German Official Photo Requirements for Passports, Visas, and IDs
Get exact specifications for German identity documents, including size, head height, and submission rules.
Overview of German Identity Documents
Photo requirements vary by German document. The sections below list sizes, head-height details, and submission methods for the documents covered.
The listed photo size for the German ID card, passport, child passport, and travel document for foreigners is 35×45 mm[1][2][3].
Driving and Firearm Permits
The listed German driving licence, international driving permit, and European firearms pass photos use a 35×45 mm size[4][5][6].
The listed sizes are 35×45 mm for the German driving licence[4], international driving permit[5], and European firearms pass[6]. The listed submission method is printed for all three[4][5][6].
Visas and Residence Papers
The listed German visitor visa, long-stay visa, residence permit, and travel document for foreigners photo sizes are 35×45 mm[3][7].
The listed photo sizes are 35×45 mm for German visitor and long-stay visas and travel documents for foreigners[3], and residence permits[7]. The listed submission methods allow printed or digital photos for residence permits and travel documents[3][7].
Size and Head Height Rules
The documents listed in this guide have listed photo sizes of 35×45 mm. A 32–36 mm head-height range is listed only for the German ID card photo.
The listed head-height range for a German ID card photo is 32–36 mm[1]. No head-height measurement is listed for German passport or child passport photos[2]. When you frame your shot, keeping your face centered and looking straight ahead is standard practice for all identity pictures.
Digital and Printed Submissions
The listed submission methods differ by document: some are digital, some printed, and some allow both.
The listed ID card submission method is digital. Passport and child passport photos allow both digital and printed submissions[2]. Driving licence and international driving permit photos are listed for printed submission[4][5].
Taking the photo at home
You can take your own photo at home using a digital camera or smartphone. Stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall with no patterns or shadows behind you.
Turn off the flash and use bright, even daylight from a window facing your face. Ask a helper to take the picture instead of holding the camera yourself to keep the framing steady.
Keep the camera lens at your exact eye level. Stand about one to one and a half metres away from the lens to avoid wide-angle facial distortion. Maintain a neutral facial expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open, looking directly into the camera.
Printing and cutting
Once you capture the picture, upload it to the cropping tool on this website to adjust your frame to the correct proportions. If you need physical prints, arrange your cropped photo onto a standard four by six-inch template file.
Print this sheet at a local retail store or photo kiosk using matte or glossy photo paper. Use a sharp pair of scissors or a paper trimmer to cut cleanly along the outer edges of the 35x45 mm frame.
Double-check the physical dimensions with a ruler before you bring the printed photos to your official appointment to make sure they match the required measurements.
Practical Tips for Your Photo
Take your photo in front of a plain window with bright natural light to avoid harsh shadows on your face or background. Keep the camera at eye level about one to one and a half metres away from your face to prevent wide-angle distortion.
You can crop your picture to the correct size using the tool above before arranging it onto a standard four by six-inch template. Printing this sheet at an ordinary retail photo kiosk lets you cut out multiple valid photos for a very low cost.
Frequently asked questions
What size do German official photos need to be?
What is the head height requirement for a German ID card?
Your head must measure between 32 and 36 millimetres from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head[1].
Can I submit my German passport photo digitally?
Do driving licence photos need to be printed?
How can I print my photo cheaply?
You can arrange your cropped photo onto a standard four by six-inch print sheet and print it at any retail photo kiosk.
How far away should the camera be when taking the photo?
You should stand about one to one and a half metres away from the camera lens to prevent wide-angle distortion on your face.