Compare
Schengen area document photo specifications — every type compared
Schengen area does not use one photo format for every document: 6 of them are compared below. Each row gives the print size in millimetres, the head height, the required background and the authority page that row was checked against. Sizes differ from one document to the next, so a photo made for one application is not automatically valid for another — and a print that misses the stated figures is refused.
All Schengen area document photo specifications
Every document type Schengen area issues that requires a photo, listed below with the official spec. Click any document to read the full rules, including the printable layout, glasses and expression rules, and the source link.
| Document | Photo size | Head height | Background | Photo submission | Last verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU ID Card | 35 × 45 mm | 70–80% | Plain light | eur-lex.europa.eu | ||
| EU Passport | 35 × 45 mm | 70–80% | Plain light | eur-lex.europa.eu | ||
| Residence Card | 35 × 45 mm | 70–80% | Plain light | Own photo or at the office | eur-lex.europa.eu | |
| National Visa (Type D) | 35 × 45 mm | 70–80% | Plain light | home-affairs.ec.europa.eu | ||
| Schengen Visa | 35 × 45 mm | 70–80% | Plain light | Own photo or at the office | home-affairs.ec.europa.eu | |
| EU Blue Card | 35 × 45 mm | 70–80% | Plain light | Own photo or at the office | home-affairs.ec.europa.eu |