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Germany Passport Photo Maker

Upload any photo, the tool removes your existing background, drops in the plain light grey background required for Germany passport, and produces a spec-exact 35×45mm image ready to submit.

Drop your photo here
or click anywhere in this box to choose a photo

JPG, PNG, HEIC or WebP · Max 25 MB · Face forward, eyes on the camera.

100% private, deleted after processing No sign-up to preview Spec-exact 35×45mm output

How to make a Germany passport photo in 3 steps

Upload any photo of yourself, and the tool handles the entire Germany passport spec pipeline, background removal, colour swap, spec-exact crop, file-size compression, in one pass.

1

Check how your Burgeramt wants the photo

Since May 2025 the photograph for a new German passport must be captured digitally and sent straight to the Burgeramt, either by a certified photographer or at a terminal in the office. A printed photo will be refused for the passport itself, though this output still works for other documents.

2

Upload any photo of yourself

Plain wall, even lighting, no shadow behind your head. Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes clearly visible. Glasses are allowed only if they do not reflect and the frames do not cover the eyes.

3

Get a 35x45mm file on light grey

The background is replaced with the plain light grey German offices require, not white, which is a routine rejection, and your face positioned in the 35x45mm frame at 600 DPI with the head at 32-36mm.

Understanding the Germany passport spec

German authorities require a 35x45mm biometric photograph with the head measuring 32-36mm from chin to crown, on a plain light grey background, not white. Since May 2025 the photograph must be captured digitally and transmitted directly to the Burgeramt, either by a certified photographer or at a terminal in the office. Photos brought in on paper are no longer accepted for new passports.

Dimensions
35×45 mm
1.38 × 1.77 in
Resolution
600 DPI
Print-ready
Background
plain light grey
AI-swapped
Head height
32–36 mm
Chin to crown

Requirements at a glance

  • 35x45mm biometric standard
  • Plain light grey background (not pure white)
  • Head 32-36mm, centered vertically
  • Neutral expression, no smile
  • Both eyes open, looking straight at camera
  • No head coverings except religious (with face clearly visible)

Common mistakes that get photos rejected

  • Pure white background, German authorities prefer light grey
  • Smiling, always rejected for biometric photos
  • Tilted head
  • Uneven side lighting

Where Germany passport photos are actually used

The 2025 move to digital-only capture is the change most people have not caught up with: a printed photo meeting every measurement will still be turned away. The light grey background is the other classic rejection, German offices genuinely enforce it where most countries accept white.

Applications that accept this photo spec

  • German passport (Reisepass) application at a Burgeramt
  • German ID card (Personalausweis)
  • Aufenthaltstitel residence permit for non-EU nationals
  • German driving licence (Fuhrerschein)
  • Visa applications processed by German missions abroad

Germany passport photo FAQ

Can I still bring a printed photo to the Burgeramt?
Not for a new passport. Since May 2025 the image must be captured digitally and transmitted to the office, either by a certified photographer or at a terminal there. Printed photos are still used for some other documents, so check what the specific application needs.

Why does Germany want light grey instead of white?
Light grey gives better edge separation for the biometric checks German offices run. It is enforced in practice, not just written down - a pure white background is one of the routine rejection reasons.

What size is a Germany passport photo?
35×45mm (1.38×1.77 inches) at 600 DPI, on a plain light grey background. The head must measure 32-36mm from chin to the top of the head.

What background color does Germany require for passport photos?
Plain light grey. A background that does not match, the wrong shade, a gradient, a shadow cast behind you, or any visible texture or pattern, is one of the most common reasons a photo is sent back. This tool replaces whatever is behind you with the one the spec asks for.

Can I take a Germany passport photo with my phone?
Yes. Modern phone cameras produce more than enough resolution for the 35×45mm output. What matters is even lighting (no harsh shadows on your face), a straight-on angle, and a neutral expression. This tool handles the background and sizing.

What file size does this tool produce?
The output JPEG is kept under 240 KB while preserving the 600 DPI resolution the spec requires. Upload limits vary between government portals and consulates, so check the one you are filing through, if it caps lower, use our Image Compressor to reduce further.

Is my uploaded photo saved on your servers?
No. It is processed in memory and discarded as soon as the result is produced. The background model runs on the server because it is too large to run in a browser; nothing is written to disk or logged.

Can I print the Germany passport photo at home?
Yes. The output is a 600 DPI JPEG at exactly 35×45mm, so any inkjet or laser printer produces the correct physical size when you print at 100% scale (not "fit to page"). Use the 4×6 print sheet option to get multiple copies on one sheet of photo paper.

Do I need to sign up or pay?
No sign-up. Making the photo and checking it against the spec is free, guests get 5 a day and a free account 0. The finished photo without the watermark is $3, paid once, or included on Pro and Business plans.

What if the background removal is not perfect?
Hair, clothing edges and skin tones come out cleanly in most photos. If an edge looks wrong, re-shoot in indirect daylight, or skip the background swap and use the crop alone.
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