GERMANY PASSPORT PHOTO REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Follow these key rules to make sure your photo is accepted.
DIMENSIONS
Photo size: 35 × 45 mm
Head size: 31 – 36 mm
FACE POSITION & SIZE
Keep your head centered with even space around.
BACKGROUND
Important Note
Germany passport photos must be taken within the last 6 months. Ensure a plain light gray background, glasses permitted, and exact 35 × 45 mm sizing.
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Quick reference: Germany passport photo specifications
Before submitting your Schengen or national passport application at a German consulate or via VFS Global, ensure your photo meets these exact parameters set by the Bundesdruckerei biometric photo standard and the Auswärtiges Amt.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size (Paper) | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
| Digital resolution | 827 × 1063 px @ 600 DPI |
| Face height | 31 – 36 mm (70–80% of total height) |
| File format & size | JPEG, 50 KB – 500 KB |
| Background colour | Light Gray |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses policy | Permitted with thin, non-reflective frames |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Official Germany passport photo dimensions
Germany's biometric photo standard — based on ISO/IEC 19794-5 and ICAO Doc 9303 — specifies a photo of exactly 35 mm wide × 45 mm high. Your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (the crown) must measure 32–36 mm. Additionally, Germany uniquely specifies an eye position requirement: the centre of both eyes must fall between 29 mm and 35 mm from the bottom edge of the photo.
Critical: Germany requires light grey — not white
Germany passport photo size in mm, cm, and inches
| Unit | Width | Height | Face height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 35 mm | 45 mm | 31 – 36 mm |
| Centimetres (cm) | 3.5 cm | 4.5 cm | 3.1–3.6 cm |
| Inches (in) | 1.38 in | 1.77 in | 1.24–1.42 in |
| Pixels (px @ 300 DPI) | 827 px | 1063 px | 744–850 px |
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Need a Germany Visa Photo instead?
View official biometric specs, size rules, and digital upload requirements for Germany visa applications.
Print vs. digital application requirements
| Aspect | Print (paper form) | Digital (Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm | 827 × 1063 px |
| Format | Colour print on photo paper | JPEG (50 KB – 500 KB) |
| Background | Light Gray | Light Gray |
| Resolution | Min 600 DPI | 827 × 1063 px (600 DPI) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed | Neutral, mouth closed |
Background requirements for Germany passport photos
The background must be uniformly light grey — plain, evenly lit, and completely free of shadows. White backgrounds do not meet the German standard and will be rejected.
Face position and expression rules
Your face must be centred, looking directly at the lens with a neutral, relaxed expression and mouth closed.
Glasses policy for Germany passport photos
Glasses are not permitted in German passport photos under biometric standards. All applicants must remove glasses before the photo is taken.
Germany passport photo checklist: do's and don'ts
Double check these common pitfalls to ensure your photo isn't delayed or rejected.
Do
- Use a uniformly light grey background — not white, not dark, not textured
- Ensure your face is centred, forward-facing, and fully visible from chin to crown
- Position eyes between 29 mm and 35 mm from the bottom of the photo
- Keep your eyes fully open and looking directly at the camera
- Maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed
- Use even, diffused lighting with no shadows on face or background
- Show your full head from chin to crown with tops of shoulders visible
- Ensure hair does not cover the edges of your face or obscure your eyes
- Use a JPEG file within your consulate portal's stated size limit
- Have the photo taken within the last 6 months
Don't
- Use a white background — Germany's biometric standard requires light grey
- Wear glasses — not permitted under ICAO biometric standards adopted by Germany
- Smile, tilt or turn your head, or close your eyes
- Use a coloured, patterned, dark, or textured background
- Retouch, filter, or digitally alter the photo in any way
- Submit a scan or a photo of a printed photo as a digital upload
- Wear hats, beanies, or fashion headwear (religious coverings excepted)
- Allow hair, jewellery, or clothing to cover your eyes or face edges
- Use a photo older than 6 months
- Use a black-and-white or heavily compressed image
How to take a Germany passport photo at home
Choose the right background
Stand or sit in front of a plain, uniformly light grey wall or surface. This is the single most important rule specific to Germany — the background must be light grey, not white and not dark. Ensure the surface is evenly lit so there are no shadows, gradients, or variations in tone across the background.
Set up lighting
Use natural daylight from a large window or two balanced artificial light sources at equal height on either side of your face. Avoid direct flash — it produces harsh highlights, red-eye, and shadow halos on the background. Stand at least 50 cm from the background wall to prevent shadows behind your head.
Position yourself correctly
Face the camera directly. Keep your head upright — not tilted or turned. Your full head from chin to crown must be visible, with the tops of your shoulders in frame. Remove glasses before shooting. Position yourself so your eyes will fall between 29 mm and 35 mm from the bottom of the final cropped image.
Take the photo
Open your eyes fully and look straight into the lens. Maintain a completely neutral expression — mouth closed, no smile or frown, no raised eyebrows, no pursed lips. Ask someone else to take the photo if possible to ensure correct framing and reduce camera shake.
Crop and size the image
For paper submissions, crop to exactly 35 × 45 mm at 300 DPI minimum. Verify the face measures 32–36 mm from chin to crown and the eyes fall 29–35 mm from the bottom of the image. For digital submissions, export as a JPEG at a minimum of 600 × 800 px (900 × 1200 px recommended) within the file-size limit stated by your specific consulate portal.
Check before submitting
Verify the background is uniformly light grey and shadow-free, the face measures 32–36 mm chin to crown, eye position is 29–35 mm from the bottom, no glasses are visible, expression is completely neutral, and the JPEG file is within the portal\
Common Germany passport photo rejection reasons
White background instead of light grey
This is the most common mistake made by applicants from countries where white is the standard. Germany\
Glasses in the photo
Glasses are not permitted in German passport or passport photos. This rule has been in effect since 2017 for German identity documents and applies to all passport applications processed by German consulates worldwide.
Non-neutral expression
Any facial expression — smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, parted lips, or squinting — triggers rejection. A completely relaxed, neutral expression with the mouth closed and eyes naturally open is required.
Incorrect eye position
Germany specifies that the eyes must be positioned between 29 mm and 35 mm from the bottom of the photo. A photo where the face is too high or too low in the frame, even if the overall face size is correct, may be returned.
Shadows on face or background
Shadows behind the head or on the face are detected automatically. Stand at least 50 cm from the background wall and use diffused, even lighting from both sides to eliminate shadows entirely.
Face height outside 32–36 mm range
Photos where the face is too small or the crown is cropped fail Germany\
Photo older than 6 months
German consulates require a recent likeness. A photo that does not reflect your current appearance will be returned, and this is checked manually at the consulate as well as by automated systems.
Hair or accessories obscuring the face
Hair covering the forehead, temples, or eyes, and large earrings creating shadows across the jaw or neck, are frequent rejection triggers at German consulates worldwide.
Germany passport photo requirements for babies and children
Children of all ages — including newborns — require their own individual passport photo. Lay infants on a plain light grey sheet and photograph from directly above.
Religious head coverings in Germany passport photos
Permitted for religious reasons provided the full face from chin to forehead is visible and casts no shadows.
Official sources
These pages are the authoritative references.
Frequently asked questions: Germany passport photo 2026
What is the Germany passport photo size requirement in 2026?
German passport photos must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high for paper applications. Your face from chin to crown must measure 32–36 mm, and your eyes must be positioned 29–35 mm from the bottom of the photo. For digital uploads via a German consulate portal or VFS Global, submit a JPEG file at a minimum of 600 × 800 pixels (900 × 1200 px recommended) within the file-size limit specified by your consulate — typically under 9 MB.
Is a 35 × 45 mm photo accepted for a Germany passport?
Yes. The German biometric photo standard specifies exactly 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. This is the only accepted size for paper applications and aligns with the ICAO Doc 9303 and ISO/IEC 19794-5 standards that Germany follows for all identity documents and passport applications.
What is the Germany passport photo size in cm and inches?
The required size is 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm high. In inches, that is approximately 1.38 inches wide by 1.77 inches high.
What is the Germany passport photo size in pixels?
Germany\
Does Germany require a white or grey background for passport photos?
Germany specifically requires a uniformly light grey background — not white. This is one of the most important distinctions from countries like Ireland or the USA. The requirement follows the German biometric photo standard based on ISO/IEC 19794-5. Submitting a photo with a white background is a common cause of rejection for applicants used to white-background standards.
Are Germany Schengen passport and national passport (D passport) photo requirements different?
No. The biometric photo specifications are the same for both Schengen C passports (short-stay) and German national D passports (long-stay): 35 × 45 mm print, light grey background, face 32–36 mm, eyes 29–35 mm from bottom, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within the last 6 months. Always verify the checklist in your specific consulate\
Do I need a 2×2 inch photo for a Germany passport?
No. A 2×2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square format is the US passport standard and is not accepted for German passport applications. Germany uses a portrait format: 35 mm wide by 45 mm high.
Should a Germany passport photo be matte or glossy?
For print applications, glossy or semi-glossy photo paper from a professional lab or certified photo booth is standard in Germany. For digital submissions via a consulate or VFS portal, paper finish is irrelevant — only the JPEG file is uploaded.
What should I wear for a Germany passport photo?
Wear everyday clothing that contrasts with the light grey background. Avoid light grey tops or clothing that merges with the background, uniforms, camouflage, or anything that obscures the face or neck. The neckline and tops of the shoulders should be visible. Modest religious dress is permitted provided the full face remains visible from chin to forehead.
Can babies have an open mouth in a Germany passport photo?
Yes. For infants and very young children, an open mouth is acceptable where a closed-mouth expression cannot practically be achieved. No other person, hand, toy, pacifier, or object should be visible in the frame. The child must be photographed alone against a plain light grey background.
Can I wear glasses in a Germany passport photo?
No. Glasses are not permitted in German passport or passport photos. Germany implemented this restriction in 2017 for all biometric identity documents and the rule applies equally to all passport categories processed by German consulates. All applicants must remove glasses before the photo is taken.
Can I smile in a Germany passport photo?
No. The German biometric photo standard requires a completely neutral, relaxed expression with the mouth closed and eyes fully open. Any facial expression, including smiling, is not permitted and will be detected by automated biometric processing at the consulate.
How recent must a Germany passport photo be?
The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must accurately reflect your current appearance. German consulate staff conduct a manual likeness check in addition to automated processing, so a photo that does not match your current appearance will be returned even if it is technically within 6 months.
Where do I submit my photo for a Germany passport application?
For paper applications, photos are submitted directly to the German consulate or embassy in your country or at a VFS Global passport application centre. For online applications, the photo is uploaded via the consulate\
What is the file size limit for a Germany passport photo uploaded online?
File size limits vary between German consulate portals. Many accept JPEG files up to 9 MB, while some portals cap at a lower limit. Always check the upload page of the specific consulate or VFS portal you are applying through. A recommended resolution of 900 × 1200 px at good JPEG quality typically produces a file well within any consulate\
Are religious head coverings allowed in a Germany passport photo?
Yes, provided the covering is worn for genuine religious reasons. The covering must be plain material without patterns, must cast no shadow on your face or the light grey background, and your full face from chin to forehead — including the outer edges of both eyes — must remain fully visible.
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