German · Passfoto
You need ID photos: what to say in German
You need photos for documents.
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How it's done. For a passport or residence permit you need biometrische Passfotos (biometric): no smile, light background, looking straight ahead. They are made in a photo studio or machine.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
YOU START
Guten Tag, ich brauche Passfotos.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh BROW-kheh PAHS-foh-tos.
Good day, I need passport photos.
THEY SAY
Für welchen Zweck? Für den Pass oder für den Ausweis?Fyoor VEL-khayn tsvek? Fyoor dayn pahs OH-duh fyoor dayn OW-svighs?
For what purpose? For a passport or an ID?
They might also say:
Biometrisch oder normal?
Bee-oh-MEH-treesh OH-duh nor-MAHL?
Biometric or normal?
2
YOU REPLY
Biometrische Fotos, für meinen Aufenthaltstitel.
Bee-oh-MEH-tree-sheh FOH-tos, fyoor MIGH-nayn OW-faynt-khuhlts-tee-tel.
Biometric photos, for my residence permit.
Or say:Für den Aufenthaltstitel, bitte biometrisch.
Fyoor dayn OW-faynt-khuhlts-tee-tel, BEE-teh bee-oh-MEH-treesh.
THEY SAY
Gut. Setzen Sie sich bitte dort hin und schauen Sie in die Kamera.Goot. ZEH-tsayn zee zeekh BEE-teh dort kheen oont SHOW-ayn zee een dee KAH-meh-ruh.
Good. Please sit there and look into the camera.
3
YOU REPLY
Soll ich lächeln?
Zol eekh LEH-kheln?
Should I smile?
THEY SAY
Nein, bitte ganz neutral.Nighn, BEE-teh gahnts noy-TRAHL.
No, please completely neutral.
4
YOU FINISH
Alles klar. Danke!
AH-les klahr. DAHN-keh!
Understood. Thanks!
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
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
brauche
BROW-kheh
verb
I need
Passfotos
PAHS-foh-tos
noun
passport photos
Zweck
tsvek
noun
purpose
Pass
pahs
noun
passport
30 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?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
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