Schengen Visa Photo Requirements
Schengen photo rules follow the ICAO standard and are shared across all member states, but individual consulates apply them with differing strictness. A photo accepted in one country's consulate may be questioned at another, so aim to satisfy the strictest reading.
Make a compliant schengen area visa photo now
Free, and your photo is processed in your browser — it is never uploaded.
Open the Schengen Area photo toolThe official specification
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
| Pixel dimensions | 413 × 531 px |
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Head height | 70–80% of the photo height |
| Background | Plain, #ffffff |
Source: European Commission — Migration and Home Affairs. Requirements change — confirm there before you submit.
Rules that catch people out
Light grey or off-white background
A uniform light background with clear contrast against your hair and shoulders. Pure white is usually accepted but light grey is safer across consulates.
Face must fill 70-80% of the frame height
This is the ICAO rule and the one most self-taken photos fail. Standing too far from the camera leaves the head too small and the photo is returned.
Recent — within the last six months
Consulates compare the photo against your appearance at the appointment. A visibly older photo invites questions and delay.
Neutral expression, both ears ideally visible
Mouth closed, eyes open, head straight rather than tilted. Ears do not have to be visible but a straight-on pose helps the biometric comparison pass.
Glasses allowed but rarely worth it
Thin frames with no glare and no tint are permitted. Given that glare is the most common reason a Schengen photo is rejected, removing them is the safer choice.
The same size at VFS Global, TLScontact and BLS
Most consulates take applications through an outsourced visa centre such as VFS Global, TLScontact or BLS International. The centre applies the consulate's own rules rather than its own, so the size is still 35×45 mm. Centres often sell photos on site for a fee; arriving with two compliant prints avoids paying for them and avoids a retake queue.
Why schengen area visa photos get rejected
- Head too small in the frame — the single most common failure
- Glare on glasses from a flash
- A photo printed on ordinary paper rather than photo paper
- Tilting the head slightly, which fails the biometric check
- Using a photo already submitted for a previous visa application
Printing and submitting
Most Schengen appointments require a physical print glued or clipped to the application form, and many visa centres will also scan it. Bring two prints — an appointment rescheduled over a photo costs far more than a second copy.
Ready to make yours?
The tool crops to 35×45 mm at 300 DPI, finds the face to set the head size, and checks framing and background before you download.
Open the Schengen Area photo toolOther photo requirements
- US Passport Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- UK Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- India Passport and OCI Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- Canada Passport Photo Requirements50×70 mm · 300 DPI
- Australia Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Baby and Infant Passport Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- Pet Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Driver's License and State ID Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.