German visa photos under the Federal Foreign Office and BMI standard
Germany’s visa photo specification is set jointly by the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), whose Fotomustertafel sample chart governs every biometric document the country issues. The same standard covers Schengen short-stay visas (Type C), national long-stay visas (Type D) including work, Blue Card, Chancenkarte, study, and family reunification, plus residence permits. One spec, every visa category.
Applications are lodged through three channels, and each one wants a printed photo in hand. National Type D applicants file the form online via the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de), but biometrics are still captured in person at the mission. Schengen applicants go through a VAC (VFS Global, BLS, VisaMetric, or TLScontact) or directly to the embassy. In every case you bring two identical prints to the appointment, even though the VAC also takes a live capture for the VIS database. Showing up without prints means a cancelled appointment or a forced booth purchase on site.
Enforcement is strict on the subject-side rules below. The BMI standard prescribes a neutral light or medium grey background for machine readability, color only, and no retouching. Photos that miss the head-height band, show the wrong expression, or include prohibited eyewear or headwear are rejected outright, and a rejection means a new appointment and a delayed visa decision.
German visa photo requirements at a glance
The Federal Foreign Office and the BMI Fotomustertafel define what the applicant must look like in the final image. The rules below cover everything you control on the day of capture.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe mouth must be closed with no smile, no frown, and no raised eyebrows. Teeth must not be visible.
- Direct gazeEyes must be open, clearly visible, and looking straight into the camera. Red-eye is not accepted and must be avoided at capture rather than corrected afterwards.
- Head orientationThe head must face the camera squarely, neither tilted nor turned, with both sides of the face equally visible. Shoulders should be level.
Eyewear & lenses
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are permitted only if both eyes are fully visible, the frames do not cover any part of the eyes, and there is no reflection on the lenses. A photo without glasses is the safest option.
- Tinted lensesSunglasses, tinted lenses, and coloured contact lenses that alter natural eye colour are not accepted by the Federal Foreign Office.
Hair & face
- Hair across the eyesHair must not fall across the eyes. Bangs must be swept aside so the eyes and eyebrows are fully visible.
- Forehead visibilityThe forehead must be visible. The whole head, including hair, must fit inside the frame.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other head coverings are not permitted.
- Religious or medical exceptionsHead coverings worn for religious or medical reasons are accepted as long as the face is fully visible from the chin to the top of the forehead and casts no shadows on the face.
Jewelry & accessories
- JewelryJewelry is permitted provided it does not obscure any facial feature and does not create reflections that interfere with the image.
Cosmetics
- Make-upMake-up is not specifically regulated. A natural appearance that does not alter recognisable facial features is recommended.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingEveryday clothing should be worn. Uniforms are not accepted.
- Colour contrastChoose a top in a darker or medium tone so the shoulders and neckline read clearly against the light background.
Photo authenticity
- No retouchingThe Federal Foreign Office rejects any morphological or cosmetic retouching, including skin smoothing, blemish removal, and beauty filters. The face in the photo must match the face presented at the appointment.
- RecencyThe photo must have been taken within the last six months. A fresh photo is required after any significant change in appearance.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 25 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
The BMI Fotomustertafel relaxes the framing and expression rules for younger applicants. The leniencies are layered by age.
Infants (under 1 year)
For applicants under one year of age, the strict adult rules on expression and gaze are set aside.
- Eyes and gazeEyes do not need to be open and the child does not need to be looking at the camera.
- Expression and head positionA neutral expression is not required and the head does not need to be perfectly upright.
- No visible supportHands, arms, pillows, cushions, car seats, or any other support used to position the child must not appear anywhere in the frame.
- Relaxed head heightThe head height in the frame is allowed in a wider range than the adult specification.
Other things to know.
A few features of the German visa channel are worth flagging before you submit.
Bring two printed copies
The Federal Foreign Office and the contracted visa application centres (VFS Global, BLS International, VisaMetric, TLScontact) expect two identical printed photos for the paper dossier. Bring two unless your specific mission instructs otherwise.
Auslandsportal is not an e-visa
National (Type D) applications can be started online through the Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de, but biometrics are still captured in person at the mission. The printed photo is still required at the appointment.
Domestic e-photo reform does not apply abroad
Since 1 May 2025, paper photos have been abolished for passports, ID cards, and residence permits issued inside Germany. This reform does not extend to visa applications lodged at embassies, consulates, or visa application centres abroad, where printed photos remain mandatory.
Colour photos only
Although older BMI text mentions black-and-white photographs, current Schengen and visa application centre practice accepts colour photographs only.
Take your Germany visa photo at home in three steps.
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Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.