Germany passport photo size — 35×45 mm BVA biometric dimensions

Exact dimensions and pixel size

Germany uses the ICAO 9303 portrait standard at 35×45 mm but with a notoriously strict biometric template overlaid on top. At 600 DPI the digital file is approximately 827×1063 pixels. The Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) maintains the official biometric template document (Fotomustertafel) that every Bürgeramt and consulate references.

The same 35×45 mm photo works for both the Reisepass (passport) and Personalausweis (national ID card) — a single biometric capture covers both German identity documents. Consular renewals at German embassies abroad enforce the same BVA template uniformly worldwide.

Head height and BVA biometric overlay

Head height chin to crown must be 32-36 mm — 70-80% of the frame. The BVA template additionally requires the eyes to fall on a horizontal line at 50-70% from the bottom of the photo, which translates to roughly the top third of the head being visible above the eyes. No head tilt above five degrees is tolerated.

Face must be exactly centered horizontally. The BVA template's automated checker, used at most Bürgerämter, measures the horizontal offset of the nose tip from the photo's vertical centreline and rejects offsets greater than 1 mm. This is the strictest centring rule in the EU biometric cluster.

Background — light grey biometric, no shadows

Germany requires a light grey biometric background — around #EEEEEE — uniform across the entire frame. Any visible shadow behind the head, on either side or above, is grounds for rejection. The lighting requirement is the strictest aspect of the BVA template, more so than even the head-position rules.

Pure white is not accepted under the BVA template, despite occasional outdated guidance that suggests otherwise. The light grey serves as a reliable reference for the biometric face-recognition algorithms used in German border systems and the electronic ID chip.

Recency, glasses and expression

The photo must be taken within the last 6 months. Germany was one of the first EU states to ban glasses for biometric photos — the prohibition came into effect in 2021. Even clear prescription lenses are no longer accepted, regardless of medical justification.

Religious head coverings are accepted only when the face is fully visible from chin to forehead and not shadowed. Expression must be strictly neutral with mouth closed and no smile — the BVA template's automated checker classifies even subtle smiles as 'non-neutral expression' and rejects.

Bürgeramt and consular requirements

At a German Bürgeramt, you typically bring two printed 35×45 mm photos to the Reisepass or Personalausweis appointment. Some Bürgerämter accept digital photos via QR code from certified photographers (Bildverwaltung), but the printed photos remain the standard.

German consulates worldwide enforce the same BVA template for diaspora renewals. complypic produces a JPG that meets the BVA template's geometric and colour requirements; the 4×6 inch print sheet provides two correctly cropped photos for the Bürgeramt appointment.

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