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, with the 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 our Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) specification (35×45 mm, 827×1063 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 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 before any appointment or studio visit: the head band, the background shade and its uniformity, the lighting and how far your head is tilted.
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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, so we leave yours as it is |
- Same May 2025 digital regime as the Reisepass: terminal at the Bürgeramt or certified photographer via secure channel. Citizens cannot upload a photo themselves.
- Passbild geometry: 35×45 mm proportions, 827×1063 px at 600 DPI, head 70–80%, light grey background.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) 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 ID Card (Personalausweis) 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 (827×1063px)
- 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: 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 use PassportClerk for your Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official Germany ID Card (Personalausweis) 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
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.
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