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Specimen of the electronic Bundeswehr Truppenausweis with photo, name and rank
Official specimen of the Truppenausweis. The specimen photo shows civilian clothes; for your own ID the rule is uniform. Source: General Administrative Regulation on the electronic service ID of 7 May 2008, Annex A4 (public domain).
Bundeswehr – Truppenausweis

Photo for the Bundeswehr Truppenausweis 2026 – Requirements & Uniform

Updated on 11.10.2026

For the electronic Truppenausweis (eTA), the Bundeswehr requires a current, biometric photo, as a rule in uniform and without headgear. This guide covers the requirements, who normally takes the photo, and how soldiers and reservists can create a suitable picture themselves.

A civilian passport photo usually does not fit the Truppenausweis. And the photo in uniform must not be used for a German ID card or passport.
Create Truppenausweis photo See the requirements
Format
35 × 45 mm, biometric
Clothing
Uniform
Headgear
None
File
JPG, min. 600 DPI

What is the electronic Truppenausweis?

The electronic Truppenausweis (eTA) is the service ID of Bundeswehr soldiers. Reservists who have been appointed to a reserve service relationship receive it as well. The chip card is produced by the Bundesdruckerei and shows the photo along with name, rank, height and eye colour.

The former paper Truppenausweis has been invalid since 1 July 2017. Only the electronic card remains, and it comes with stricter photo rules.

Photo requirements for the Truppenausweis

The Bundeswehr regulates the photo in General Regulation A-1480/5 “Dienst- und Truppenausweis”. It states:

  • Biometric: the photo must meet the standard of German passports and ID cards (ICAO compliant), which means 35 × 45 mm in portrait format with a face height of 32 to 36 mm.
  • Current: the picture shows you as you look today.
  • As a rule in uniform, following the Bundeswehr dress regulations.
  • No headgear: no beret, no side cap, no field cap.
  • Eyes open and clearly visible, no dark lenses, neutral expression, looking straight at the camera.
  • Light, plain background without shadows, sharp and evenly lit.
Visual check: The ID office of your unit (Local Registration Authority, LRA) checks every picture against the photo guide of the Bundesdruckerei. Photos with headgear, dark lenses or closed eyes are rejected.

Uniform in the photo: what applies?

This is where the Truppenausweis differs from every civilian ID. Uniform parts are forbidden in photos for the German ID card and passport, while for the Truppenausweis the uniform is the rule.

  • Wear your uniform neatly and completely, with the correct rank insignia. Take off your headgear.
  • Your unit decides which uniform is expected. Ask your company sergeant major, the orderly room or the LRA before taking the picture.
  • The photo in uniform is not accepted for the German ID card, passport or driving licence. You need a second picture in civilian clothes for those.
Plan for two photos: Under the German Passport Regulation (§ 16 para. 2), a passport photo must show the person “without uniform parts”. If you also need a new passport when you start your service, you need two different pictures.

Who takes the photo, and when do you need your own?

In many cases you do not need to bring a photo at all. The regulation provides that photos are taken within the Bundeswehr where possible.

  • Units with suitable equipment take the picture themselves. Where self-service terminals exist, they are to be used first.
  • Recruits: the official checklists for the first day of service ask for a valid ID card or passport for the Truppenausweis, but not for passport photos. Your welcome letter is what counts.
  • Your own photo is worth it if your unit has no camera station, if you are a reservist preparing the ID before your next period of service, or if you do not like the terminal picture. The regulation explicitly allows the photo to be presented or sent to the LRA electronically.
Ask first: Check with your LRA whether it accepts a picture you bring along and in which form. That saves you a second appointment.

How to take the Truppenausweis photo yourself

You do not need a photo studio for a biometric picture in uniform. A smartphone and a light wall are enough:

1
Put on your uniform, take off your headgear, check collar and insignia.
2
Stand in front of a light wall with daylight from the front. Have someone photograph you from about 1.5 metres away, or use the self-timer.
3
Upload the photo to our passport photo generator. It crops the picture to 35 × 45 mm, adjusts the head size, replaces the background and checks the biometric requirements.
4
Download the image file, name it according to the Bundeswehr scheme, and send it to the LRA or present it there.
File name: For pictures submitted electronically, the Bundeswehr requires the JPG format and a unique file name made up of date (YYYYMMDD), personnel number, first name and last name:
20261010_12345678_Erika_Mustermann.jpg
Resolution: The regulation specifies an image resolution of at least 600 DPI for submitted files. Our digital passport photo has 413 × 531 pixels, which equals 300 DPI at 35 × 45 mm. Ask your LRA beforehand whether it accepts the file at this size.
Create Truppenausweis photo

When do you need a new Truppenausweis and a new photo?

A new ID is issued in these cases, and each one requires a current photo:

  • The validity date has passed.
  • The ID is damaged or lost. You must report a loss immediately and have the certificates blocked.
  • Visible data has changed, for example your name after marriage.
Promotion: After a promotion you usually do not need a new photo. Up to and including the rank of Oberst (colonel), the new rank is marked on the existing ID with a security sticker.

Create a biometric photo for the Truppenausweis

Upload your photo in uniform. We crop it to the biometric format and check it, from home or from your barracks room.

Create Truppenausweis photo

Frequently asked questions about the Truppenausweis photo

Do I have to wear uniform in the Truppenausweis photo?

Yes, as a rule. Bundeswehr regulation A-1480/5 requires biometric photos in uniform without headgear for the electronic Truppenausweis. Your unit decides which uniform is expected.

May I wear a beret or side cap in the picture?

No. The photo is taken without headgear. The ID office rejects pictures with headgear during the visual check.

Can I use my ID card photo for the Truppenausweis?

Usually not, because it shows you in civilian clothes. Conversely, the photo in uniform is not accepted for the German ID card or passport, because the Passport Regulation forbids uniform parts in the photo.

Do I have to bring passport photos on my first day of service?

Mostly not. Official checklists for the first day of service list a valid ID card or passport as the prerequisite for the Truppenausweis, but no passport photos. The photo is then taken on site. What matters is what your welcome letter says.

May I take the Truppenausweis photo myself?

The regulation allows the photo to be presented or sent to the ID office electronically, as a JPG with a unique file name. Bundeswehr equipment is to be used first, however. So ask your LRA whether it accepts your own picture.

Do I need a new photo after a promotion?

No. Promotions up to and including Oberst (colonel) are marked on the Truppenausweis with a security sticker. A new ID is only needed on expiry, damage, loss or changed ID data.

Conclusion

The Truppenausweis photo is a biometric passport photo with one special feature: uniform on, headgear off. Often the unit takes the picture itself. If you may or must submit your own photo, you can create it with our passport photo generator in a few minutes.

Sources and legal basis

This article is based on Bundeswehr regulation A-1480/5 (version 3.4, as of October 2021) and the sources below. Newer versions may differ; the information from your unit is binding. Passbild-SelberMachen.com is a private provider and is not affiliated with the Bundeswehr.

photo_camera Create Truppenausweis Photo
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