An active photonic device having a Darlington configuration is disclosed. The active photonic device includes a substrate with a collector layer over the substrate. The collector layer includes an inner collector region and an outer collector region that substantially surrounds the inner collector region. A base layer resides over the collector layer. The base layer includes an inner base region and an outer base region that substantially surrounds and is spaced apart from the inner base region. An emitter layer resides over the base layer. The emitter layer includes an inner emitter region that is ring-shaped and resides over and extends substantially around an outer periphery of the inner base region. The emitter layer further includes an outer emitter region that is ring-shaped and resides over and extends substantially around the outer base region. A connector structure electrically couples the inner emitter region with the outer base region.