Free check · by the document rules

Schengen Area Residence Card photo checker

Upload a photo — we check it against every requirement of the document and give you a verdict.

  • Your photo never leaves your device
  • Free, no sign-up
  • 33 checks by the authority rules
Sheet 1 / 1 · Document photo checkPhoto size 35 × 45 mm
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Residence Cardplain lightglasses — no glaresample

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Step 1 · Upload a photo

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Who is in the photo
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What we check — the document requirements

  1. 1Size and filePhoto and file size — as this document expects them35 × 45 mm
  2. 2Head in the photoHow much of the photo the head takes — from the crown to the chin70–80 % of the photo height
  3. 3Eye heightHow high the eyes sit — measured from the bottom edge of the photo55–70 % from the bottom of the photo
  4. 4BackgroundColour and evenness of the background behind the headplain light
  5. 5Glasses and headwearWhether glasses and head coverings are allowed — by this document's rulesglasses — no glare
  6. 6Pose and faceLooking straight at the camera, mouth closed, a calm faceneutral face
  7. 7Light and sharpnessEven light on the face, a sharp colour photoeven light, sharp photo
Document
Residence Card35 × 45 mm
Rules
European Parliament and Council of the EUgeneral authority rules · 19 Aug 2026 · source
Checked
in your browserthe photo stays on your device
Verdict
waiting for a photo

Notes to the sheet

  1. Schengen Area Residence Card photo requirements at a glance

    • The Schengen Area Residence Card photo is 35 × 45 mm.
    • The head takes up 70–80 % of the photo height.
    • The eyes sit at 55–70 % from the bottom of the photo.
    • Background: plain light.
    • Glasses are fine if the lenses are clear and free of glare.
    • Head coverings only for religious reasons, with the whole face visible.
    • Neutral expression, mouth closed.
    • Rules: European Parliament and Council of the EU, checked on 19 Aug 2026.

  2. How this photo is submitted

    Depends on how you apply

    This document has more than one application route: on some you upload or hand in your own picture, on others it is taken at the appointment. The numbers on this page are for the routes where you bring your own photo — check your file against them before you submit it.

  3. What we don't check

    • When the picture was taken. We read the date from the file if it survived, but re-saving wipes it — and many authorities ask for a recent photo.
    • Whether the picture was edited. Retouching, filters and AI changes cannot be proved from a file.
    • Whether you have sent this picture before. Some authorities reject a photo that was already used in an earlier application.
    • How the photo will be printed. Paper, trimming and print quality cannot be judged from a file.
    • The route you apply through. Some countries want a code from an approved photographer, or take the picture at the office themselves.

  4. What this document is

    The residence card is a document for third-country nationals, and it stands on its own legal base: Regulation (EC) 1030/2002 as amended in 2017, under which residence permits are drawn up in a uniform format. What was made uniform is the format of the card, not the photo requirements: for biometrics the regulation points to the ICAO standard and to passport specifications, and names no millimetres at all. The photo rules are set by the country issuing the card — this page shares its numbers with the EU ID card, but not the law the document is issued under.

Frequently asked

What size is the Schengen Area Residence Card photo?

35 × 45 mm, with the head taking up 70–80 % of the photo height. The check compares your photo with these numbers and crops it to size for free.

What background does the Schengen Area Residence Card photo need?

Light and plain — white or light grey, for example, without shadows or patterns. If yours does not fit, the free fix replaces it.

Can I wear glasses in the Schengen Area Residence Card photo?

Yes, if the lenses are clear, free of glare and the frame does not cover the eyes. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not allowed.

Can I smile in the Schengen Area Residence Card photo?

No: the expression is neutral, the mouth closed, the eyes looking straight into the camera.

Can I wear a head covering in the Schengen Area Residence Card photo?

Only for religious reasons — and the whole face must stay visible, from chin to forehead, without shadows.

Which rules is the Schengen Area Residence Card photo checked against?

The general photo requirements of the authority (European Parliament and Council of the EU) — it has no separate page for this document. Where the authority gives no numbers, the ICAO document photo baseline applies: «Why» on every row shows which.

Can I print the Schengen Area Residence Card photo at home?

Yes: «Print on a 10 × 15 sheet» lays out your Schengen Area Residence Card photo (35 × 45 mm) on a standard sheet — print it at a photo shop or on a home printer; the size on the sheet is exact.

Is the check free? Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

Free, no sign-up. The check and the fix run right in your browser — the photo never leaves your device; it goes to a server only if you choose the AI yourself.