Germany Visa Photo
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German Visa - Digital photo size & requirements
Height: 45 mm
- Head height: 34.5 mm
- Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
How to make a photo?
German Visa Photo
Do you know that visa photos are not universal in all of the world? Size of the visa photo may vary depending on the country. For example, in the USA the dimensions are 51x51 mm while in China a visa photo is expected to be 33x48 mm. Moreover, some countries may allow certain items or postures on a photo, whereas those might be prohibited in other countries. Once you choose a specific document, our German visa photo cropping and resizing tool will adjust your photo accordingly. Don’t worry about the size of your photo, let us help you!
German visa photo size (dimensions)
The only correct size of a German visa photo is 35 x 45 mm and you must provide two identical visa photos.
The photo must clearly show the person‘s facial features from the tip of the chin to the top of the head as well as both sides of the face. The face must take up 70 - 80% of the image. In millimetres it should be between 32 and 36 mm. That includes the hair, so if you have a voluminous hairstyle, it is your responsibility to make sure that the head with the hair is fully depicted without reducing the size of the face.
Important thing: the height of the face may not be less than 32 mm.
Selfie as a German visa photo
This is not allowed to provide a selfie as a German visa photo. That is because the distance between a camera and a photographed person must be between 1,20 and 2 metres and the
the head should be neither at an angle nor turned. All the head and neck must be visible, optionally the upper part of the shoulders. To take the required view we recommend you to use a tripod or ask another person for help.
Colors in a German visa photo
Your visa photo must be in color, moreover the picture must be neutral in colour and skin tones should be represented naturally. The same applies to the color of the eyes. That means that the “red eyes” effect caused by the flash lamp disqualifies the picture.
The background should be clear, plain and light - a neutral grey colour is highly recommended - but it must also contrast to the face and hair. In the case of light coloured hair, a medium-grey background is more suitable whilst a light-grey background is suitable for dark hair. No shadows, patterns, other people or objects must be visible in your visa photo.
But you do not need to worry about it. You can take a picture on any background, even in your room or kitchen and just use our visa photo background editor which changes a wrong background into the required one.
Illumination in a German visa photo
Remember that your face must be evenly illuminated - its boths sides must be visible, no shadows are accepted.
A very important thing is laso to adjust contrast and brightness during taking the picture.
The image must not be overexposed or underexposed. The German visa photo should be focused, clear and should have no creases or impurities.
If you wear eyeglasses in German visa photo, control, if they don’t obscure your eyes, neither give the shadow on your face.Glasses are allowed, but make sure that a light does not give a glare on them.
Germany visa photo quality - technical requirements
The photo you attach to your visa application form should be printed on high-quality paper. At the moment it is not possible to send a picture via the Internet.
A print resolution must be at least 600 dpi if you have taken it with a digital camera. The face must be sharply focused in all areas, rich in contrast and clear.
If you want to take a picture with your smartphone, it is easy to produce a high-quality picture, especially if you use a visa photo maker cropping, resizing and adjusting your visa photo.
German visa photo composition requirements
The head of the candidate must be centred and must not be tilted in any direction - only an en-face view is accepted.The photographed person must keep their mouth closed and look directly into the camera lens.
The eyes must be open and clearly visible and may not be covered by hair or eyeglasses frames.
There are some requirements you must remember about while taking a German visa photo. Your German visa photo must be:
- in color
- not older that 6 months
- printed on high-quality paper
- original (not altered in any way)
- 2 identical pieces
Do not smile in the visa picture, a neutral face expression is required. Frowning neither is not permitted. Keep your mouths closed but not tightened. Whole your face must be clearly visible, so make sure that your hair, head gear or jewellery do not cover its line.
Dress code for a German visa photo
There are not any recommendations about clothing in German visa pictures with one exception. You must not wear uniforms nor any clothes in army patterns like moro which can ressemble uniforms.
So you may dress like you feel comfortable. A simple blouse with a collar or V-neck is our recommendation. If you like jewellery, you can put on a necklace and a small pair of earrings. Wearing massive earrings or hair decorations is not recommended as they can obscure the face oval and in such a case your picture will be not accepted.
If you cover your head for religious reasons every day, there is no requirement of taking off a headgear for the German passport photo. But even if you keep it, the face must be clearly visible, and a head covering must not cover the face line.
German visa photo for children and babies
If you intend to travel with minors, they will need a German visa too and you also need to fill up the application form and attach two identical passport-size photos to it. There are not any special additional requirements nor exemptions for German visa photos for children and babies. If you find problematique to take a picture of an infant because you need to support the baby’s head, just take a picture normally and then remove a wrong background where you may be visible. You can do it quickly and easily with the online visa photo app - this editor also changes the unsuitable background into the required one, crops and resizes the image and at the end verifies if your child’s photo satisfies all requirements!
What is not permitted German visa photo?
If you do not meet the requirements, your visa photo will be rejected and you will need to start all the visa processing again. To avoid this uncomfortable situation, just get familiar with most common mistakes that people make.
Your picture must not BE:
- older than 6 months
- altered by Photoshop, filters nor any kind of computer software
- overexposed or underexposed
- printed on low-quality paper
- cut out from another, bigger picture
In the picture you are not permitted to:
- tilt your head
- look sideway, up or down nor have your eyes closed
- have your mounts open
- smile or knit brows
- wear a uniform nor clothes resembling a uniform
German visa photo near me
If you ask “where to get a visa photo near me”? you risk to be frustrated as is a time-consuming action to find a professional photography studio or photo booth in your neighbourhood. But the good news is: you do not need to do it!
You can take your picture wherever is convenient for you - in your living room, garden or in the street! And you don’t need a professional photographer! Just ask somebody to take you a picture and upload it to the online passport photo editor.
Of course you still must meet requirements about size, crop, background etc. but this online photo tool will take care about all those details instead of your! It crops, resizes and at the end checks your photo in terms of correctness! Take a visa photo in 3 seconds from everywhere with Passport Photo Online!
German visa photo app
If you are not sure how to resize a picture and you are not keen on graphic programmes, why not take a look at our automatically cropping and resizing the visat photo app?
In a few seconds you will get your perfect visa photo ready to attach to your application form!
This photo tool is available online, easy to use and cheap. How is it possible? It is because you pay only for correct photos and they have a guarantee of acceptance by authorities!
Frequently Asked Questions
💡 What is the required size in mm for a German visa photo?
Required dimensions of German visa photos are 35 x 45 mm.
💡 What is the required size of the head in the German visa photo?
The heads’s (including the hairstyle) image must cover 70 - 80% of the full picture. In millimetres it should be 32 - 36 mm.
💡 Is a head covering allowed in a German visa photo?
Generally speaking, headwear is not allowed, especially a fashionable one like a cap, hat or bandana. In the case of religious reasons the face must be visible from the lower tip of the chin to the forehead.
💡 Can I wear my eyeglasses in the German visa photo?
Yes, this is permitted, but frames cannot cover your eyes and there can’t be any glare from the glass. Glasses must not be tinted nor dark.
💡 Where can I take a picture for a German visa photo?
Anywhere! Seriously! All you need is your digital camera or smartphone, no matter if you have Android or iOS. Just ask someone to help you and use an online photo editor to adjust the photo to German visa photo requirements.
💡 Can I smile in the German visa photo?
No. Smiling, making faces, opening or tightening months or closing eyes while taking your German visa photo will cause the rejection of your application.
💡 How long does the German visa procedure take?
After providing all documents and a passport photo, you will wait maximum 15 days for your short-stay visa. In the other cases this period may vary.
💡 Can I take a German visa photo with a smartphone?
Of course! Any smartphone equipped with a camera is a per4fect device to take a high-quality picture for your German visa.
To adjust your picture to visa photo requirements, check out an online passport photo editor.
💡 Can I wear jewellery and piercing in the German visa photo?
Yes, you can keep your facial piercing, but make sure that it does not obscure your features nor gives a glare. You may also wear a necklace or earrings but make sure that they do not touch your oval line.
💡 Is it the possibility to apply for a German visa online?
Yes, you may submit the form via the Internet but you also must attend the interview at the appropriate German Embassy or Consulate.
💡 Can I have a beard in German visa picture?
Yes, if you have a beard or moustache, you do not need to shave it. But be aware that in some particular cases - if your face is unrecognizable because of the beard, your visa photo may be rejected.
💡 Do children need a German visa too?
Yes, every person regardless of age is obliged to have an entrance permit in Germany. If you travel with children, be aware that there are some additional conditions we write about below.
💡 Can I retouch my German visa photo or use filters?
Not at all. You must not use Photoshop nor any retouching tools to correct your photo. All interfered pictures will be automatically rejected.
💡 How can I resize an image for a German visa photo?
You can do it in 3 seconds with automatically cropping and resizing the passport photo editor. Just check this app’s options and possibilities!
💡 Where can I take a German visa photo near me?
If you know any professional photography studio next to your place, it would be easy. But not everyone has the time and willingness to walk around the city and look for it. Moreover, professional photographers are expensive and there is a much easier and cheaper way to prepare the perfect German visa photo! Just check an online visa photo App!
About the document
What is a German visa?
A German tourist visa is also called a short-stay Schengen visa. This document allows its holders to enter and reside in Germany for a maximum period of 90 days within a 180 days period. During this time the short-stay Schengen visa holder is not allowed to be involved in any kind of a paid job.
So, if you get your German visa issued by a German embassy or consulate, you are permitted to enter the whole area with one unified document known as the Schengen Visa.
Which countries can you visit with a German visa?
As Germany is in the Schengen Zone where border control between member states is abolished, the visa issued by German authorities allows free entrance to many other countries.
When you are in Germany, you are allowed to visit all the other members of the Schengen Zone which are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
German tourist visa for the US citizens
If you are a holder of the USpassport, you are allowed to enter Germany visa-free and stay in Germany and all Schengen Zonefor a period of 90 days within a 180 days period.
Visa-free regime with the European Union
The Federal Republic of Germany is a top destination for tourism and education and every year millions of tourists want to visit it or do business there. Keep in mind that Germany has established strictly executed immigration laws.
If you are planning a visit in Germany for tourism or business you need to check if you must present a visa while crossing Germany or other Schengen Zone country border.
At the moment there is a list of 62 countries in which citizens can enter for the purpose of tourism, visiting and business doing the Schengen Zone visa free. Check if you are a passport holder of one of following countries (in an alphabetical order):
- Albania, Andora, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia
- Bahamas, Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei
- Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala
- Honduras, Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro
- New Zealand, North Macedonia, Nicaragua
- Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
- Samo, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea
- Taiwan, Timor Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu
- Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay
- Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela
Do you need a Schengen visa?
As indicated above there are countries that are privileged with entering Germany visa-free, but there are also other categories and nationals, which have to go through all the process of obtaining a visa.
Their citizens must meet some requirements and attend interviews, in order to obtain a visa that grants them entrance to the Western European country.
If your country is not on the list of visa-free nations, you will need to obtain a visa to be permitted to enter Germany. Moreover, even if you are a citizen of any of the privileged countries, but your purpose is other than tourism or business, and/or you need to remain in Germany for more than 90 days within a 6-month period, then you will still need to obtain a visa.
Germany Entry Requirements
Even if you have already got your visa, you need to meet some other requirements to enter Germany. If you are an EU national person coming to Germany only need to carry with you an identification document and it does not necessarily have to be a passport. Your ID is also welcome.
If you are not from a one of Schengen Zone countries, you must present at the border:
- a passport within the last 10 years and valid for at least three more months beyond their planned date of exit from Germany.
- a valid visa if it applies to your nationality
- a proof of sufficient funds for the entire stay in Germany
- a ticket back from Germany or other Schengen Zone country
Keep in mind that travellers crossing the Germany border must be able to attest possessing at least 45€ per each day they plan on spending in German territory.
You will be asked to show these documents to the German immigration officer once you arrive in the country. Be prepared also to answer some questions about your trip to Germany. The border police officer may ask you for example:
- What is the purpose of your visit?
- How long are you planning to stay in Germany?
- Where are you going to stay in Germany? (prepare the address of the hotel or your German host)
If you are permitted to enter, make sure that the German border officer stamps your passport. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Germany!
Visa requirements for children
If you are planning to travel to Germany with minors, you must apply for a visa for them too. There are some additional visa requirements for children applying to get a short-stay visa are as indicated below:
- birth certificate
- Germany application visa form signed by both parents (In cases where only one parent has full custody over the child, a family court order is needed)
- Certified copies of ID / passport of both parents.
- A notarized parental authorization to travel to Germany, signed by both parents / guardians if the minor will be travelling alone.
Extension of the German Visa
With your short-stay Schengen visa you may visit Germany up to 90 days, within a 180-day period. If you are planning to stay longer, register at the relevant German authorities.
Remember that you can extend your German Schengen visa only in exceptional cases. In such a case you must prove that new facts and special reasons have occured after your entry in Germany. There are cases like humanitarian reasons or force majeure.
Please keep in mind that only some special circumstances may cause extension of your German Schengen Visa. If you have the possibility to leave the country and come back later, consider this solution as visa’s extensions are granted only in special situations.
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