Germany · id
German ID card (Personalausweis) photo
The Personalausweis photo follows Germany's biometric Passbild standard: 35×45 mm proportions — 827×1063 pixels at 600 DPI — with the face filling 70–80% of the frame against a light grey background. Since May 2025, submission is digital-only through certified channels.
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 827×1063 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 — source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: As with the Reisepass, there is no self-upload: the photo is created at the Bürgeramt terminal (~€6) or transmitted by a certified photographer. The same compliant Passbild still works in print for the Führerschein and other German uses — and the free check tells you whether your setup meets the standard before anyone charges you for it.
How it works
01
Choose your document
58 documents across 29 destinations, each with the official specification built in.
02
Add your photo
Ten checks measure it live on your device — nothing is uploaded.
03
Pay once, download everything
Exact-spec file, print sheet and compliance report. One price, no subscription.
What is a Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) photo?
The Personalausweis photo is the same biometric Passbild used for the German passport: 35×45 mm proportions, face at 70–80% of frame height, light grey uniform background, neutral expression, referenced digitally at 827×1063 pixels.
Since May 2025 the ID-card photo travels only through certified digital channels — the Bürgeramt terminal or a photographer's secure-cloud transmission with a QR code. The BSI's biometric software checks head position, tilt and background automatically, which is why marginal photos that 'look fine' get bounced at the desk.
Measure your photo against the Passbild geometry live in your browser: head band, background shade and uniformity, lighting and tilt, before any appointment or studio visit.
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Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 827×1063 px @600 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 827×1063px JPEG |
| Background | light grey |
| Head height | 70–80% of frame height |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | not permitted — we keep you compliant by not touching it |
- Same May 2025 digital regime as the Reisepass: terminal at the Bürgeramt or certified photographer via secure channel; no citizen self-upload.
- Passbild geometry: 35×45 mm proportions, 827×1063 px at 600 DPI, head 70–80%, light grey background.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (827×1063px)
- Compliance report — everything we measured, printable
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
one-time payment — no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions — 827×1063px
- 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 PassportClerk
Private by architecture
The free check runs on your device, and paid photos are deleted after 48 hours.
Measured, not guessed
Ten checks against the official specification — with the numbers shown, not a vague thumbs-up.
Exact files, first time
Correct pixels, DPI and file size for the portal, plus a print-ready sheet.
Fair by default
One price, no subscription. Wrong files? We fix them or refund you.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Personalausweis photo submitted since 2025?
Digitally only: either the self-service terminal at the Behörde takes it on the spot, or a certified photographer transmits it via the secure official channel with a QR code you bring to your appointment. Paper photos are no longer accepted.
What are the photo requirements?
Biometric Passbild: 35×45 mm proportions, head 70–80% of the frame, straight head, neutral expression with mouth closed, even lighting, light grey uniform background without shadows or patterns.
Is white background acceptable?
Light grey is the German standard — white is too bright for the automated checks German authorities run. Our background check measures both shade and uniformity against the Passbild expectation.
Can children use relaxed rules?
Yes — for under-6s the neutral-expression and gaze rules are applied leniently, but the size, background and framing standards remain.
Compliance, honestly
- We validate 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.
- You get a measured report, not a guarantee — final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07