?
THEY SAY
Ja, genau. Danke. Das war es schon.Yah, geh-NOW. DAHN-keh. Dahs vahr es shohn.
Yes, exactly. Thank you. That is it already.
4
YOU REPLY
Vielen Dank! Wann kann ich die Karte abholen?
FEE-layn dahnk! Vahn kahn eekh dee KAHR-teh AHB-khoh-layn?
Thank you very much! When can I collect the card?
THEY SAY
Das dauert etwa vier bis sechs Wochen. Wir benachrichtigen Sie, wenn die Karte da ist.Dahs DOW-ehrt EH-tvuh feer bees zeks VOH-khayn. Veer beh-NAHKH-reekh-tee-gayn zee, vayn dee KAHR-teh duh eest.
That takes about four to six weeks. We'll notify you when the card has arrived.
They might also say:
Ungefähr vier bis sechs Wochen. Sie bekommen einen Brief.
OON-geh-fehr feer bees zeks VOH-khayn. Zee beh-KOH-mayn IGH-nayn breef.
About four to six weeks. You'll get a letter.
5
YOU FINISH
Alles klar, danke schön!
AH-les klahr, DAHN-keh shyohn!
Understood, thank you very much!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
nehmen
NEH-mayn
verb
to take
Platz
plahts
noun
place, seat
Aufenthaltstitel
OW-faynt-khuhlts-tee-tel
noun
residence permit
brauche
BROW-kheh
verb
I need
biometrisches
bee-oh-MEH-tree-shes
adjective
biometric
Foto
FOH-toh
noun
photo
63 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Können Sie mir das zeigen?
KYOH-nayn zee meer dahs TSIGH-gayn?
Can you show me?
Similar situations
You go to the immigration office with your appointment letterAusländerbehörde · A2 in the app
→The clerk lists the documents you need to bringAusländerbehörde · A2 in the app
→Your permit is about to expire and the office issues a temporary confirmationAusländerbehörde · A2 in the app
→You are told your permit card is readyAusländerbehörde · A2 in the app
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