Are German and Schengen visa photos the same?

For Germany-issued Schengen visas, yes — both use 35×45 mm ICAO biometric rules. Always pick the exact visa authority in PicsForm when applying through another member state.

Where can I read the official examples?

Germany.info publishes a visa photo examples PDF referenced in our de-passport and de-visa records.

🇩🇪 Germany

German passport & Schengen visa photo requirements

German passport and visa photos follow EU Visa Code biometric standards at 35×45 mm with a light grey background. The German Missions abroad photo examples PDF is our primary source, last verified 2026-08-18. Ears should be visible when possible on passport photos — a detail many generic crop tools ignore.

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German Passport / Biometric

35×45 mm · light grey bg

German / Schengen Visa

35×45 mm · light grey bg

Passport vs Schengen visa

German Passport / biometric — 35×45 mm, light grey (#E4E4E4), ears visible when possible
German / Schengen Visa — 35×45 mm, plain light background, max 240 KB for many digital uploads

Biometric details reviewers check

Face occupies roughly 70–80% of image height. No smile, no glasses, no hair covering eyebrows. Background must be uniform with no objects or patterns.

German Passport / Biometric — catalog specs

Size: 35×45 mm (413×531 px @ 300 DPI)
Head height: 70–80% of frame height
Eye line: 55–70% from bottom
Background: light grey (#E4E4E4)
Smile: not allowed — neutral expression
Glasses: not allowed
Head coverings: not allowed (except religious/medical where permitted)
Max file size (when specified): 5000 KB
Print size: 1.38×1.77 in

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German / Schengen Visa — catalog specs

Size: 35×45 mm (413×531 px @ 300 DPI)
Head height: 70–80% of frame height
Eye line: 55–70% from bottom
Background: light grey (#F0F0F0)
Smile: not allowed — neutral expression
Glasses: not allowed
Head coverings: not allowed (except religious/medical where permitted)
Max file size (when specified): 240 KB
Print size: 1.38×1.77 in

Create German / Schengen Visa photo →

FAQ

Are German and Schengen visa photos the same?: For Germany-issued Schengen visas, yes — both use 35×45 mm ICAO biometric rules. Always pick the exact visa authority in PicsForm when applying through another member state.
Where can I read the official examples?: Germany.info publishes a visa photo examples PDF referenced in our de-passport and de-visa records.

Other country hubs

PicsForm matches photos to published requirements. This is not legal or immigration advice and does not guarantee application approval. Always confirm current rules on the official portal.