A photograph is a key essential in your documentation kit for the visa process. Though it is the smallest document in size, it carries important weightage on its specification. The photographs must be as per the visa guidelines of the visa you are applying for, and there is no room for error while submitting a photograph for a visa process. This applies to a Germany visa as well. There have been instances where the other paperwork, such as financial statements, travel insurance, application form, and passport, are impeccable and meet all criteria per visa requirements but still get rejected because of a small oversight in ensuring that photos are taken per German visa requirements. So, to ascertain that your visa process goes smoothly and hassle-free, here’s a detailed guide on what should be taken into consideration as Germany visa photo requirements.

Size

The Germany visa photo size is 35mm x 45mm, and the face of the applicant should cover the majority of space – up to 80% of the area in the photograph. The facial features, right from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin, must be visible clearly. Both ears should be visible as well. The face should measure more than 27 mm but less than 40 mm in the photograph to avoid possible rejection. Make sure that you do not resize the photograph; it may cause the face to shrink or elongate in the picture, causing distortion or pixelation.

Quality and Lighting

The photographs required for Germany visa are colour photographs. The photo taken should be of high resolution, crystal clear without any distortion, and should be sharp and in focus. The lighting should be evenly distributed across your face to avoid shadows or overexposure. Everything from colour balance, exposure, saturation, tones, and contrast must compliment the natural skin tone of the applicant. The photograph must have proper contrast, not too dark nor too bright. It should be printed with 600 dpi resolution or more on high-quality paper. It is best to take the picture in a studio with professional cameras. Pixelated photographs will be rejected. The photographs should not have any creases and should be undamaged at the time of submission to the Consulate/Embassy.

Background

A smooth, light, one-coloured backdrop, preferably plain light grey with no patterns and no shadows, should be used for the photograph. The colour of Germany visa photo background should not match the attire of the applicant. The background colour should stand out in contrast to the hair and face colours. Light grey backgrounds can be used for dark-coloured hair. If the hair colour is blonde, a slightly darker shade of grey can be used as background.

Head Position

You should face straight at the camera. There should be no tilting or turning of the head at any angle. It is crucial that the face is in the centre of the photo. The facial expression should be neutral. The photos should not include any smiles, frowns, or an open mouth.

Eyes

Eyes should be open and visible, looking straight into the camera. There should be no squinting or closed eyes in the photograph. It is best to pretend you are a soldier at attention, ready for inspection while taking the photograph.

Eye Glasses

If you wear glasses, it is best to take them off to avoid reflection or glare in the photograph. The edge of the frames of the glasses covering your eye can also put your application in jeopardy of getting rejected. Sunglasses are a definite no-no for visa photos.

Headgear

Any type of head covering such as scarves, and caps should not be worn unless it is for religious reasons. Even then, your facial features must be fully visible in the photograph.

Accessories

Any accessory that can distort your facial features or the quality of the photograph is not allowed. For a photo shoot involving a visa, wearing as little jewellery as possible is advisable. When taking a visa photo, chunky jewellery or items that can cause glares should be avoided.

Time

The photo should be recent and taken at least 3 months prior to submitting the visa application to the Embassy/Consulate. The photograph should capture your accurate appearance and should match the same when screened at verification checks at the Embassy/Consulate. All the photographs that you submit for your Germany visa applications should be the same, identical ones.

German visa photo requirements for children and infants

The Germany visa photo specifications and guidelines apply to all individuals applying for a Germany visa irrespective of age. This means the same rules apply to kids, toddlers, and infants. However, few relaxations in guidelines are made for the younger applicants. The facial measurement is tweaked to 22 to 36 mm from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin for kids. Any photos with face measurements of less than 17 mm and more than 40 mm will not be taken into consideration, which means the visa application will face rejection. Infants and toddlers – children under the age of 5 years can be clicked with their mouths open and without a neutral expression. It is fine if their head is not in the centre of the photo and not looking directly at the camera. However, the tilt and turn of the head should not be in such a way that it causes blurred images or distorts facial features. Infants under the age of one can be photographed while sleeping as closed eye photographs are allowed for a Germany visa.

Conclusion

While these specifications feel overwhelming, it is necessary to adhere to these guidelines to get a faster visa without any hiccups in the procedure. Also, do remember that a Germany visa is also a type of Schengen visa. If you are going to use a Germany visa as a Schengen visa for your travels, you should also consider taking a look at the Schengen visa photo size and guidelines to make the visa process easier.