German Passport
Germany
Biometric Passbild 35×45 mm, face height 32–36 mm, uniform light grey background (BMI / Bundesdruckerei).
Last reviewed:
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German Passport — key specifications
At-a-glance summary of the official Germany photo template. Every value below is enforced automatically when you upload your image.
| Physical size | 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 413 × 531 px (300 DPI) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Max file size | 5120 KB (JPEG) |
| Head coverage | 70–80% |
| Print sheet | 4x6 · 8 |
Requirements
Check dimensions and official rules on this page.
- Physical: 35mm × 45mm
- Digital: 413–413px × 531–531px
- Max file size: 5120 KB
Straight-on pose, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, no shadows, natural skin tones.
Auswärtiges Amt — biometric passport photo rules
Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) implements EU passport-photo standards under Regulation (EC) 2252/2004. The 35 × 45 mm biometric format applies to German passports and Schengen visa applications, with light grey background preferred.
Why use this German Passport tool
- $3.99Final photo + 4×6 print sheet. No subscription. Studios typically charge $15 – $30 for the same output.
- Free previewYou only pay once a watermarked preview confirms the crop, background, and biometric framing meet the spec.
- Refund if non-compliantIf our output fails the issuing-authority checklist, we refund — see our refund policy.
Common reasons German Passport photos are rejected
Issuing authorities reject submissions that miss any of the items below. Our tool automatically corrects crop, background, and dimensions, but you still control the original capture — review this list before you upload.
- wrong_photo_size
- face_height_outside_32_36_mm
- background_not_uniform_light
- shadows_or_red_eye
- head_tilt_or_profile
- glasses_on_passport_photo
- mouth_open_or_smiling
Bundesdruckerei biometric photo rejection patterns
Germany's Bundesdruckerei (the federal printing office that produces all German passports and ID cards) operates one of the strictest automated photo compliance systems in Europe. The system checks 23 separate parameters and reports any one of them failing.
Background quality is the most-failed criterion — Bundesdruckerei requires a uniform light grey (RAL 7035 / equivalent) and the automated check rejects walls with even slight texture, colour gradient, or off-white tones.
- Background colour outside the light grey / off-white range (pure white is borderline — some Bürgeramt offices accept it, others reject)
- Visible texture, wallpaper pattern, or wall art behind the subject
- Head height outside the strict 32 – 36 mm chin-to-crown band
- Eye-line not in the precise upper-middle band
- Photo taken more than 6 months ago
- Visible shadow on the face or wall
- Glasses worn (banned since 2018)
- Hair covering eyebrows or partially obscuring eyes
- Asymmetric head tilt or rotation greater than 5°
German passport application through your Bürgeramt
Unlike most other countries, Germany handles passport applications exclusively through municipal Bürgeramt offices (citizen registration offices) — there is no national passport agency. Each Bürgeramt operates independently:
- Find your local Bürgeramt via the Service Berlin / München / Hamburg / Köln (etc.) portal for your city
- Appointment booking online; walk-ins typically not accepted in major cities
- Bring 1 printed 35 × 45 mm biometric photo, your current Personalausweis (national ID), and the application fee (€80 for adult 10-year passport)
- The Bürgeramt runs an in-house biometric photo check before accepting the application — if your photo fails, you can usually take a new one at a Fotomaton (passport photo booth) inside or near the office for €6–€10
- Processing time: 3-6 weeks (express €110 for 1-week, €145 for 24-hour at express-Bürgeramt)
EU Regulation 2252/2004 — what Germany enforces strictly
Germany implements the EU passport photo standard (Council Regulation EC 2252/2004) more strictly than most other Schengen member states. Key Germany-specific enforcement details:
- Head measurement: precisely 32 – 36 mm chin-to-crown (not the broader 30-36 mm range some other countries accept)
- Pupil-to-eye-line distance: must be precisely placed in the upper third
- Mouth must be closed AND the lips relaxed — even a slight pucker is rejected
- Frontal face only — head rotation greater than 5° rejected
- Even illumination required: side lighting that creates shadow on one cheek is rejected
- Photo must be in the new 'biometric photo' format introduced in 2008 — older 'normal' format passport photos are rejected
Reusing the German passport photo for Schengen visas and other applications
The German 35 × 45 mm biometric photo is fully compatible with:
- All Schengen Area visa applications (same EC 2252/2004 standard)
- EU national ID card (Personalausweis) renewals
- EU residence permit renewals (Aufenthaltstitel)
- Most other Schengen member states' passport applications
- Not compatible with: US (51 × 51 mm), UK (slight background preference difference), India, Canada, China, or any non-Schengen country with a different size
German Passport — common questions
What is the official German Passport size?
The official German Passport size is 35 mm × 45 mm (1.38 in × 1.77 in). For digital uploads it equals 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI.
What background color is required for a German Passport?
German Passport photos must be taken on a plain white background, evenly lit and free of shadows or patterns.
How big should the face appear in a German Passport photo?
The head should fill 70–80% of the photo height, with eyes positioned in the upper-middle of the frame and a neutral expression looking straight at the camera.
Can I take a German Passport photo at home?
Yes. Use a recent phone photo against a plain wall, with even daylight and no glasses. Our tool then crops, recolors the background, and resizes to the official 35 mm × 45 mm template.
Can I print the German Passport at CVS, Walgreens, or another pharmacy?
Yes. We generate a 4x6 print sheet with 8 photos that any pharmacy or photo kiosk can print.
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Where we sourced these Germany specifications
Dimensions, background colour, and biometric framing on this page are compiled from the references below. Always reconfirm the latest guidance directly with the issuing authority before submitting an application.
- bmi.bund.de
- bundesdruckerei.de
Last reviewed:
Other countries' passport & visa photo rules
Photo dimensions and background rules vary by issuing authority. Compare nearby countries you may also be applying to.