German Passport Photo Requirements 2026 (Reisepass, Personalausweis, Visa)

Quick summary

• Size: 35x45 mm (3.5x4.5 cm)
• Background: plain light grey or white, no patterns, no shadows
• Face height: 32-36 mm from chin to crown (70-80% of frame)
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, looking straight at camera
• Glasses: banned since November 2017, no exceptions for cosmetic reasons
• Age: photo must be taken within the last 6 months
• Format: ICAO 9303 biometric compliant
• Same specifications apply to Reisepass, Personalausweis, and visa applications

Why German specs are stricter than other EU countries

While the underlying ICAO standard is shared across the EU, Germany applies it more rigidly. The Bundesdruckerei produces all German passports and runs automated biometric quality checks that reject photos other EU member states would accept. Common reasons:

• The face position must be exactly centered, with the face vertical axis perpendicular to the camera. Even a 5-degree tilt is flagged.
• The background must be uniformly lit. Diagonal shadows from window light cause rejection even if the gradient is barely visible.
• Skin tone must be naturally rendered. Heavy color filters or beauty mode on phones causes rejection.

If you used a German passport photo at the Bundesdruckerei kiosk in 2024-2025 and it was rejected, the most likely reason is one of these three.

Detailed specifications

Size and dimensions

The German passport photo size is 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters tall. In pixels at 300 DPI, this is approximately 413 x 531 pixels. The face from chin to crown must occupy 32 to 36 millimeters of the vertical frame.

Background color

Light grey is the official Bundesdruckerei recommendation. Plain white is also accepted but tends to wash out skin tones in some printing. If choosing white, make sure the background is brighter than the lightest part of your face, otherwise the automatic biometric verification can fail.

Lighting

Even, diffused light from the front. Window daylight at a 45-degree angle is ideal. Avoid:

• Direct sunlight (creates harsh shadows)
• Overhead room light (shadows under chin and eyes)
• Mixed light sources (color cast on skin)
• Light from behind (silhouette effect, dark face)

Expression

Neutral expression, mouth fully closed. No smile, even slight. Both eyes open, both visible. Looking directly at the camera. Eyebrows visible (hair pulled back if needed).

The glasses ban (since November 2017)

This is the rule that catches most applicants. Germany banned glasses in passport photos in November 2017 with no medical exception. Even prescription glasses must be removed.

The reasoning: glasses cause reflections that interfere with biometric facial recognition systems used at automated border gates and police checks. Even anti-reflective coated lenses can cause issues with the IR-based scanners.

If you have severe vision problems and need glasses to navigate, you can wear them to the appointment but must remove them for the photo capture. Some Buergeramt offices provide a designated waiting area for this.

Religious head coverings

Religious head coverings are permitted as long as the face from chin to forehead is fully visible. The covering cannot cast shadows on the face. This applies to hijabs, turbans, kippahs, and similar religious garments. A signed statement of religious necessity may be requested.

Children and infant photos

Children under 6 years old: the same 35x45 mm format applies, but the requirement for neutral expression is relaxed. Eyes do not need to be fully open and the mouth can be slightly open. The face must still be centered and unobstructed.

Newborns: photos can be taken with the infant lying on a plain light surface. The face must be straight up, not tilted.

Common rejection reasons (top 5 reported by German consulates)

1. Background not uniform - shadow on one side or color gradient. Solution: stand 2-3 feet from the wall, not pressed against it.
2. Glasses on. Solution: remove them for the photo, even if you wore them to the appointment.
3. Slight smile. Solution: take 8-10 photos, pick the most expressionless one.
4. Photo too dark or too bright. Solution: even diffused window light, no flash, no direct sun.
5. Wrong dimensions after cropping. Solution: use a tool that auto-crops to exact 35x45 mm at 300 DPI.

Photo studio vs DIY in Germany

A photo studio (Fotostudio) in Germany typically charges 12-18 euros for 6 passport photos. A Buergeramt kiosk machine charges 6-8 euros for 4 photos. Both options often produce rejected photos because they use generic settings without checking the specific Bundesdruckerei requirements.

DIY at home: with any phone from the last 5 years and a free browser-based crop tool, you can produce a Bundesdruckerei-compliant photo in 5 minutes. Print at any DM, Rossmann, or dm-Drogeriemarkt photo service for under 2 euros total.

EES and ETIAS context for German passports

If you hold a German passport, you are an EU citizen and EES does not apply to you. EES only affects non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area.

If you are a non-EU citizen applying for a German visa or residence permit, the photo requirement is the same 35x45 mm biometric format. EES will capture biometric data at the border on your first entry, separately from your visa photo. No new photo is required for EES.

ETIAS launches in Q4 2026 and applies to visa-exempt non-EU travelers (US, UK, Canada, etc.) entering Germany. ETIAS does not require a photo upload, only passport details and a 7 euro fee. See the full EES explainer for details.

Cost comparison

For DIY, our free German passport photo tool auto-crops to the exact 35x45 mm Bundesdruckerei specification in your browser. No upload, no signup, no watermark.

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