OFFICIAL CONSULAR SPECIFICATION● PHOTO REQUIREMENTS GUIDEGermany Visa & Passport Photo Requirements: 2026 Official Rules & Size Specifications
German biometric photo rules for Schengen and national visas and German passports, based on the BMI photo template, including the May 2025 switch to digital-only photos for passports and ID cards applied for in Germany.
Try the assessment first. Paid downloads include a clean JPEG and print-ready sheet; review the package price before checkout. Follow the receiving authority’s photography instructions.
Separate the document name, application location and photo delivery route before using this guide. A broad title covering visas and passports can hide differences that matter to a real application. Read the receiving authority’s instructions rather than treating a shared page title as a shared specification.
Who this guide is for
Use this preparation checklist when briefing a photographer or sorting instructions from several applications. It is designed to reduce mistaken preset selection and help you inspect lighting and expression before ordering output.
Key Biometric Specifications
Preparing the photo
Practical preparation tips; use the linked application instructions for requirements.
- Write the exact document request on the photographer brief. Include the page URL and any supplied diagram. If you have instructions for both a passport and a visa, keep them on separate sheets and say which job you are ordering.
- Read the background wording in the source before choosing the setup. View the backdrop in a test capture as well as by eye; coloured light from a wall or curtain can change its appearance. Move away from coloured surfaces if they cast a tint.
- Check reflections without turning the head away from the camera. A bright rectangular reflection often comes from a window or screen. Adjust the light position while keeping the face straight, and consult the source before deciding what to do about glasses.
- Let the face relax between pictures. Avoid asking for an exaggerated serious expression that tightens the mouth or raises the eyebrows. Take a short series and inspect each frame for focus and the expression requested by the source.
- Before accepting a preset crop, compare the source diagram with the actual head placement. The name of a country in a menu is not a measurement. Keep enough of the original frame to correct an unsuitable crop without stretching the face.
Mandatory Consular Rules
- Plain, single-colour light background with good contrast to the face. The BMI photo template recommends light grey; it does not set a colour code.
- Face height must occupy between 70% and 80% of the photo (32 mm to 36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the crown).
- The eye baseline must sit precisely between 29 mm and 35 mm from the bottom margin.
- Glasses are allowed if the eyes are clearly visible: no reflections, no tinted lenses and no frame covering the eyes.
- Since 1 May 2025, passport and ID card photos for applications made in Germany must be taken digitally by the citizens' office or a certified photographer and sent electronically. Printed photos are still used for visas and many applications at German missions abroad; follow the mission's or VFS Global/VisaMetric instructions.
Troubleshooting the photo
Different instruction pages appear to disagree
The pages may describe different documents or delivery routes, rather than successive versions of one rule.
Match each page to the exact application and ask the receiving authority about unresolved differences. Do not combine individual numbers into a new hybrid specification.
Top Rejection Pitfalls to Avoid
- A background that is patterned, shadowed or too close to the hair or skin tone, so the face does not stand out.
- Glasses with reflections, tinted lenses or frames that cover the eyes.
- Head size below 32 mm or above 36 mm, violating the federal biometric template.
- Smiling or showing teeth (neutral expression with mouth firmly closed required).
Germany photo requirements and document options
Digital and printed copies
Confirm the requested delivery route before ordering. A paper print, a downloadable portrait and a service-generated reference are different items; buying one does not establish that you have the others.
Questions about this guide
Should I combine a visa crop with instructions from a passport page?
No. Keep each source tied to its own application. If a requirement is missing, seek the appropriate instruction rather than filling the gap from another document.
How do I stop a coloured curtain changing the photo background?
Try a different capture position or cover the coloured surface outside the frame with a neutral material. Review a test shot before taking the final portrait.
About this guide
ApprovaVisa editorial team
Requirements come from the linked authority source. Where our summary and the authority differ, follow the authority.
Prepare Your Germany Photo
Check the receiving authority’s instructions before preparing a photo. Use professional photography where required, and retain the original image when digital alterations are prohibited.
Try the assessment first. Paid downloads include a clean JPEG and print-ready sheet; review the package price before checkout. Follow the receiving authority’s photography instructions.