BSI TR-03121 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications
Biometric methods are used in many different areas of public sector applications, e.g. the enrolment of a facial image or fingerprints within the application of a passport. Furthermore, biometric data are used in border control processes for verification or identification of persons. To ensure performance and interoperability, a common standard for quality metrics, software-architecture, and interfaces is necessary.
The technical guideline "Biometrics for Public Sector Applications" (BSI TR-03121) makes specifications and recommendations for various application scenarios. The conformity of biometric components with the guideline can be proven by BSI certification. Therefore, the required test specifications are laid down in the guideline "Conformance Test Specification for Technical Guideline TR-03121" (BSI TR-03122).
The Technical Guideline "Biometrics for Public Sector Applications" consists of several parts and is only available in English. The framework document TR-03121-1 gives an overview of the content, functionality and applicability of the guideline.
The current version includes application profiles for the following areas:
- Volume 3.1: Enrolment and verification of biometric data in the border control context
- Note: With entry in operation of the Entry-Exit System the EESDG comes into force. According to § 3 EESDG products following Volume 3.1 will then require a valid BSI TR-03121 certification.
- Volume 3.6: Enrolment and verification of biometric data for immigration authorities
- Note: With entry in operation of the Entry-Exit System the EESDG comes into force. According to § 3 EESDG products following the application profile "Multimodal Processing in Immigration Authorities for EES" of Volume 3.1 will then require a valid BSI TR-03121 certification.
Reference Versions according to German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger)
- Volume 3.2: Enrolment and checking of biometric data for the German Electronic Identity Card, the Electronic Passport and the Electronic Residence Permit, according to § 12 PAuswG, § 2 PAuswV in association with appendix 4 PAuswV, and § 2 PassDEÜV in association with appendix 1 and 2 PassDEÜV, and § 49 AufenthG, § 76b AufenthV
- Volume 3.4: Enrolment and checking of biometric data for the arrival attestation document, according to § 1 AKNV in association with appendix 1 AKNV
Public Review
For the upcoming BSI TR-03121 version 7.0 (scheduled publish date 01.11.2025) there are two public reviews planned:
| Title | Period | Main Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Draft | 01.04.-30.04.2025 | - BSI TR-03121-3.1 (Transition ISO/IEC 39794) - BSI TR-03121-3.2 (Transition ISO/IEC 39794) - BSI TR-03121-3.4 (Support 2-Step-Solutions) - BSI TR-03122-3 (Camera Tests, Background Replacement) |
| 2. Draft | 01.08.-31.08.2025 | - Changes from 1. Draft - BSI TR-03121-2.2 (Bugfixes) - Schema (Bugfixes) |
Would you like to participate in the public review? Send us an e-mail to trbiometrics@bsi.bund.de, to request to be added to the distribution list. If you are already part of the distribution list, you will receive the draft via e-mail automatically once the public review has started. The versions sent by e-mail are not barrier-free. Barrier-free versions will be delivered later.
Transitional periods Volume 3.2 (German Identity Documents) in the context of Live Enrolment
With the law to strengthen security in passport, ID and immigration documents, the scanning of passport photos when applying for ID documents in the German passport and ID authorities will be abolished from May 2025 and replaced by live enrolment.
Biometric detection systems that are used for this purpose in the passport and ID card authorities from May 2025 must be certified based on the TR version from November 1st, 2023 (upwards). The requirements laid down here are binding with a transition period of 18 months from May 1st, 2025.
Certification according to TR version 2023 should be possible from around Q1/2024. Biometric acquisition systems that will be used until April 30th, 2025 can be certified until around Q4/2024 on the basis of TR version 5.2.1 (from November 1st, 2022).
Version 6.0, valid from 1st November 2023
Version 6.0 (please see below) is valid form 1st November 2023. The included reference versions will become mandatory as follows:
- reference version 3.2 with a transition period of 18 month from 1st May 2025 on
- reference version 3.4 with a transition period of 14 month from 1st January 2025 on
Version 5.3, valid from 1st November 2022
Version 5.3 (please see below) is valid from 1st November 2022. The included reference version (volume 3.4) will become mandatory with a transition period of one year from 1st November 2023 on.
Version 5.2.1, valid from 1st November 2022
Version 5.2.1 (please see below) of volume 3.2 is valid from 1st November 2022. The included reference version can be used for certification without a transition period 1st November 2022 on.
Contact
Please send your requests about the Technical Guideline to trbiometrics@bsi.bund.de
