Germany visa photo
Germany visa photo: 35 x 45 mm. The head must measure 32-36 mm from the chin to the top of the head. Source: Auswaertiges Amt, German Missions in the United States, checked September 2, 2026.
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The requirements
| Print size | 35 x 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height, chin to crown | 32-36 mm |
| Background | One colour and bright background, ideally a neutral grey, contrasting with face and hair and free of pattern and shadows |
| Glasses | Allowed, as long as the eyes are fully visible with no glare and no tint. |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open. |
| Head covering | Only for religious or medical reasons, and the face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. |
| Ears | No |
| Also required |
|
How to apply: Germany
A Schengen visa applied for at a German mission needs one recent biometric photo printed at 35 x 45 mm. The EU Visa Code asks for a photo meeting the ICAO 9303 standard, and Germany publishes that standard as the Federal Foreign Office sample photo sheet: the face takes up 70 to 80 percent of the photo, which is 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown.
The German rule that has applied to passports and identity cards since 1 May 2025, where the photo must be digital and sent by a registered photo service, does not apply to visas. For a visa application a printed photo is still what the mission asks for, and it may be in colour or black and white. It must be printed on high quality paper at 600 dpi or more.
The background should be one colour and bright, ideally a neutral grey that contrasts with the face and hair. A medium grey suits light hair and a light grey suits dark hair. When you attend in person to give fingerprints, the mission may also take the photo on the spot, and each mission can add local instructions to its checklist, so read the checklist of the mission where you apply.
Why photos get rejected here
Head too small or too large
The face should measure 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown. A German mission only rejects a photo when the face is under 27 mm or over 40 mm, but staying inside the target range avoids the question.
A white or patterned background
The background should be one colour and bright, ideally neutral grey. A busy wall or a strong shadow behind the head is a common reason for refusal.
Low print quality
The photo must be printed on high quality paper at a resolution of at least 600 dpi. A home inkjet print on plain paper is not suitable.
Glare on glasses
Glasses are allowed if the eyes are clearly visible, with no reflection on the lenses and no frame covering the eyes.
Part of a uniform
No part of a uniform may be visible in the photo.
What helps
Choose grey over white
A neutral grey wall is what the German sample sheet prefers. Pick the shade by hair colour: medium grey for light hair, light grey for dark hair.
Print at a photo lab
Order the print from a photo lab or a print service rather than a home printer, so the 600 dpi requirement is met.
Check the mission's checklist
The photo rule is the same everywhere, but each German mission publishes its own checklist of documents, and some add local instructions.
Keep a neutral expression
Look straight into the camera with the mouth closed and both eyes open. The rules for expression are relaxed only for young children.
Babies and young children
For children aged 9 and under the face may take up 50 to 80 percent of the photo. Children aged 5 and under do not need a neutral expression or to look straight into the camera, and babies under one year do not need to have their eyes open. The child must still be alone in the photo.
How to take a baby's passport photo at home
Glasses
Glasses may be worn if the eyes are clearly visible, the lenses do not reflect and the frame does not cover the eyes. Tinted lenses are only accepted for medical reasons.
Passport photo glasses rules by country
Head covering
Head coverings are accepted for religious reasons. The face must stay visible from the lower chin to the forehead, with no shadow on it.
Applying online
Schengen visa applications at German missions use a printed photo. Where you give fingerprints in person, the mission may take the photo live instead.
Questions about Germany photos
Does the 2025 digital photo rule apply to my visa?
No. Since 1 May 2025 German passports and identity cards need a digital photo from a registered service, but a Schengen visa at a German mission still uses a printed photo.
Can the visa photo be black and white?
Yes. For a visa application the photo may be in black and white or in colour.
What size is the photo?
The print is 35 x 45 mm, with the face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown.
Where these numbers come from
Official sourceEvery measurement on this page comes from the issuing authority's own published requirements.
- Auswärtiges Amt, German Missions in the United States: Schengen Visa: information and checklist (German Missions in the United States)checked September 2, 2026
- Auswärtiges Amt, German Missions in the United States: Sample Photos for visa and ID document applicationschecked September 2, 2026
- Bundesministerium des Innern (BMI): Fotomustertafel: Qualitätsmerkmale biometrischer Fotos für Dokumente (BMI24037)checked September 2, 2026
- European Commission, DG Home Affairs: Handbook for the processing of visa applications, section 3.3 The photographchecked September 2, 2026
Editor: Mehmet Apaydın (Xenit)How we check our numbers