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 an 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 neccessary.

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
• Volume 3.6: Enrolment and verification of biometric data for immigration authorities

• 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 PAuswG §12, PAuswV §2 in association with appendix 4, and PassDEÜV §2 in association with appendix 1 and 2, and AufenthG §49, AufenthV §76b
  • Volume 3.4: Enrolment and checking of biometric data for the arrival attestation document, according to AKNV §1 in association with appendix 1

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 on the basis of 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

Dokument	Titel
TR-03121-1	BSI TR-03121-1 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 1: Framework, Version 6.0
TR-03121-2.2	BSI TR-03121-2.2 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 2: Software Architecture, Volume 2: High Level Biometric Services, Version 6.0
TR-03121-3.1	BSI TR-03121-3.1 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 1: Application Profiles and Function Modules, Volume 1: Border Control, Version 6.0
TR-03121-3.2	BSI TR-03121-3.2 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 3: Application Profiles and Function Modules, Volume 2: German Identity Documents, Version 6.0
TR-03121-3.4	BSI TR-03121-3.4 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 3: Application Profiles and Function Modules, Volume 4: Alien Register Enrolment, Version 6.0
TR-03121-3.6	BSI TR-03121-3.6 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 3: Application Profiles, Function Modules and Processes, Volume 6: Immigration Authorities (IMA), Version 6.0
TR-03121 Schema 5v1	Schema and examples for BSI TR-03121, Version 5v1

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.

Dokument	Titel
TR-03121-1	BSI TR-03121-1 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 1: Framework, Version 5.3
TR-03121-2.2	BSI TR-03121-2.2 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 2: Software Architecture, Volume 2: High Level Biometric Services, Version 5.3
TR-03121-3.4	BSI TR-03121-3.4 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 3: Application Profiles and Function Modules, Volume 4: Alien Register Enrolment, Version 5.3
TR-03121-3.6	BSI TR-03121-3.6 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 3: Application Profiles, Function Modules and Processes, Volume 6: Immigration Authorities (IMA), Version 5.3

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.

Dokument	Titel
TR-03121-1	BSI TR-03121-1 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 1: Framework, Version 5.2.1
TR-03121-3.2	BSI TR-03121-3.2 Technical Guideline Biometrics for Public Sector Applications. Part 3: Application Profiles and Function Modules, Volume 2: Enrolment Scenarios for Identity Documents, Version 5.2.1

Contact

Please send all questions and comments about the Technical Guideline to TRBiometrics@bsi.bund.de