head 71–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceFederal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria (BMEIA) and the oesterreich.gv.at portal
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Austria Schengen visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain background without shadows per official Austrian Passbildkriterien. Head occupies 71–80% of photo height (32–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 71–80% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 32–36 mm chin to crown |
| Background | Plain background without shadows per official Austrian Passbildkriterien. |
| Pose | Full face, no tilt or rotation, face must be unambiguously identifiable. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For an Austrian visa — a Schengen visa among them — the Federal Ministry (BMEIA) lists a «passport photo according to ICAO criteria (colour, 35 × 45 mm)» among the documents, and oesterreich.gv.at writes «a passport photo (portrait format, 35 × 45 mm) in accordance with the specified passport photo criteria». An ICAO-compliant passport photo is one of the conditions for the application to be admissible — together with a completed and signed form, a passport issued within ten years, valid three months beyond the visa and with two free pages, the consent to fingerprints (unless taken in the last 59 months, ten fingerprints, digitally recorded) and the paid visa fee — so a photo that does not meet the criteria can stop the application at the counter. The Ministry's page gives no face share, background colour or age limit (Austrian embassies publish a separate criteria sheet), so use the ICAO rules: a sharp colour photo, a plain light background, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, eyes open, no reflections on glasses, no head covering except for religious or health reasons.
Applications are lodged at an Austrian representation (BMEIA) abroad, and a Schengen visa must be issued by the representation of the state of the main destination.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Austria Schengen visa applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria (BMEIA) and the oesterreich.gv.at portal publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that is not ICAO-compliant — the application is then not admissible | Use a sharp colour 35 × 45 mm passport photo that meets the ICAO criteria. |
| A black-and-white photo, or one that is not 35 × 45 mm in portrait format | A colour photo of 35 × 45 mm in portrait format. |
| A busy or dark background, shadows, reflections on glasses, an open mouth or a head covering without a religious or health reason | A plain light background, even light, mouth closed, glasses without reflection, no head covering. |
How to take it
Background: plain, one colour
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 71–80 % of the photo height (32–36 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
An Austrian visa is applied for at an Austrian representation (BMEIA) abroad when Austria is the main destination, with the form, an ICAO passport photo, the passport, insurance and the other documents; fingerprints are recorded there.
bmeia.gv.at — visa; the Austrian representation that covers your country
ICAO passport photo, colour, 35 × 45 mm.
Authority page| Authority | Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria (BMEIA) and the oesterreich.gv.at portal |
|---|---|
| Source | Austrian visa application photo requirement |
| Verified |
Questions
A passport photo according to ICAO criteria, in colour, 35 × 45 mm in portrait format; an ICAO-compliant photo is one of the conditions for the application to be admissible.
35 × 45 mm, in colour, portrait format (BMEIA and oesterreich.gv.at).
Yes, unless they were collected within the last 59 months in a Schengen visa procedure — ten fingerprints, taken flat and digitally recorded.
An ICAO-compliant passport photo is a condition of admissibility, so the application may not be accepted for examination.
The recommended size for the Austria Schengen visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 71–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain background without shadows per official Austrian Passbildkriterien. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Follow the requirements for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Austria visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: ID card, national visa (Type D), passport.