Germany Passport Photo Maker
A German passport photo is a biometric 35 × 45 mm image (biometrisches Passbild), and Germany prefers a plain light grey background rather than white. Since May 2025 the standard route is digital: the photo is captured at the authority or sent by an approved photo service via secure cloud transfer. Our free tool crops to 35 × 45 mm in your browser.
Drag & drop a file here, or click to choose
Official Germany passport photo requirements
German passports (Reisepass) and ID cards (Personalausweis) are produced by the Bundesdruckerei and issued through your local Bürgeramt. The photo is a biometric 35 × 45 mm image with the face measuring 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown, eyes clearly visible and the head held straight.
The background should be plain and preferably light grey, which sets Germany apart from countries that default to white. The expression must be strictly neutral — no smiling — with the mouth closed and eyes open. Glasses are allowed only if your eyes stay fully visible with no glare or tint, though most people remove them to be safe. Lighting must be even, with no shadows on the face or background.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (biometrisches Passbild) |
| Digital size (px @ 300 DPI) | 413 × 531 px; digital capture/cloud transfer since May 2025 |
| Background | Plain, preferably light grey |
| Head height | 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown |
| Recency | Recent, reflecting current appearance |
| Glasses | Allowed only if eyes are fully visible with no glare or tint |
| Expression | Strictly neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
Getting the digital size right for online applications
Germany changed the workflow materially: since 1 May 2025, the normal route for Reisepass and Personalausweis uses digital-only biometric photos, captured on-site at the authority or supplied by a registered photo provider through an approved cloud transfer — the printed-photo default is being phased out. A 35 × 45 mm image at 300 DPI is 413 × 531 pixels if you're preparing a file. Since it's a biometric image, our tool crops and sizes it on your own device, keeping it private.
How to use Germany Passport Photo
- 1Drop a well-lit, front-facing photo into the box above (JPG, PNG or WebP).
- 2The official Germany size (35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) → 413 × 531px at 300 DPI) is pre-loaded — your photo is scaled and center-cropped, never stretched.
- 3Check the result against the official requirements table below, then download.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still bring a printed photo for a German passport?
The main route since May 2025 is digital: captured at the authority or sent by an approved photo service via cloud. Check with your Bürgeramt, as the printed-photo default is being phased out.
What background color does a German passport photo need?
Plain and preferably light grey — not white. This distinguishes Germany from many countries that require a white background.
Can I smile in a German passport photo?
No. The biometric rules require a strictly neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes open.