Questions about the photo on the SBK healthcare card
More information about the photo on your SBK healthcare card
You can take your photo directly in the Meine SBK app under “My data” > “Upload photo” or upload an existing photo.
You can also do this in the web version at
You don't need to go to a photo studio; a selfie is sufficient. It is important that you are clearly recognizable in the photo - without sunglasses, without a hat, and without other people.
We are permitted to use your photo for the SBK healthcare card for 10 years. After that, we are obliged to delete your photo. So that we can send you an SBK healthcare card if necessary even after 10 years, we need a current photo of you. You can easily submit this in Meine SBK under “My data” and “Upload photo.”
Within 3 weeks of receiving your photo, you will receive your new SBK healthcare card with the new photo.
You don't need to go to a photo studio; a selfie will suffice. It is important that you are clearly recognizable in the photo - without sunglasses, without a hat, and without other people. The photo is perfect if your face is centered in the photo, clearly recognizable in all areas, evenly lit, and looking at the camera.
Are you submitting your photo by mail? Then it should be the same size as a passport photo: 3.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm high.
No. Your photo will be processed and cannot be returned for organizational reasons. You are welcome to submit a digital photo via Meine SBK. To do so, go to “My data” and select “Upload photo.”
Yes. In exceptional cases, such as for relevant health reasons, a photo does not need to be submitted. The SBK healthcare card is issued without a photo for these insured persons. If you have relevant reasons, please inform your SBK consultant. You can find the contact details
No. Your photo just needs to meet the requirements specified above.
The photos are deleted after a retention period of six months following the end of insurance with SBK, if no new insurance is taken out during this time.
Once the upload process is complete, you will receive confirmation that the photo has been successfully transmitted - this means we have received your photo. We will then check whether you are clearly recognizable in the photo. This may take a few days. If we are unable to use your photo, we will notify you. However, you will normally receive your new card with the new photo within three weeks of us receiving your photo.
The browser settings on your computer must allow cookies.
If you spend too much time in the upload application, the process may be interrupted and only a white page can be seen. In this case simply restart the upload process.
Some image files cannot be processed by our system. Usually it works if you open the image in a program for displaying images – a ‘viewer’ (such as Paint) – and save the image again.
Paint is installed as standard on Windows computers. You can find Paint by going to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint.
The most recently uploaded photo will always be used for the SBK healthcare card. Previously uploaded photos will be discarded.
If more than 120 calendar days have passed since we received the photos, we will send you a new card with the new photo.
The provisions of the German Social Security Code (SGB) apply to both the electronic healthcare card and the photo required for the card. In accordance with
Under
Your photo will only be stored and used for the SBK healthcare card. SBK will transfer your photo to external service providers for quality assurance and to create your healthcare card. These service providers have agreed to uphold special obligations for protecting social security data.
As soon as you click on ‘Upload photo’, you will leave the SBK home page and be redirected to the content of an external provider. SBK is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Information about the data processed by SBK can be found at
