German Passport Photo in Ireland

35 × 45 mm · light grey background · Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) / Passbehörde; abroad the German missions

€7.99 digital file · prints in Dublin

Wrong size, background or crop? We fix it free or refund you in full. Refund policy

Rules last checked against Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) / Passbehörde; abroad the German missions on 12 October 2026.

About this photo

Be aware before you order a German Passport photo: since 1 May 2025 the rules of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) say passport and ID card photos in Germany must be captured digitally by a certified photographer or at the official terminal and sent straight to the passport office. A photo you take yourself may therefore not be accepted there, while German missions abroad still ask for printed biometric photos. The format itself is 35 by 45 mm with a uniform light background, usually light grey, a neutral expression, closed mouth and open eyes. Check with your passport office or mission first.

Photo requirements

German Passport photo requirements
Photo size	35 × 45 mm
Background	light grey, also accepted: plain light colour
Head size	70–80% of the photo height (32–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed. No reflections on the lenses, no tinted lenses or sunglasses; the frame or lens edge must not cover the eyes.
Head coverings	Allowed for religious or medical reasons. Generally not allowed; exceptions mainly for religious reasons, with the face visible from the bottom of the chin to the forehead and no shadows.
Head position	Facing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rules	Since 1 May 2025 photos for German passports in Germany must be digital: taken by a photographer who uploads them to a secure cloud, or taken at the authority; German Embassy Dublin checklist (Feb 2026): two identical, current biometric photos with a light background, no older than 3 months; Face height 32-36 mm from chin to top of head (hair ignored); photos are only refused below 27 mm or above 40 mm; Plain light background, ideally neutral grey (medium grey for light hair, light grey for dark hair), no shadows, no pattern; Print on high-quality paper at a print resolution of at least 600 dpi; colour-neutral; black-and-white or colour; Neutral expression, mouth closed, looking straight into the camera; no uniform

Do

Illustration of an accepted photo: neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera on a plain background — Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera

Don't

Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is smiling with teeth showing — No smiling with teeth showing

Illustration of a rejected photo: light reflects off the glasses and hides the eyes — No glare on glasses

Illustration of a rejected photo: a shadow falls across the face and background — No shadows on the face or background

Illustration of a rejected photo: the head is tilted to one side — Do not tilt your head

How it works

1. Take or upload a photo
Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.
2. We size and check it
We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.
3. Download and use it
Pay once, then download the digital file and the print sheet straight away.

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Questions about German Passport photos

What size is a German Passport photo?

German Passport photos are 35 × 45 mm. The head should fill 70–80% of the photo height (32–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does a German Passport photo need?

A plain light grey background (plain light colour is also accepted), with no shadows, patterns or objects. We replace the background for you, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.

Can I wear glasses in a German Passport photo?

Yes. No reflections on the lenses, no tinted lenses or sunglasses; the frame or lens edge must not cover the eyes.

Can I smile in a German Passport photo?

No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious or medical reasons. Generally not allowed; exceptions mainly for religious reasons, with the face visible from the bottom of the chin to the forehead and no shadows.

Can I take a German Passport photo at home?

Usually, yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Check the instructions for your application route, because final acceptance is always decided by Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) / Passbehörde; abroad the German missions. PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

How much does a German Passport photo cost in Ireland?

€7.99 for the digital file, paid once. Prints with pharmacy pickup or delivery in Dublin are also available at selected times.

What if something is wrong with my photo?

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Official source: Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) / Passbehörde; abroad the German missions

Read the rules on the authority's website: Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) / Passbehörde; abroad the German missions (dublin.diplo.de).