Germany · licence
German driving licence (Führerschein) photo
The Führerschein is the exception to Germany's 2025 digital-photo law: driving licence applications still take a conventional printed biometric photo at 35×45 mm Passbild geometry, head 70–80% of the frame, light grey background, per the Passverordnung standards referenced by the licensing regulation (FeV § 21).
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 413×531 px JPEG
- Background
- light grey
- Head height
- 70–80%
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
How our Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) specification (35×45 mm, 413×531 px, light grey background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) photo?
A German driving licence photo is a printed biometric photograph in the Passbild standard: 35×45 mm, head 70–80% of the frame, light grey background, neutral expression. The licensing regulation (FeV § 21) requires it and points to the Passverordnung's photographic standards.
Uniquely among major German documents, the Führerschein was not moved to the 2025 digital-only regime: applications at the Führerscheinstelle still take a conventional print. It is therefore the main German document where a self-made, self-printed photo remains fully usable.
That makes it the one major German document where a self-made, self-printed photo remains usable. Check yours against the biometric geometry, then print the 35×45 mm sheet for around 30 cents.
Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 413×531 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 413×531px JPEG |
| Background | light grey |
| Head height | 70–80% of frame height |
| Digital upload | not accepted (printed photos only) |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- Driving licences are NOT covered by the 2025 digital-photo law: you still submit a conventional biometric print per Passverordnung standards with the application (FeV § 21).
- 35×45 mm biometric Passbild geometry: head 70–80%, light grey background, no shadows.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (413×531px)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 413×531px
- Plain light grey background, evenly lit
- Head filling 70–80% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a print-ready sheet cut to the exact size, plus a digital copy to keep.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official Germany Driving Licence (Führerschein) requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Führerschein accept printed photos?
Yes. Driving licences are not covered by the May 2025 digital-only regime for passports and ID cards. A printed 35×45 mm biometric photo is submitted with the application at the Führerscheinstelle.
What are the photo requirements?
The biometric Passbild standard: 35×45 mm, head 70–80% of frame height, front-facing, neutral expression, even lighting, light grey uniform background, no shadows, recent (within six months).
Can I use the photo from my passport application?
The standard is the same, but since 2025 passport photos live in the digital channel, which means you may not have a print of your own. This page gives you a print sheet with four identical 35×45 mm copies.
Where do I print it?
Any drugstore photo kiosk (dm, Rossmann) prints a 10×15 cm sheet for ~€0.20–0.40. Print at 100% scale, never 'fit to page'.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07