Important up front: since 2025, photos for German ID cards and passports are captured digitally and tamper-proof at the authority or via certified providers — a paper photo made at home is generally no longer accepted for those, and several other countries have similar digital rules. This post helps for all other purposes — job applications, loyalty cards, visa applications for some countries, club and company IDs — and explains what a biometrically correct photo looks like in the first place.
The dimensions: 35 × 45 mm, and the head is decisive
The standard European passport format is 35 × 45 mm in portrait orientation. The most-overlooked value is the head height: from the tip of the chin to the crown, the head should take up about 32–36 mm — roughly 70–80% of the image height. The eyes sit in the upper third. Too small (a lost head in the frame) and too big (a cropped crown) are the two classic cropping mistakes.
The requirements at a glance
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Format | 35 × 45 mm, portrait |
| Head height | approx. 32–36 mm (chin to crown) |
| Expression | neutral, mouth closed, no smile |
| Gaze | straight into the camera, head level |
| Background | solid, light, neutral, no shadows |
| Lighting | even, no shadows on the face/behind the head |
| Eyes | open, visible, no glasses reflections/coverage |
How to shoot correctly at home
- Background: a smooth, light wall, the person about one meter in front of it (so no cast shadows fall on the wall).
- Light: soft daylight from the front, ideally from two sides so no one-sided shadows form. No direct flash — it creates hard shadows and red eyes.
- Position: camera at eye level, straight on — not from above or below. Keep some distance and zoom in or crop later, so the face isn't distorted by a wide angle.
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, head level, both ears as visible as possible (depending on the purpose).
Cropping to 35 × 45 mm
After the shot, the image is brought to the 35:45 ratio — set a custom ratio in the crop tool and position the head so it takes up the required height with the eyes in the upper third. For print, export the result at sufficient resolution (300 dpi at 35 × 45 mm ≈ 413 × 531 px). Runs browser-local — your portrait never leaves your computer.
The most common rejection reasons — and their fixes
- Wrong head height → crop carefully to 32–36 mm.
- Shadows behind the head → more distance to the wall, light from the front.
- Non-neutral expression → close the mouth relaxed, don't smile.
- Glasses reflections → shift the light sideways, tilt the glasses slightly, or take them off.
- Patterned/dark background → choose a solid light one.
Distinguishing it from a job-application photo
A biometric passport photo is deliberately sober and standardized — a job-application photo, by contrast, may and should show personality (a slight smile, clothing, a somewhat friendlier feel). Don't confuse the two. The dimensions and rules for the application photo are in the dedicated post Application photo: size and format.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a biometric passport photo?
In Germany and most of Europe 35 × 45 mm (portrait). The head must be about 32–36 mm tall from chin to crown, i.e. take up roughly 70–80% of the image height, with the eyes in the upper third. (The US uses 2 × 2 inches with its own head-size rules.) This head height is the most commonly missed value.
May I take my passport photo myself?
For many purposes yes — as long as it meets the biometric requirements. Important: since 2025, photos for German ID cards and passports are captured digitally and tamper-proof at the authority or via certified providers; plain paper photos from home are generally no longer accepted for those. For job applications, loyalty cards, and many other purposes, DIY remains common.
What are the most common rejection reasons?
Wrong head size in the frame, shadows on the face or behind the head, a smiling or non-neutral expression, reflections on glasses, a too-dark or patterned background, and a cropped crown. Most of these can be avoided with good, even light and the right crop.
Which background is correct?
A solid, light, neutral background (light gray to white) without a pattern and without cast shadows. A smooth white wall with some distance to the person (so no shadows fall on it) works well.
Note: requirements and digital-capture rules can change and differ by authority and purpose. The specifications of the issuing office are binding.
Sources
ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents · U.S. Department of State — Passport photos.