Germany Biometric Photo Size
35×45 mm, ICAO 9303 / BSI TR-03121
Author: Murat Duru
Founder of PhotoID Studio: biometric photo software
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How should a Germany passport photo look?
Germany uses the 35×45 mm format with a head height of 32-36 mm. The real point is that two separate rules apply. For the Reisepass and Personalausweis of German citizens: Bundesdruckerei + BMI + BSI TR-03121 only accept a light grey background. Pure white is rejected. For a foreign citizen's German visa application: iDATA, Visametric, VFS Global and TLScontact guidance accepts both white and light grey. The key rule is clear contrast between the face and the background: for a fair-haired customer, mid grey makes the features stand out; for a dark-haired customer, white or very light grey works. The two processes must not be confused.
Photo Size
35×45 mm
Head Ratio
70%
Eye Position
56% from bottom
Top Margin
3-6 mm
Background Color
Light Gray / White
Standard
ICAO 9303 / BSI TR-03121
Requirements & Notes
German biometric photos accept light gray or white background. Facial expression must be neutral. Glasses must be removed.
Regulatory authorities and the recency rule
The standard is set by the Bundesministerium des Innern (BMI); the technical guideline is published as BSI TR-03121 and the Mustertafel. The Bundesdruckerei produces the passport and ID card; the application runs through the Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt. Aufenthaltstitel and visas sit with the Auswärtiges Amt and the BAMF. From 1 May 2025 onwards, Reisepass and Personalausweis applications inside Germany must submit the photo via a Bundesdruckerei-certified digital channel; uploading a scanned printed copy is invalid. Consulates abroad still accept printed photos. The six-month recency rule applies to all applications.
Workflow after the shoot
The captured frame is sent to PhotoID Studio. The Germany preset is selected; the app detects the face, places the head height into the 32-36 mm range and produces a 35×45 mm output at 300 DPI. For Reisepass/Personalausweis the background is held in the grey range and prevented from sliding to pure white; from the same frame a high-resolution digital file ready for the Bundesdruckerei-certified channel is prepared. For visa applications, the white or light grey variant is chosen depending on the customer's hair tone.
Capture setup and customer direction
Seat the customer 1.5-2 m in front of the backdrop with the shoulders parallel to the camera. For Reisepass/Personalausweis the backdrop is light grey. For visa applications the choice between white and mid grey depends on hair and skin tone; the guiding principle is contrast. The camera is on a tripod with the lens at eye level. Standard setup: a 50-85 mm portrait lens, f/8, a softbox at 45°, a reflector on the opposite side. Give the cue "Neutraler Gesichtsausdruck: mouth fully closed, lips relaxed, eyes wide open". Even a faint smile is rejected. Glasses: banned for Reisepass and Personalausweis since the 2017 rule; a medical exception is accepted only in a very narrow range with a doctor's note. Hair must not cover the eyebrows or eyes, and both ears must remain visible.
Rejection reasons at the Bürgeramt and German consulates
• Pure white background for Reisepass/Personalausweis: grey is mandatory. • Lack of contrast between face and background in visa applications (e.g. a fair-haired customer looking pale on a white backdrop). • Gradient or yellowish/bluish tone in the background: the certified system measures the RGB profile. • Head height outside the 32-36 mm range. • Glasses: banned for Reisepass and Personalausweis since 1 November 2017. • A faint smile or parted lips: Germany is among the strictest countries on the neutral expression rule. • Hair or a glasses arm covering the ear. • A frame older than six months from the capture date; the system checks the EXIF date. • A scanned printed copy uploaded for an in-Germany passport/ID application (invalid since 1 May 2025).
For studios serving German passport, ID and visa applicants
After 1 May 2025, studios in Germany must either connect to the Bundesdruckerei-certified digital channel or refer customers to the Bürgeramt terminal. German consulates in Turkey, India, China and Russia continue to accept printed photos. The Germany preset in PhotoID Studio prepares the strict grey backdrop for the passport and a white/grey contrast variant by hair tone for the visa as separate presets; from the same frame a printed copy and a digital file are produced together.
Used For
- Passport (Reisepass)
- ID card (Personalausweis)
- Visa
- Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel)
- Driver's license (Führerschein)
- Firearms card (Waffenbesitzkarte)
- Health insurance card
- BahnCard
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Frequently asked questions
- Should the German photo background be white or grey?
For Reisepass and Personalausweis only light grey is allowed (Mustertafel + BSI TR-03121). For German visa applications two options are valid: mid grey for fair-haired customers, white/very light grey for dark-haired customers. The guiding rule is clear contrast between face and background.
- How does the 1 May 2025 digital submission reform affect me?
For in-Germany Reisepass and Personalausweis applications the photo must be sent via a Bundesdruckerei-certified digital channel. If your studio is not connected, refer the customer to the digital terminal at the Bürgeramt. Consulates abroad still accept the printed copy.
- Can I wear glasses in a Reisepass photo?
No. Glasses have been banned for the Reisepass and Personalausweis since 1 November 2017. A medical exception requires a doctor's note and is accepted only in a very narrow range.
- Do the same rules apply to a child's passport?
Yes. The same rules: 35×45 mm, grey background, 32-36 mm head: apply to the children's Kinderreisepass. For babies the eye-open rule is applied flexibly in practice, but the facial features must be clearly visible.
- Can a German passport and a Schengen visa output be produced from the same frame?
Yes. Both processes use the same 35×45 mm size. The German passport preset keeps the background in the grey range; for general Schengen the white variant is selected with a single click.
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