Photo requirements guide
Germany Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) photo requirements
A guide to the photo size and conditions you need for the application.
Checked: 2026-08-30
Photo requirements at a glance
- The German missions in Japan Chancenkarte page requires "One (1) original passport picture 35 x 45 mm, biometric standard, white background, no older than 6 months". The size is 35 x 45 mm (width x height) ("35 x 45 mm"), the background is "white background", and the recency is "no older than 6 months".
- Digitally altered passport photos cannot be accepted, and print-outs on plain paper are not accepted: the photo must be 600 dpi, sharp and clear, with one photo stuck onto the space provided in the application form. The required count is one photo.
- Face composition values (such as face height) are not defined in the Chancenkarte page itself; the page delegates them to the official specimen chart linked as "biometric standard" (the SAMPLE PHOTOS chart).
- The page describes applying online in advance via the Consular Services Portal; at the appointment your identity is checked and biometric data (fingerprints and photo) is recorded. The physical photo itself is attached to the application form and brought to the mission; printing and attaching remain the applicant's own actions (the tool prepares the print photo only).
Face photo requirements
The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card, §20a of the Residence Act) allows a stay of up to one year to seek qualified employment in Germany, either via the points-based pathway (at least 6 points) or as a skilled worker. The German Embassy in Tokyo and the Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe publish a shared Chancenkarte page on japan.diplo.de listing the documents required for applications in Japan.
The photo line is defined under "For all applicants" as "One (1) original passport picture 35 x 45 mm, biometric standard, white background, no older than 6 months". The wording differs from the central germany.info checklist for US applicants ("One (1) recent biometric passport photo (see specimen photos)", size delegated to the specimen chart), but the axes of one photo, biometric standard, and 35×45mm are consistent. This is a separate procedure from the Schengen C visa and from the study visa (admission letter PDF), with no shared photo requirements.
What to check before you submit
The phrase “passport-size” alone does not set a fixed value such as 35×45 mm. In the Tool, enter the dimensions shown by the current application guidance.
From creation to submission
- Keep the application guidance available and enter the output type and dimensions you have confirmed.
- No face guide is shown for values the official guidance does not specify.
- After editing and review, confirm the accepted format and conditions in the application portal before submitting.
Create your photo in the browser
Prepare the photo for Germany Chancenkarte Photo (Opportunity Card) directly in your smartphone or computer browser. Creating and reviewing are free.
Open the web toolWhat this tool creates
- the required face photo (for printing)
Official information
The photo conditions on this page are based on the official guidance.
Check the latest official portal guidance before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the photo automatically converted to 35×45 mm?
No. The tool does not substitute 35×45 mm or any other value when the official requirement is unspecified.
What if the application portal shows updated conditions?
Check the current application screen or official guidance and enter those conditions in the Tool.
Official sources
- German missions in Japan - Chancenkarte (opportunity card) visa page Checked: 2026-08-30