🇩🇪 Germany Biometric Photo Maker
Germany’s biometric passport & ID photo is light-grey only (never pure white), 35×45 mm with the head 32-36 mm chin to crown.
Output
35×45 mm
413×531px · 300 DPI · Plain light grey, pure white is not accepted
🔒 Your photo is processed entirely on your device and never uploaded. The compliance check catches common mistakes but does not guarantee acceptance, always confirm against the official requirements below.
How to make a compliant germany biometric photo
A germany biometric photo must be 35×45 mm, that is 413×531 pixels at 300 DPI, on a plain light grey, pure white is not accepted, with the head measuring 32–36 mm from chin to crown. The editor above handles the cropping, sizing and checking for you, and every step runs on your own device:
- Add your photo. Click the frame or drop in a clear, front-facing shot with a neutral expression, both eyes open and nothing covering the face. The image never leaves your browser.
- Position the head. Drag and zoom until the face sits inside the on-screen guides. They mark the 32–36 mm chin-to-crown zone, centred, level and looking straight at the camera.
- Check the background. Use a plain light grey, pure white is not accepted that is evenly lit and free of shadows; the built-in checker flags a wrong-coloured or uneven background and poor exposure before you export.
- Export to spec. Download as JPEG, sized to 413×531 px with 300 DPI embedded so it prints at the correct physical size.
These requirements are set by Bundesministerium des Innern / Bundesdruckerei and can change over time, always confirm against the official source linked below before you submit your application.
✅ Do
- ✓35×45 mm, head 32-36 mm chin to crown
- ✓Plain light-grey background with even lighting
- ✓Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible
- ✓Face straight to the camera, nose central
- ✓Photo taken within the last 6 months
🚫 Don't
- ✕No pure-white background (light grey is required)
- ✕No smiling
- ✕No reflective or tinted glasses
- ✕No head covering except for religious reasons
- ✕No shadows on the face or background
Official specification
- Print size
- 35×45 mm
- Pixels @ 300 DPI
- 413×531
- Head height
- 32–36 mm (chin→crown)
- Background
- Plain light grey, pure white is not accepted
- Format
- JPEG
- • Since 1 May 2025 the standard route is digital-only, the photo is captured at the Bürgerbüro’s calibrated station or sent by an approved provider, so a home print is generally no longer accepted.
- • Use this as a biometric practice preview to check framing and background before your appointment.
Verified source
Bundesministerium des Innern / Bundesdruckerei
Official requirements ↗● Last verified 2026-07-10
Government rules can change. If the official page differs from what you see here, the official page wins, tell us and we'll update it.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a germany biometric photo?
35×45 mm, which is 413×531 pixels at 300 DPI. The head should measure 32–36 mm from chin to crown.
What background does a germany biometric photo need?
A plain light grey, pure white is not accepted, evenly lit with no shadows or objects behind you. The built-in checker flags a non-uniform or wrong-coloured background.
What file format and size should it be?
JPEG. This tool exports exactly to spec and embeds 300 DPI so print size is correct.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. Every step, cropping, the compliance check and the export, runs on your own device using your browser's canvas. Your photo is never sent anywhere, which matters for a document photo.
Does this guarantee my photo will be accepted?
No tool can guarantee acceptance, the issuing authority decides. This editor produces the correct dimensions and catches common, detectable mistakes (background, exposure, head position), but always confirm against the official Bundesministerium des Innern / Bundesdruckerei requirements linked on this page.