Schengen visa photo requirements
All 29 Schengen countries use the same photo standard, defined by ICAO (the International Civil Aviation Organization) for machine-readable travel documents. These rules come from the European Commission’s photo guidelines for Schengen visas and Germany’s official biometric photo chart, checked on 28 October 2026.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm (the Commission allows 35–40 mm wide) |
| Face height | 70–80% of the photo: 32–36 mm from chin to top of head, hair not counted |
| Background | Plain, light-coloured, no pattern, no shadows |
| Age of photo | No more than 6 months old |
| Colour and quality | Colour, sharp, natural skin tones, printed on high-quality photo paper |
| Pose | Facing the camera square on, head straight, neutral expression, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Open and clearly visible, no hair across them, no red eye |
| Glasses | Allowed with clear lenses and no reflections; frames must not cover the eyes |
| Head coverings | Only for religious reasons, with the face visible from chin to forehead |
Sources: European Commission ICAO photograph guidelines and the German Fotomustertafel. The German chart adds that photos are only rejected when the face is under 27 mm or over 40 mm, but aiming for 32–36 mm keeps you safely inside every consulate’s rules.
How the face-height guide works
The frame above is exactly 35 × 45 mm. The top line marks where the top of your head (ignoring hair volume) should be; the shaded band marks where your chin may sit so the face is 32–36 mm tall.
Your download is 413 × 531 pixels, tagged at 300 DPI, which prints at exactly 35 × 45 mm. The 4 × 6 in sheet fits several copies with thin cut lines, and the A4 sheet fits many more for printing at home on photo paper.
Country notes
The size is the same everywhere, but how you hand the photo in varies:
- Paper application form: glue or staple one printed photo in the box on the form. Do not use an old photo from a previous visa.
- Visa application centres (such as VFS Global or TLScontact, which handle appointments for many consulates) often ask for one or two printed photos, and some take a photo or fingerprints on site. Check your appointment letter.
- Biometrics: first-time Schengen applicants give fingerprints and often a digital photo at the appointment, but a printed photo is usually still required for the form.
Taking the photo
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain light grey or white wall.
- Face a window or use soft light from the front, so there are no shadows on your face or the wall.
- Have someone take the photo from about 1.5 metres away at eye level. Do not use portrait mode, filters or beauty effects.
- Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Tuck hair behind your ears so both edges of your face are visible.
If the wall is not plain enough, the Make background light grey button uses an AI model that runs on your device (downloaded once, about 44–88 MB). Some consulates dislike edited photos, so a real plain wall is always the safer option.
Worked example
An applicant for a French tourist visa takes a phone photo (3024 × 4032 pixels) against a white door.
- Drop the photo in; zoom until the crown touches the top line and the chin sits in the middle of the band, giving a face of about 34 mm (76%).
- Download the 4 × 6 in sheet and print it at a photo shop, or the A4 sheet on photo paper.
- Cut out two photos: one for the application form and a spare for the visa centre.
Related tools
The UK uses the same 35 × 45 mm size with a smaller head (29–34 mm): see UK Passport Photo. The US uses a square 2 × 2 inch photo: US Visa Photo. Need to send supporting documents as one file? Combine scans with JPG to PDF. For other countries, Passport Photo Maker has more presets. Your photo never leaves your device.