head 71–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceGerman Federal Foreign Office missions, German Federal Ministry of the Interior (photo examples) and VFS Global
Verified
Quick answer: A Germany Schengen visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background. Head occupies 71–80% of photo height (32–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, eyes fully visible. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 71–80% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 32–36 mm chin to crown |
| Background | Plain light background. |
| Pose | Full face, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No shadows or reflections. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
The photograph for a German Schengen visa is one recent biometric passport photo of 35 × 45 mm on the checklist of the German missions (specimen photos attached); the German Federal Ministry of the Interior publishes the specimen sheet behind it: the face 70–80 % of the photo height, the head centred and straight, even lighting without reflections or red eyes, sharp and high-contrast, a monochromatic background free of shadows that contrasts clearly with face and hair, true colours and a neutral expression with the mouth closed, looking into the camera, eyes clearly visible, and head coverings only for religious reasons with the face visible from chin to forehead. For children the face takes 50–80 % of the height, with exceptions for those of ten and under. VFS Global, which takes German visa applications in many countries, adds the practical details: in India two recent 35 × 45 mm photos on a white background, face up to 70–80 %, not older than 6 months; in Saudi Arabia two biometric photos within 6 months, one fixed to the form and one loose, on a white or bright background.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Germany Schengen visa photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules German Federal Foreign Office missions, German Federal Ministry of the Interior (photo examples) and VFS Global publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A face outside 70–80 % of the height, or a head not centred and straight | Frame the face at 70–80 % of a 35 × 45 mm photo, centred and straight. |
| A patterned or shadowed background, or too little contrast with face and hair | Use a plain monochromatic background (white or bright at the visa centres) without shadows. |
| A retouched, filtered, blurred or low-resolution photo | Use a sharp, unretouched colour photo with accurate skin tones. |
| A laughing face, open mouth, closed eyes, hair over the eyes, dark or reflecting lenses | Keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clear; take glasses off if they reflect. |
| A hat or head covering without a religious reason, or a covered face | Remove hats; a religious covering must leave the face visible from chin to forehead. |
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 71–80 % of the photo height (32–36 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Eyes fully visible
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 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.
A German Schengen visa is applied for with the application form filled in online (videx.diplo.de) and printed, at the German embassy or consulate or the VFS Global centre that covers your place of residence, with the printed biometric photo(s) and the documents; fingerprints are taken at the appointment.
The centre of your country; the form is filled in at videx.diplo.de
Two 35 × 45 mm photos, white background, within 6 months (India, Saudi Arabia).
Authority pageThe visa page of the German mission that covers you
One recent biometric photo, 35 × 45 mm, specimen sheet attached.
Authority page| Authority | German Federal Foreign Office missions, German Federal Ministry of the Interior (photo examples) and VFS Global |
|---|---|
| Source | German Schengen visa photo examples |
| Verified |
Questions
A recent biometric passport photo of 35 × 45 mm, the face 70–80 % of the height, centred and straight, a monochromatic background without shadows (white or bright at the visa centres), a neutral expression with the mouth closed, eyes clearly visible, no head covering except for religious reasons, within 6 months at VFS.
One at the German missions in the USA; two at the VFS Germany centres in India and Saudi Arabia (in Saudi Arabia one fixed to the form and one loose).
35 mm × 45 mm, biometric, with the face 70–80 % of the photo height (50–80 % for children).
The sheet requires the eyes to be clearly visible and not obscured by hair or by lenses that are too dark or reflect light; taking the glasses off is the safest.
The Germany Schengen visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 71–80% of the photo height.
Plain light background. The wall should be evenly lit, with no shadow around the head and no pattern. You don’t need a studio backdrop: the tool sets the right background colour.
Consulates usually ask for a photo taken within the last six months, sometimes within three. Take a new one that looks like you today.
Often yes, but not always: tourist, student, work and transit visas can have different size or background rules. Compare the requirements of each Germany visa — if they match, one photo will do.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the consulate’s rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: electronic residence permit (eAT), EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, ID card (Personalausweis), national visa (Type D), opportunity card (Chancenkarte).