Germany Schengen Visa Photo Maker, 35x45 mm

The photo, in brief

A German visa photo is the standard EU Schengen biometric photo: 35x45 mm, face filling 70 to 80% of the frame, a plain light background, neutral expression, taken within the last 6 months. It is the same photo whether you are applying for a short-stay Schengen (type C) tourist visa or a national long-stay (type D) visa for work, study, or a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). The visa type changes the application, not the picture.

For the full requirements, the glasses and background rules, and how to shoot a compliant photo at home, see the Schengen visa photo guide, which covers the one spec used across all 29 Schengen countries. For a digital upload to Germany’s portal, the file is a JPEG, at least 413x531 pixels, up to 120 KB.

You can make a compliant German visa photo from a phone picture in about two minutes. Create yours for $1 →

How Germany handles it

Most German visa applications outside Germany are filed through VFS Global, the appointed visa centre in the majority of countries, or directly at a German mission. Germany also runs an online form, VIDEX, where you complete the application ahead of your appointment and, depending on the mission, attach the digital photo.

The biometric data (fingerprints and the photo record) is captured at the counter during your appointment, so even when you pre-fill VIDEX you still bring printed photos to the visit.

Submitting your photo

Bring two identical prints on photo paper to the appointment; one is attached to the form and the spare covers a re-check without a re-shoot. If you applied through VIDEX, bring the prints anyway, missions still ask for them alongside the digital file.

Check your specific consulate or visa centre’s document checklist before the appointment, since the photo count and upload requirements differ slightly between missions. A rejected photo at the counter usually means re-booking or paying for an on-site re-shoot, so it is worth confirming the spec against the photo guide before you go.