- Visa photos for Germany and the Schengen area must meet the guidelines of German and European authorities.
- An already existing photo must not be older than 6 months to reflect the current appearance of the visa applicant.
- Visa photos must be taken in a strictly prescribed format. This includes a standardized image size of 35 mm x 45 mm, high resolution, no shadows, no overexposure or underexposure.
- The face of the person photographed must be fully visible and centered. It must show a neutral expression. The gaze must be directed straight into the camera, and the mouth must be closed. No head coverings are allowed except for medical and religious purposes.
- It’s important to note that photographs for visa applications must be in color. Embassies do not accept black-and-white pictures, so be sure to adhere to this requirement.
- There are some simplified requirements for children, depending on their age.
Biometric passport photos — mandatory for Schengen visa applications
Biometric passport photos, which are special and meet strict requirements, are designed to enable clear identification. These photos must be a certain size and show a neutral facial expression, with a closed mouth and a direct gaze into the camera. The background must be monochrome and bright, with no shadows or reflections on the face. These clear and straightforward standards facilitate automatic facial recognition during passport and visa checks.
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Foreign Office, in cooperation with the authorities of the European Union, the Schengen countries, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), define the standards for biometric photos.
For your visa application to Germany or another Schengen state, you need 2 passport photos that meet these standards. Otherwise, your application will be rejected. German embassies do not even accept applications with faulty visa photos.
On the websites of German embassies abroad, you will find a photo sample table summarizing the requirements for biometric passport photos for visa applications and showing photo examples. You can print it out and present it to a photographer to obtain images that meet the official requirements. Many embassies also recommend local photo studios that provide good biometric visa photos.
Visa photo requirements
Passport photos for a German Schengen visa must meet the following requirements:
Size & Format
Biometric passport photos are prescribed to be a uniform size of 35 mm x 45 mm. They must be taken without a frame and in color.
The face and head, from the chin line to the top of the head, must take up approximately 70 to 80% of the image. The forehead and top of the head must also be fully visible and not “cut off” when the picture is taken. Visa photos must be taken from the front and centered.
Sharpness, contrast & illumination
A visa photo only meets the official requirements if it is sharp, has sufficient contrast, and is not blurred.
The optimal resolution of the image is 600 dpi (827 × 1063 pixels).
The face must be fully illuminated and not too dark so that facial details are visible and automatic recognition and evaluation of the image is possible. Therefore, over- and underexposure should be avoided, as these can lead to either reflections or dark spots caused by shadows.
Background
The background plays a major role in biometric passport photos — it must be designed to evaluate the images automatically. The background must contrast well with the face, hair, and visible clothing. The photographer should use a dark background for people with light or grey hair; a medium or light grey background is optimal for dark or black hair. It must be a single color and not contain any patterns or visible structures. Objects such as pictures or furniture must not be visible in the photo either.
Photo quality
High photo quality is essential for biometric passport photos. The photos must appear natural and reflect the real visual impression of the person depicted as accurately as possible. They should be printed on high-quality photo paper.
Important: Black and white photos are not accepted for visa applications! (Infobox)
Passport photos for visa applications must always be taken in color. The German embassies do not accept black-and-white pictures for this purpose. The visa application will also be rejected if the images are dirty or damaged.
Head position, line of vision, and facial expression
For a biometric passport photo, the head must be held straight, and the gaze must be directed straight into the camera. Photographs with the head tilted to the side, forward or backward, pictures in half profile, or with the gaze directed sideways do not fulfill the associated requirements.
The eyes must be open, hair must not cover the face or eyes, and red-eye effects must be avoided when taking the photo.
Another requirement is a neutral facial expression. The mouth must be closed, so smiling or laughing is prohibited. To ensure the photos still look appealing and aesthetic, keep your face relaxed, open, and friendly. Avoid any exaggerated facial expressions or frowns.
Whether the hairstyle is completely visible in the picture is not relevant.
Important: You are not fulfilling the photo requirements — only with a medical certificate! (Infobox)
Individuals who cannot meet these requirements for physical or medical reasons require a medical certificate to obtain a Schengen visa.
Glasses and head covering
You should keep glasses on for your passport photos if you constantly wear them. The iris must be clearly and completely visible despite the glasses. Therefore, when taking passport photos with glasses, it is important to observe the following requirements:
- The frame of the glasses must not cover the eyes. However, there should be no visible support of the child when taking the photo.
- When taking the picture, care must be taken to ensure that the lenses do not reflect the camera flash or light from other sources.
- Dark or tinted lenses are not allowed.
Usually, hats and other head coverings are not allowed on biometric passport photos. Exceptions are made when a head covering is worn for religious or medical reasons. Such head coverings must be plain and monochromatic, contrasting with the photo’s background.
Babies and children up to 5 years of age
Babies and toddlers also require biometric passport photos to obtain a German Schengen visa. However, some simplifications are provided for them.
- The eyes may be closed for babies up to 1 year of age.
- Children up to 5 years do not have to show a neutral expression. They are also not required to center their heads strictly and look directly at the camera.
From the age of 6, the same passport photo requirements apply to children as to adults, with one exception: up to the age of 9, the face and head only have to take up 50 to 80% of the image area (and not 70 to 80% as for adults).
Conclusion
Meeting the strict photo requirements for a German Schengen visa is essential to ensure a successful application. The biometric standards set by German and European authorities aim to facilitate clear identification through automated facial and iris recognition. Any deviation from these guidelines, such as incorrect size, lighting issues, or improper facial expression, can lead to application rejection. To avoid complications, it is advisable to have passport photos taken by a professional photographer who is familiar with the official regulations. Ensuring compliance with these rules will help streamline the visa application process and prevent unnecessary delays.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
The images must be machine-readable so automatic facial and iris recognition can identify the person depicted clearly. Today, AI is also frequently used for this purpose. In automatic facial recognition, a digital system analyzes facial features such as the distance between the eyes, the nose’s shape, and the chin’s contour. It compares the recorded features with images that may already have been stored. Iris recognition is used to capture the unique structure of the iris in each person – the process is particularly accurate and is now the global standard at airports.
This depends on the age of the photo in your travel document and whether it meets the German Embassy’s requirements for biometric passport photos.
The passport photos for the visa application must be no older than 6 months and reflect your current appearance. Whether they are identical to the photo in your travel document is irrelevant to the embassy’s acceptance of the images.
The way the photos are taken is irrelevant to their acceptance by the embassy. However, retouching or editing digital photos with computer software is strictly prohibited. For visa photos, they must always be paper photos.
Legally, there is nothing to prevent you from taking your passport photos as long as they meet the requirements of the German authorities for photos for visa applications. However, self-taken pictures are not recommended since biometric passport photos for visa applications must meet high and complex requirements. With a professional photographer, you are on the safe side here.