Effortless Germany Visa Photo Service: Passport and Visa Photos

German visa photo requirements 

The following requirements need to be met for German visa photos: 

• Both colour and black and white photos are accepted
• The face is centred and not tilted to one side
• A colour-neutral photo showing natural skin tones 
• The eyes are fully visible and looking straight into the camera
• Printed on high-quality photo paper having a resolution of at least 600 DPI
• The face is fully visible from chin to forehead
• Neutral facial expression with the mouth closed
• Clear, high contrast image without any stains and creases 

Germany visa photo size and format

German visa photos should be 35×45 mm large in size, whereby the head measures between 70 to 80% of the photo's height. 

The ideal facial height ranges from 32 to 36 mm. Only if the height of the face is less than 27 mm or more than 40 mm may a visa photo be rejected, since the upper end of the head is frequently difficult to identify. The applicant's face must always be centred and the proper size and voluminous hair should be portrayed on the visa photo as fully as possible without diminishing the size of the applicant’s face.

Glasses in German visa photos

As long as the eyes are fully visible, there is no reflection or glare, and the frame does not cover the eyes, glasses are acceptable in German visa photos. Sunglasses and tinted or coloured glasses are not permitted.

Smiling in German visa photo

German visa photos require a neutral facial expression. Smiling, showing your teeth and pulling grimaces is not allowed in the photo. As long as the mouth stays closed and the applicant does not smile broadly, the facial expression should be acceptable.

German visa photo background 

German visa photos must have a plain, light-coloured background that is neither patterned nor shadowed — ideally, a bright, neutral grey. The picture should only show the applicant; no background subjects or items are allowed.

Clothing requirements for a German visa photo

Although there are no precise attire restrictions for German visa photos, it is better to wear dark or dark-coloured clothing to prevent blending into the background. Additionally, off-the-shoulder clothing like tank tops, tube tops, and halter tops should be avoided. Attire resembling military clothing and uniforms are not permitted on German visa photos. 

Head coverings in German visa photos 

Head coverings like scarves, hats, headbands, and caps are not allowed in visa photos for Germany, except for religious reasons. When wearing a head covering for religious reasons, your face needs to be entirely visible from chin to forehead. The head covering should not cast any shadows on the face or background. 

Recentness of German visa photo

German visa photos should not be older than six months.

German visa photo lighting

The applicant’s face must be evenly illuminated in the visa photo for Germany. Shadows, reflections, glare and the red-eye effect should be avoided. 

German visa photo editor 

Are you planning a trip to Germany and need a visa? Look no further! Our AI-enhanced visa photo editor is here to make your life easier. With just a simple selfie, our tool will generate a biometric photograph that meets all official requirements for a German visa photo.

Our tool is user-friendly and efficient. It removes the background, adjusts the size, crops the photo accordingly, and checks and fixes the lighting to ensure that the German visa photo meets all necessary requirements. Plus, with our built-in verification tool, you can rest assured that your photo is up to par.

Instead of spending time and money getting your visa photo taken at a photo booth or studio, click on the "Upload a photo" button at the top of this page to try our tool for yourself. Or, download our visa photo app on Android or visa photo app on iOS and take your photo with your phone. With our AI-enhanced passport photo editor, getting a German visa photo has never been easier!

German visa photos: Overview

Check out the table below for the most important visa photo requirements for Germany:

Last update: 2023/10/01