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EU Blue Card photo

EU Blue Card photo requirements: 35 × 45 mm. Check background, head position, expression, glasses and print or digital format. Official document-specific guidance. Some filing routes use live capture instead of applicant photos.

No registrationDigital file + print sheetPublic source-backed rules

Upload the source portrait

First the portrait, then the document and only the settings that matter.

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Choose a portrait from the gallery or use the camera
Face forwardEven lightingNo heavy shadowsNeutral expression
Start with the portrait first so the correct format and rules can be applied to the selected document.
Step 2

Review the photo and choose the document

Just the preview, the document and a few necessary options.

What you get
Ready digital file
Download a normalized file for online forms, uploads and personal storage.
Print sheet
The same result can be exported as a print-ready sheet for common paper sizes.
Rules matched to the document
Format 35 × 45 mm. This page is checked against public document-specific guidance.
1 Upload a portrait
2 Select the document
3 Download the result
Processing photo…
AI adapts your portrait to the selected document. Usually 30–60 seconds.
Result
Why This Page Is Practical
No registration
Open the workflow from this page directly without creating an account.
Digital + print
The same result gives you a normalized digital file and a print sheet for common paper sizes.
Source transparency
This page shows the source authority, verification level and last verified date.
Route-aware rules
The page separates live-capture and applicant-photo routes before you prepare prints or uploads.

What this page covers

This page summarizes the photo rules for EU Blue Card photo. The main print format is 35 × 45 mm.

The public guidance differs by route: domestic biometric issuance may capture the portrait during the appointment, while consular or non-biometric routes can still request applicant photos.

Use the checklist below to confirm background, face position, glasses and lighting, then prepare the file online with PhotoDocs.

The reference source for this profile is Service Berlin / Land Berlin.

Source and verification

VerificationOfficial document-specific guidance
SourceService Berlin / Land Berlin
Last verified2026-04-13

This page follows document-specific public guidance published by Service Berlin / Land Berlin.

Official German EU Blue Card photo rules were verified on 2026-04-13. Service Berlin requires one current biometric passport photo for EU Blue Card procedures and notes that from 1 May 2025 passport photos for residence documents must be created digitally at the authority or by a connected photo studio. The official German biometric sample sheet still defines the exact photo geometry as 35 × 45 mm with head height 32-36 mm, neutral expression and a bright plain background.

How this page is checked
Structured document profile
This page is maintained as a document profile inside PhotoDocs, not as a generic blog post or a broad passport-photo landing page.
Source and verification
The requirements on this page are tied to Service Berlin / Land Berlin. The page shows its verification level and the last checked date 2026-04-13.
Where AI is used
AI is used to prepare the output photo. Source links, requirement notes and verification labels are stored in the page data and are not inferred from the uploaded portrait.

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Photo requirements

Submission Some routes use live biometric capture during the appointment, while consular or non-biometric routes still request applicant photos. Check the official source for your filing route before preparing prints or uploads.
Format 35 × 45 mm
Head height 32–36 mm
Background Light plain background.
Pose Full-face, without tilt or turn.
Expression Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
Glasses Eyes must be fully visible.
Lighting No shadows or glare.
Head covering Only for religious reasons and without covering the facial outline.

How to take this photo correctly

  • Confirm first whether your filing route requires applicant photos or uses live capture at the appointment.
  • If applicant photos are required, prepare them in 35 × 45 mm.
  • Consular or non-biometric routes can still keep print-photo requirements even when domestic biometric issuance uses live capture.
  • Use the source links on this page to match the exact route before upload or printing.

Common reasons this photo gets rejected

  • The chosen filing route may use live capture instead of applicant photos, or vice versa.
  • The background does not match the rule: Light plain background.
  • The head is tilted, too close to the edge or cropped too tightly.
  • Glasses, glare, hair or shadows make the eyes hard to see.
  • The facial expression does not match the rule: Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.

More document photo pages for Germany

Germany ID card photo 35 × 45 mm · Official document-specific guidance Germany national visa D photo 35 × 45 mm · Official document-specific guidance Germany passport photo 35 × 45 mm · Official document-specific guidance Germany residence permit photo 35 × 45 mm · Official document-specific guidance Germany Schengen visa photo 35 × 45 mm · Official document-specific guidance

Same document type in other countries: EU Blue Card

EU Blue Card photo 35 × 45 mm · Official public guidance

FAQ

35 × 45 mm. Some routes still ask for applicant photos in this format, while domestic biometric issuance may capture the portrait during the appointment instead.
Light plain background. Full-face, without tilt or turn. Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
Eyes must be fully visible. Only for religious reasons and without covering the facial outline.
This page follows document-specific public guidance published by Service Berlin / Land Berlin.
Maybe. Use a phone photo only if your filing route explicitly asks you to upload or print one; some routes capture the biometric portrait on site instead.