Germany Passport — 35×45 mm (413×531 px)

German biometric photo rules

German passport photos follow the ICAO biometric standard at 35×45 mm. The background is a uniform light grey, and the face should occupy a large portion of the frame with eyes open and a closed mouth. Glasses are typically not permitted for new biometric photos.

Authorities look for a sharp, evenly lit face without shadows under the chin or behind the head. The photo must show you looking straight ahead with both sides of the face equally visible.

Preparing a photo at home

You can start from a well-lit phone portrait. PhotoGov removes the original background, applies light grey, and crops to 35×45 mm with biometric head height so the file is suitable for passport applications and many related German ID processes.

After download, verify sharpness on a large screen. Soft focus and motion blur are frequent reasons photos are refused at the Bürgeramt or photo counter.

Practical tips

• Neutral expression — no smile for biometric German photos.
• Remove glasses before capturing the source image.
• Use a plain wall; busy shelves behind you slow background removal.
• Keep the camera at eye level, not from above or below.

Common rejection reasons

• Smile or open mouth
• Dark or patterned background
• Face turned slightly left or right
• Red-eye, blur, or uneven lighting