Get German Passport Photo Size for Free: All German IDs, 30 Seconds

• German Passport (Reisepass)
• German Visa (Schengen Visa issued by German authorities)
• Residence Permit Card (Aufenthaltstitel)
• EU Blue Card issued in Germany
• Electronic Residence Permit Card (eAT-Karte)
• Temporary Travel Document (Reiseausweis als Passersatz).

You can take a German ID or a passport photo in a wide range of everyday locations — from automated kiosks to professional studios. Each option has its pros and cons. Let's explore them in more detail.

Major German retailers such as dm, Müller, and Rossmann provide on-site biometric photo services. Their terminals and staffed counters produce images that adhere to the German 35×45-mm biometric standard used for ID, visa, and passport pictures.

Many Deutsche Post offices allow customers to print ID-compliant photos directly in the branch. For applicants who already plan to visit for mailing or application purposes, this can be a practical two-in-one stop.

Automated booths like FotoFix, PhotoMe, and CEWE are widespread in Germany. They are typically found in train stations, shopping centres, and larger supermarkets, and can produce biometric prints in the correct size within minutes.

A professional photographer or a studio is the most reliable way to get your German visa, ID, or passport photo. Proper setup, lighting, and adherence to the biometric ICAO standards — are the high standard of this in-person service. However, it requires time, a possible advance appointment, and the service can be quite pricey, up to €35.

With digital services like PhotoGov, you can create a German passport photo size 35×45-mm online without leaving your home. The system applies the official 35×45-mm layout to your portrait: the correct size, head positioning, and framing. Our German passport photo size online free tool works as a background remover, in case your original photo doesn't meet the biometric requirements. In under 30 seconds, you receive a digital image or a PDF crop page ready to be printed at home or with print service providers. The best thing? In many countries, the first image is free, allowing you to save money and making it an efficient alternative to an in-person visit.

PhotoGov formats your portrait according to the specifications issued by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the Federal Foreign Office, and the biometric guidelines defined in ICAO Document 9303. The system calibrates background shade, adjusts head position and facial proportions, balances exposure, and applies the exact 35×45-mm layout used for German passports, visas, and identification document photographs. Every technical element — from the distance between facial landmarks to the brightness of the background — is aligned with the standards that German authorities use when reviewing ID photos.

For applicants who prefer a more thorough check, PhotoGov offers Human Verification. Our top compliance specialist examines the image manually, reviewing alignment, lighting, head size, background consistency, and biometric accuracy before the final file is released. This additional step gives users full confidence that their photo meets the requirements applied by German consular and passport offices.

The rules changed on 1 May 2025; the German passport photo requirements in 2026 page covers what that means for submissions.