Germany Passport Photo: check yours against the official spec

A German passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, with your face filling 70 to 80% of the photo height (about 32 to 36 mm from chin to the top of your head), against a shadow-free, single-colour background that contrasts clearly with both your face and your hair; light grey is the standard. Since May 1, 2025, photos for applications made in Germany are digital only: they are taken by a certified photographer or at the authority's own terminal and transmitted securely, so you cannot upload your own file domestically. Use this tool to check compliance and practise your pose before you pay, and for paper photos still accepted at German missions abroad.

Check your photo free. Pay $9 only if it passes. Accepted or your money back.

Upload a photo

Use a clear, front-facing photo against a plain white wall in even light. We measure and crop it. We never edit the pixels you submit.

🛡️ Accepted or your money back🔒 Your photo is deleted within 24 hours✓ We never edit your photo

Germany passport photo requirements

Photo size	1 3/8 × 1 3/4 inches (35 × 45 mm)
Head height (chin to top of hair)	1 1/4 to 1 3/8 in (32 to 36 mm)
Eye height from bottom	3/4 to 1 1/8 in (19 to 30 mm)
Background	plain single colour with clear contrast to face and hair (light grey is the standard)
Digital file	JPEG, at least 750 × 750 px

Common reasons a Germany passport photo is rejected

The photo has been retouched, filtered, or soft-focused. These are explicit rejection examples on the official BMI photo sample table (Fotomustertafel).
The background has a pattern or shadows, or does not contrast clearly with your face and hair.
The face is outside the 70 to 80% height band (about 32 to 36 mm), or the head is tilted or not centred.
Smiling with an open mouth, squinting or grimacing, or glasses frames or reflections covering the eyes.

“Photos must not be changed using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.”
U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements

Photo rejections are common, and you pay twice

A rejected photo means a delayed application and paying again for a retake. It's one of the most common problems people hit when applying, and it's exactly what this tool is built to catch before you submit:

We measure your photo against the official spec, never AI-edit it (itself a rejection reason as of 2026), and back it accepted-or-your-money-back.

What a passport photo really costs

The photo is the cheap part. The expensive part is a rejection: redo fees, another queue, and a delayed application or trip. Here is the honest comparison:

Pharmacy or retail (CVS, Walgreens)$16 to $17 per attempt	No compliance guarantee. A rejection means paying and queueing again.
USPS photo serviceabout $15	Same deal: rejected means a second visit and a second fee.
Cheap online photo editors$1 to $3	Most replace your background with software. Edited photos are a documented rejection reason for the US, UK and Canada since 2026, and refunds usually cover technical failures only.
Compliant Passport PhotoFree check. $9 only if it passes	We measure and crop your original, never edit it. Accepted or your money back.

Retail prices are typical 2026 US prices and vary by location. Our guarantee: accepted or your money back.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my own printed photo to a German passport office?

Not anymore. Since May 1, 2025 you cannot bring a paper photo to a German authority in Germany. The photo is taken by a certified photographer or drugstore and transmitted via a secure cloud QR code, or taken at the authority's own terminal (about 6 euros at the office). This tool helps you check compliance and practise beforehand; it cannot produce the submitted file for domestic applications.

Are paper photos still accepted anywhere for German passports?

Yes. German missions abroad still accept paper photos: 45 x 35 mm in portrait format, without a border.

What background colour does a German passport photo need?

No specific colour is mandated. The rule is a shadow-free, single-colour background that contrasts clearly with your face and your hair. Light grey is the convention because it contrasts with most hair and skin tones and with white shirts.

Is the photo spec the same for the Personalausweis (ID card)?

Yes. The same photo specification covers both the Reisepass and the Personalausweis.

What are the rules for children's photos in Germany?

Up to age 10 the face may fill 50 to 80% of the photo and minor deviations are allowed. Up to age 6 there are further exceptions for head position, expression, and eye visibility. The photo must still be frontal, with no second person or object in the frame.