German passport photo from the UK
A German biometric passport photo is 35 × 45 mm, with your head 32 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain light background. If you apply through the German Embassy in London, bring printed biometric photos. Check its current information sheet for how many.
Your photo never leaves your phone
- Stand about 1.5 m in front of a plain, light wall.
- Face a window or a bright light so both sides of your face are lit.
- Ask someone to take it with the phone at your eye level. Selfies are often rejected.
- Glasses off, hair away from your eyes, mouth closed, no smile.
Ready offline. Turn on airplane mode and it still works, which shows your photo isn't uploaded.
Line up your head and shoulders with the outline. Keep the phone at eye level, about 1.5 m away.
Finding your face…
These rules haven't been checked against the official page yet. Please check them there before you apply.
German passport / ID card photo rules
- 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, biometric
- Head 32 mm to 36 mm from chin to crown
- Plain, light, even background
- Face forward, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
- No glare on glasses and no tinted lenses
- Recent (the London embassy asks for photos no more than 3 months old)
- Printed on high-quality photo paper
Source: German Embassy London: Passport and ID card applications. SkipTheBooth helps you meet these rules but can't guarantee your photo will be accepted.
Questions
Do I need a digital photo for a German passport?
In Germany, passport offices now take or receive photos digitally. When you apply through the German Embassy in London, it asks for printed biometric photos. Check the embassy's current information sheet before your appointment.
Why is the print sheet so large?
German missions ask for photos printed at high resolution, so SkipTheBooth makes the German print sheet at 600 DPI.