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A front-facing photo of yourself against a plain light wall - cropped in your browser, never uploadedAbout the Passbild maker
A Passbild is the German word for a passport-style photo. The biometric Passbild is 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall, with the head at a fixed size. Germany uses this format for official photos, and so do most countries in Europe.
This free tool makes a biometric 35 × 45 mm photo from a picture you already have. You mark the top of your head and your chin, and the tool scales the photo so your head is 32 to 36 mm tall, as the rules ask. Then it puts 8 copies on one 10 × 15 cm print, the cheapest size at a photo kiosk.
Your photo is never uploaded. Everything happens in your browser.
Important — passport and ID card: since 1 May 2025, German offices take the photo for the Personalausweis (ID card), the Reisepass (passport) and the electronic residence permit (eAT) only in digital form. It is taken at the office (a fixed federal fee of 6 euros) or by a photo studio or shop that sends it to the office over a secure connection. A printed photo, or a file from this tool, is not accepted for these three documents.
Features
- 35 × 45 mm frame with the head band (32–36 mm) and eye line drawn on it
- Two head markers — drag them to your crown and chin, and the photo is scaled for you
- Head check — shows your head height in % of the photo, green when it fits
- Light background — plain white, light grey or light blue, replaced on your device
- 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI (827 × 1063 px at 600 DPI), with the DPI saved in the JPG
- Print sheet — 8 photos on 10 × 15 cm, 12 on 13 × 18 cm, 36 on A4
- Remembers your sheet and print quality for next time, on this device only
Where a printed Passbild is still used
A printed biometric photo is still asked for in many places:
- Driving licence (Führerschein) — the licence office still takes a paper photo. The law has no digital route for it yet
- Visa forms of other countries, at an embassy or a visa centre
- Student and school cards, season tickets, club and sports passes
- Applications of other offices and employers that ask for a passport photo
Ask the office first if you are not sure. Some offices change their rules faster than others.
The biometric photo rules
These are the main points of the German rules for a biometric photo (the same as the international ICAO rules). Check the current rules of the office you apply to before you print.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm, portrait, no white border |
| Head size | 32–36 mm from the chin to the top of the head (70–80% of the height) |
| Position | Face in the middle, looking straight at the camera |
| Background | Plain and light, ideally light grey, with contrast to your face and hair |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses | Allowed if the eyes are clearly visible: no tinted lenses, no glare, the frame not over the eyes |
| Head covering | Not allowed, except for religious reasons |
| Light | Even light, no shadows on the face or the background |
| Photo quality | Sharp, natural colours, on good photo paper |
The tool aims for a head of about 34 mm (75% of the height) in the middle of the 32–36 mm range. Light grey is the background the German rules name first. Plain white works too when your hair is not very light.
Print 35 × 45 mm photos on one sheet
| Print sheet | Copies of a 35 × 45 mm photo | Sheet size at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 15 cm photo print | 8 (4 × 2) | 1772 × 1181 px |
| 13 × 18 cm photo print | 12 (3 × 4) | 1535 × 2126 px |
| A4 page | 36 (6 × 6) | 2480 × 3508 px |
Order the sheet as a normal 10 × 15 cm photo at a photo kiosk, a drugstore photo service or online. Choose no border and no "fit", so the size does not change. Then measure one photo with a ruler: it should be 35 mm wide. Cut along the thin grey lines.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this Passbild for my German passport or ID card?
No. Since 1 May 2025, the photo for the Personalausweis, the Reisepass and the eAT must be digital and must come from the office or a registered photo provider. Printed photos are no longer accepted for them.
Can I use it for my driving licence?
Yes, the Führerschein office still takes a printed biometric photo in 35 × 45 mm. Check what your local office asks for before you go.
How big must the head be on a Passbild?
32 to 36 mm from the chin to the top of the head. That is about 70–80% of the photo height. The tool aims for about 34 mm.
Can I wear glasses on a biometric photo?
Yes, if your eyes are clearly visible. The lenses must not be tinted, there must be no glare on them, and the frame must not cover your eyes.
Which background colour is best?
A plain, light background. The German rules name light grey first. Plain white also works if it stands out from your hair and face.
Will my photo be accepted?
The tool sizes the photo and the head to the published rules. It cannot promise that an office accepts it, because the person who checks it also looks at light, focus and expression. Check the current rules of the office you apply to.
Related tools
- Passport & ID Photo Maker — other countries and document sizes
- Remove Background — full control over the cutout
- Change Image DPI — check or set the print size of a photo
- Photo Print Layout — put other photos on one print sheet
- Compress Image to a Size — meet a KB limit for an upload
How to use it
- Upload a photo of yourself, taken face-on against a plain light wall
- Drag the two blue markers to the top of your head and the bottom of your chin
- Press "Fit to my marks" — the photo is scaled so your head is about 34 mm tall
- Drag the photo to centre your face, and straighten it if it is tilted
- Choose the background — plain white, light grey or light blue
- Download the print sheet and print it as one 10 × 15 cm photo, or download the photo as a single file
