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German passport photo in Canada: what the consulates in Toronto and Vancouver accept in 2026
Renewing your German passport or ID card in Canada? You need a printed biometric 35 x 45 mm photo, and a Canadian passport photo (50 x 70 mm) won't do. Make it at home and print it on a 4x6 at the drugstore.
Short answer: bring one printed biometric photo, 35 x 45 mm, uncut, to your appointment.
- The German Missions in Canada ask for "One biometric passport picture, good contrast. Please do not cut the passport pictures."
- Our print sheet has six identical photos in a 3 x 2 grid on one 4x6 print. Bring the whole sheet and the staff cut out what they need.
- A Canadian passport photo (50 x 70 mm) is the wrong size for a German passport.
- Passport applications are taken at the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, at Montreal consular weeks and at most honorary consuls.
- The digital-only rule that started in Germany in May 2025 does not apply at missions abroad. Printed photos are still accepted.
The German biometric photo at a glance
From the official sample photo sheet linked by the German Missions in Canada. The same photo works for the passport (Reisepass), the ID card (Personalausweis) and children's passports.
Why Canadian passport photos don't work. Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and photo studios make Canadian passport photos: 50 x 70 mm with a smaller head. A German passport needs a 35 x 45 mm photo in which the face fills 70 to 80 % of the height. Cutting a Canadian photo down doesn't fix the head size, and the consulate asks you not to cut photos at all.
Where to apply in Canada
The Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Montreal no longer offer consular services. According to the mission's service overview (November 2026):
Consulate General Toronto
- Full consular services. Passports and ID cards.
- For Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, the Atlantic provinces and Nunavut.
Consulate General Vancouver
- Most consular services. Passports and ID cards.
- For British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
- The only mission in Canada where you can pick up the passport in person.
Montreal and honorary consuls
- Montreal: staff from Toronto hold consular weeks several times a year, from fall to early spring. Fees are paid in cash only.
- Honorary consuls in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Halifax and St. John's. Most of them take passport applications, for an extra fee. Check the mission's service overview for yours.
- Both take about 2 weeks longer.
Bring your photo even if you're short on time. The mission pages don't mention a photo booth or photos taken on site. Many applicants travel far for their appointment, and without a photo the application can't be taken.
Renewing a German passport or ID card in Canada
According to the German Missions in Canada (canada.diplo.de):
In person, by appointment
- Every applicant must appear in person, children too. Fingerprints are taken from age 6.
- Without an appointment you will be turned away.
- Passports can't be extended. You apply for a new one.
- There is no renewal by mail.
What to bring
- Originals plus one copy of every document. Passports, PR cards, visas and citizenship documents must be originals.
- Your last German passport, the application form, and one biometric photo, uncut.
- If you are not a Canadian citizen: a valid PR card, a valid visa, or a Search of Citizenship Records (less than 3 months old).
- A Canadian birth certificate with parental information. The short-form certificate is not enough.
- If you became Canadian before 27 June 2024: your citizenship certificate and your German retention permit (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung).
- For the passport to be mailed back: a prepaid Canada Post Xpresspost envelope (standard size) and the "Use of mail services" form.
Children
- Both parents (or all legal guardians) and the child must come to the appointment. An absent parent's signature on the consent form must be verified.
- One photo. The biometric rules apply from age 6. For children 9 and under, the face may be 22 to 36 mm.
- First-time child passports can't be expedited. For babies, see our baby photo guide.
Fees and processing time
| Document | EUR | CAD |
|---|---|---|
| Passport, age 24 and older (valid 10 years) | €106.00 | $168 |
| Passport, under 24 (valid 6 years) | €73.50 | $117 |
| Expedited passport | + €32.00 | + $51 |
| ID card, age 24 and older (valid 10 years) | €89.00 | $141 |
| ID card, under 24 (valid 6 years) | €70.60 | $112 |
| Application at an honorary consul | + €105.00 | + $166 |
Pay by Visa or Mastercard (physical card, charged in euros; no Apple Pay, Google Pay or contactless) or in cash in Canadian dollars. Checks and euro cash are not accepted. At Montreal consular weeks, passport fees are cash only. Expect about 10 to 12 weeks for a passport, or up to 4 weeks with expedited service. Fees as listed on canada.diplo.de in November 2026; the CAD amounts follow the exchange rate, so check the fee page before your appointment.
Accepted and rejected photos
Pose
- Head neither tilted nor turned, looking straight at the camera.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
- Hair and glasses frames away from the eyes.
Light and background
- Even lighting: no shadows, reflections or red eyes.
- One-colour, bright background, ideally neutral grey. Light grey for dark hair, medium grey for light hair.
- Glasses: no tinted lenses, no flash reflection.
Common mistakes
- Canadian 50 x 70 mm passport photo, or one cut down to size.
- Photo cut out at home instead of the whole print.
- Shadow on the background behind the head.
- Selfie at arm's length: distorted face, uneven light.
Make the photo at home, print it at Shoppers Drug Mart or Walmart
No need to find a studio that knows the German format. A standard 4x6 photo print is all you need.
Take the photo
Stand facing a window, in front of a plain, light wall. Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m away, at eye level. Our camera assistant tells you when your head is straight.
Automatic check and crop
The photo is checked against the German biometric rules (head position, eyes, glasses, lighting), cropped to 35 x 45 mm with the right face size, and the background is replaced with plain light grey.
Download the print sheet
You get one sheet with six identical 35 x 45 mm photos in a 3 x 2 grid, laid out for a single standard 4x6 inch photo print. That's enough for the appointment and spares.
Print a 4x6 and bring it uncut
Upload the sheet to the photo service at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart or London Drugs and order one 4x6 print. Order a standard photo print, not a "passport photo" product. Bring the whole print to your appointment, uncut: the staff cut out the photo themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a German passport photo?
35 x 45 mm, portrait format, without a border. The face, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be 32 to 36 mm tall (70 to 80 % of the photo). For children 9 and under it may be 22 to 36 mm.
Can I use a Canadian passport photo for my German passport?
No. Canadian passport photos are 50 x 70 mm with a smaller head. A German passport needs a 35 x 45 mm photo, and the consulate asks you not to cut photos yourself.
How many photos do I need for a German passport renewal in Canada?
One biometric photo, uncut. Our print sheet has six identical photos in a 3 x 2 grid on one 4x6 print: bring the whole sheet and the staff cut out what they need.
Where can I renew my German passport in Canada?
At the Consulate General in Toronto or Vancouver, by appointment. Staff from Toronto also hold consular weeks in Montreal from fall to early spring, and most honorary consuls (Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Halifax, St. John's) take passport applications for an extra fee. The Embassy in Ottawa no longer offers consular services.
Does the German consulate in Canada still accept printed photos after May 2025?
Yes. Since May 2025, offices in Germany only accept digital photos from certified photographers or their own booths. This rule doesn't apply at German missions abroad, which still take printed photos (checked November 2026).
Can I renew my German passport by mail from Canada?
No. Every applicant must appear in person, by appointment, because fingerprints are taken. The new passport is mailed back if you bring a prepaid Canada Post Xpresspost envelope; personal pick-up is only possible in Vancouver.
Where can I print German passport photos in Canada?
At any photo service that prints standard 4x6 photos, such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart or London Drugs. Upload the print sheet and order a regular 4x6 photo print, not a passport photo product.
How much does a German passport cost in Canada?
As listed by the German Missions in Canada in November 2026: €106 (about $168 CAD) from age 24 and €73.50 (about $117) under 24, plus €32 (about $51) for expedited service. The ID card costs €89 (about $141) from 24 and €70.60 (about $112) under 24. Applying at an honorary consul costs €105 (about $166) extra.
How long does it take to get a German passport in Canada?
About 10 to 12 weeks, about 2 weeks longer through an honorary consul or a Montreal consular week. Expedited passports take up to 4 weeks, but first-time child passports can't be expedited.
What documents do I need as a permanent resident of Canada?
Your valid PR card (or a valid visa, or a Search of Citizenship Records less than 3 months old), your last German passport, the application form, a long-form birth certificate with parental information, and one biometric photo. Bring originals plus one copy.
Sources
The rules in this article come from the official pages of the German Missions in Canada and the official sample photo sheet they link to. Sources checked on 13 November 2026.
- Passport renewal for adults
- Sample photos: photo requirements for German passports (PDF, 29 January 2021)
- Passport for children
- German ID card
- Passport and ID card fees
- Consular services: overview of the missions
- Consular days in Montreal (26 October 2026)
Rules and fees can change. Your Consulate General or honorary consul and your appointment confirmation are the final word.