Germany Visa Photo – 35x45 mm in 2025

Applying for a German visa? You’ll need a biometric photo that meets strict Schengen specifications — typically 35x45 mm (3.5x4.5 cm). A single error in size, background, or facial expression can delay your visa application. PhotoGov makes it simple: take a selfie on your phone and get a fully compliant Germany visa photo in just a few clicks. Ready for print or digital submission, guaranteed.

DE visa photo
45mm 35mm 34.5mm 3mm

Source: official website germany.info

Get photo for: Germany Visa 35x45 mm (3.5x4.5 cm)

Step 1/4

How to Take a Visa Photo at Home

  • Lighting: Use natural or soft artificial light. Avoid shadows or direct sunlight.
  • Background: Stand against a plain white or very light wall.
  • Distance: Hold your phone or camera at eye level, about 1.5 m away.
  • Framing: Your face should occupy 70–80% of the image.
  • Posture: Sit or stand straight, keep a neutral expression.

        With PhotoGov, even an ordinary selfie becomes an embassy-compliant biometric photo.

  • Steps to Create Your Germany Visa Photo

    Use PhotoGov to generate your Germany visa photo at home — just follow these quick steps:

    paint_document-svg
    1. Select the Document Type. Pick "Germany Visa – 35x45 mm" from the PhotoGov document list.
    2. Capture the Photo. Stand 1.5–2 meters from the camera. Use soft lighting and a light wall.
    3. Upload Your Photo. Submit your photo for analysis and automatic background check.
    4. Optimize and Edit. Our system will crop, resize, clean the background, and enhance sharpness.
    5. Download and Submit/ Get digital and printable versions ready for visa submission.

    *Data from government agencies

    Appearance Requirements

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    Expression

    Neutral – no smiling or frowning

    Eyes

    Fully open, directly facing the camera

    Head position

    Centered, straight, not tilted

    Glasses, Head coverings

    Glasses - Not allowed, Head coverings - Only for religious reasons – must not hide facial features

    Clothing, Accessories

    Dark or medium-tone clothing, no white tops. No hats, jewelry, or headphones

    Lighting

    Even and shadow-free across face and background

    Example photos:

    Below are examples of correct and incorrect photos

    Examples of photos, how to correctly make a visa photo DE

    How to take your own Germany Visa photo

    If you don’t want to go through the trouble and expense of locating and hiring a professional photographer to take your picture, you can simply take your own from home. So long as you follow the below instructions carefully, you can capture the perfect visa photo yourself:

    1. Take a picture of yourself

    Open up the PhotoGov.net photo service and take your picture. Make sure you’re not wearing any headcovers or glasses, do not wear a uniform, and keep your expression neutral. Ensure that the area is well-lit and that you are standing against a neutral background.

    How to take selfies for a visa

    Clean background. More light. Not a blurry photo.
    Watch "How to take a photo" (00:46)

    2. Upload your photo to PhotoGov AI

    Next, upload your image and process it through our site.

    Upload your visa photo to PhotoGov Upload your visa photo to PhotoGov

    3. Receive your Passport Photo

    Finally, you can download your ID photo. These images can be printed off, or you can simply use them as digital photos.

    instruction-step-3-mobile

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using passport-size (wrong format) instead of 35x45 mm
  • Wearing white tops that blend into background
  • Smiling or frowning
  • Glasses, shadows, or poor focus
  • Cropping too tightly or uneven framing

        PhotoGov instantly checks and corrects every photo before download.

  • Can i take my visa picture at home?

    So long as you’re willing to put in the effort to take a good photograph, there’s nothing stopping you from taking your visa picture at home. Simply follow these steps:

    • Observe the proper dress code.
    • Ensure your area is well-lit.
    • Take the picture up against a neutral background.

    How to take a Germany Visa photo using a phone

    So long as your smartphone has a good quality camera, you can certainly use it to take a picture for your visa. With that being said, however, selfies are not acceptable, so follow these steps:

    • Ask someone to take your picture for you.
    • Position them 5-7 feet away so that only your upper body is in the shot.
    • Alternatively, use a tripod set up between 5-7 feet away. Move it as necessary to get the perfect picture.

    How to take Germany Visa photos for babies and kids

    When taking pictures of babies and children for visa, many of the same rules apply; for example, they must still adhere to the dress code, and the photograph must be high-quality and well-lit. With that being said, the State Department is generally more forgiving when it comes to the neutral expression requirement.

    • If you are photographing a newborn:
    • Spread a white sheet out over the floor.
    • Place the baby down on the sheet and take their photograph against it.

    For slightly older babies:

    • Prop them up in a child’s chair against a white sheet.
    • If they are still unable to hold up their head, prop it up for them using a hand behind the sheet. Ensure no one else is visible in the shot.
    baby-icon

    Tools based on artificial intelligence

    PhotoGov Features

    Crop

    Crops your image to exact 35x45 mm dimensions

    Resize

    Scales resolution and file size for embassy or digital upload

    Background removal

    Clean white or light-gray background applied automatically

    Auto-adjustment

    Enhances lighting, contrast, and alignment

    How can i convert my photo to visa size?

    While you can convert the size of pictures using a variety of methods, the best option is to use our visa photo tool - PhotoGov. That way, you can rest assured you’ll have a high-quality, properly sized end product, one that isn’t distorted or blurred by stretching or compressing.

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    What Our Visa Photo Service Has to Offer

    Embassy-specific formatting

    Embassy-specific formatting for Germany visa photos

    Smartphone-friendly

    No need for a camera or photo studio

    Instant download

    In digital and print-ready formats

    Unlimited re-edits

    Until your photo is perfect

    Compliance guarantee

    With German and Schengen photo standards

    I already have a digital visa photo. How do i print it?

    If you have a digital photograph, unfortunately, you won’t just be able to print it out on printer paper. You specifically need a high-quality print on either matte or glossy photo paper. You can either achieve this by visiting any photo service or by using our tool to print your image off at home.

    Where to get a visa photo

    Pharmacies and drug stores

    Well-known medicinal retail brands, namely Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid, proffer immediate passport photo solutions in-store. Do anticipate a charge, with most services priced around the $15 mark.

    Shipping centers

    Shipping giants like UPS, FedEx, and adjacent shipping facilities also cater to passport photo needs, mirroring the services of typical drugstores. At a going rate of around $15, it stands as a worthy alternative if you're considering external providers for your passport imagery.

    Post offices and other passport acceptance agents

    It's customary for post offices and agencies of a similar function to be equipped for passport applications, which includes offering photographic sessions. Maintaining the price consistency as observed earlier, you can typically expect a fee around the $15 ballpark.

    Retail stores

    Retail venues frequently host areas meant for passport photo shoots, assuring quality pictures in line with norms. Even though each establishment might set its own rate, you can usually anticipate a decent pricing range.

    FAQ

    • 35 mm x 45 mm (3.5 x 4.5 cm).
    • Yes! With PhotoGov, your selfie becomes 100% compliant.
    • Yes, most consulates ask for printed photos. We give you both versions.
    • No. A neutral, relaxed expression is mandatory.
    • You can re-edit and reprocess it for free on PhotoGov — no extra cost.

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