Germany · passport
German passport (Reisepass) photo, digital rules
Since 1 May 2025 the German passport photo is digital-only: paper prints are no longer accepted. The Passbild standard itself is unchanged, at 35×45 mm proportions (827×1063 pixels at 600 DPI), with the face filling 70–80% of the frame, a light grey uniform background and a neutral expression.
- 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: There is no self-upload for the Reisepass: the photo is either taken at the Behörde's self-service terminal (about €6) or transmitted by a certified photographer through the secure official channel. A compliant self-made photo can't be submitted directly for the passport. The same Passbild does work for the Führerschein and other German uses that still take prints, and knowing your framing passes saves a wasted appointment.
How our Germany Passport (Reisepass) photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official Germany Passport (Reisepass) 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 Passport (Reisepass) photo?
A German passport photo is a biometric Passbild: 35×45 mm proportions with the face filling 70–80% of the frame against a light grey background, referenced digitally at 827×1063 pixels and 600 DPI. Since 1 May 2025 it exists only as a digital object, and paper prints are no longer accepted for the Reisepass.
The photo is created at a self-service terminal at the Behörde (about €6) or taken by a certified photographer who transmits it through the secured official channel. Germany is therefore one of the few countries where a compliant self-made photo cannot be submitted for the passport itself, though the same standard still governs documents that do accept prints.
This page measures your photo against that geometry, so you know the framing is compliant before your appointment. It also tells you plainly how the photo reaches the authority.
Germany Passport (Reisepass) 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 |
- Since 1 May 2025 paper photos are no longer accepted: the photo is created digitally at a Behörde self-service terminal (~€6) or transmitted by a certified photographer via secure cloud. Citizens cannot upload a photo themselves (verified July 2026).
- 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 Passport (Reisepass) 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 Passport (Reisepass) 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 Passport (Reisepass) 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 Passport (Reisepass) 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
Can I bring my own photo for a German passport?
Not anymore. Since May 2025 authorities only accept digitally transmitted photos, either created at the on-site terminal or sent by a certified photographer via secure cloud. Printed photos and citizen uploads are not accepted for the passport itself.
What is the German passport photo standard?
The biometric Passbild: 35×45 mm proportions, digital reference 827×1063 pixels at 600 DPI, head 70–80% of frame height, light grey uniform background, neutral expression, no shadows.
Why check my photo here if I can't submit it?
Two reasons. The same Passbild standard still applies to documents that do accept prints, including the Führerschein. And checking your framing, background and lighting against the standard tells you what the terminal or studio result needs to look like before you pay for it.
Are glasses allowed?
Yes, if the eyes are clearly visible with no glare or tinted lenses and the frames don't cover the eyes. When in doubt, take the photo without glasses.
Is the ID card (Personalausweis) the same?
The Personalausweis uses the same Passbild standard and the same digital-only regime, and it has its own page covering the ID-card specifics.
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