Quick answer: A Germany driver's license photo must be 35 × 45 mm with plain neutral background with clear contrast to the face. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
No registration · result in 60 seconds
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain neutral background with clear contrast to the face. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinting or reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No shadows or uneven lighting. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| Digital resolution | Check the authority portal before digital upload |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | Check the authority portal before upload |
| 10 × 15 cm · 4×6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
Germany driving licence photos are reviewed at the licence-issuing office, then printed onto the licence card and (in modern licences) embedded as a biometric template in the card chip. The review checks dimensions, background, lighting and that the applicant's face is unobstructed. Most modern licence systems run an automated ICAO alignment check before printing.
Driving licence photos are typically valid for the full document lifetime — five to ten years depending on the region. Choose a photo that will continue to match your appearance over that period, not a one-off styled portrait.
| Authority | Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV) § 21 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 in Verbindung mit der Passverordnung (PassV) |
|---|---|
| Source | FeV § 21 — Antrag auf Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis (gesetze-im-internet.de) |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — exact |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Germany driver's license applications. The final decision always belongs to Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV) § 21 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 in Verbindung mit der Passverordnung (PassV), but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.
Plain neutral background with clear contrast to the face. Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, evenly lit wall. Driving licence card printers compress contrast — starting with a flat background ensures the print retains a clean edge between the subject and background.
Even frontal light from a window. Driving licence offices in most regions accept slightly less strict lighting than passports, but shadows still affect biometric checks at modern roadside scanners.
Camera at eye level, head straight, looking at the lens. Slight head tilt fails the alignment check used by modern licence printers that embed a biometric template into the card chip.
Square shoulders, both visible. Centre your head in the frame. Driving licences typically print the photo at a small size — head proportion within the frame matters more than absolute resolution.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinting or reflections Many authorities allow eyewear when it is required for driving, but eyes must remain fully visible with no lens glare. Tinted or transition lenses that have darkened are not accepted.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking directly at the lens. No smile or raised eyebrows. Modern driving licences embed a biometric template — the calibration matches the neutral expression standard.
Solid colours that contrast with the background. Avoid white tops, large jewellery near the face, or any clothing that obscures the neckline.
Verify the photo matches 35 × 45 mm, head occupies 70–80% of the frame, eyes are clearly visible. The tool catches the technical issues; the manual check prevents appearance-based rejections.
Plain neutral background with clear contrast to the face is required. Licence card printers compress contrast at print stage — starting with a flat, evenly lit background prevents the printed photo from looking muddy or shadowed.
Glasses with glare on the lenses, tinted lenses (including transition lenses that have darkened), or thick frames that touch the eye area are all rejection causes. The eyes must be fully visible with no obstruction.
The head must be straight and centred. Driving licence card chips store a biometric template — tilt above 3–5 degrees fails the alignment check before printing.
Smile, raised eyebrows or parted lips all cause rejection. Driving licence photos use the same neutral expression standard as passports — mouth closed, eyes open, no expression change.
Most driving licence authorities require a photo taken within the last six months. Older photos, even when appearance has not changed, cause rejection at the application desk.
Low resolution, blur, JPEG compression artefacts or low-contrast images all cause rejection. The licence printing system requires a minimum digital resolution — see the spec table above for exact pixel requirements.
Hats, caps or any clothing that covers the head or hairline are rejected. Religious head covering is generally accepted only when permanently worn and consistent with the rest of your identification documents.
The Germany driver's license photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height. The photo is printed on the licence card and must remain recognisable for the full validity period.
Plain neutral background with clear contrast to the face. Even, frontal light without shadow gradients. Driving licence printers tend to compress contrast — starting with even lighting prevents underexposed areas from disappearing in the final print.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinting or reflections. Many authorities specifically allow eyewear when it is required for driving, but the eyes must remain fully visible and there must be no lens glare. Tinted lenses or transition lenses that have darkened are not accepted.
Most authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. The licence is typically valid for 5–10 years, so use a recent photo that reflects your everyday appearance — not a one-off styled portrait.
No. Driving licence photos use the same neutral expression standard as biometric passports — closed mouth, eyes open and looking directly at the camera, no raised eyebrows. Smiles distort facial geometry used in modern biometric checks.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Germany licence authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.