head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Bulgaria Schengen visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background. |
| Pose | Full face, large, sharp, and centred in the frame. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | No dark glasses; eyes must be clearly visible. 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 a Bulgarian visa the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists «a full color photograph 3,5 cm х 4,5 cm against light-colored background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport)» among the documents submitted with the application: «a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo», and «the following is ineligible: photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos». The same list asks for a photocopy of the first page of the travel document, of the last Bulgarian and Schengen visas (or visas for the UK and the US), medical insurance valid for the EU member states of not less than 30 thousand euro, the tickets or proof of financial means, and, for a car trip, a copy of the car's technical passport. The application is submitted not earlier than three months before the trip, personally or through an authorised agent, typed and signed by the applicant; the passport must be valid for at least three months after the departure, with two blank pages and issued within the last ten years. The Ministry gives no age limit or number of photographs.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Bulgaria 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph that is not in colour or not 3.5 × 4.5 cm | A full colour photograph of 3.5 × 4.5 cm. |
| A photograph on a dark or coloured background | A photograph against a light-coloured background. |
| A face too small, turned away or not full-face, or taking up less than 70–80 % of the photo | A full-face photo with a clear face that takes up 70–80 % of the photo. |
| Dark glasses, a non-professional photo or a photo cut out of an amateur one | A professional photo without dark glasses. |
How to take it
Background: plain light
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: 70–80 % of the photo height
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.
A Bulgarian visa is applied for at a Bulgarian diplomatic or consular representation, personally or through an authorised agent, not earlier than three months before the trip, with the signed form, the passport, the photograph and the documents.
mfa.bg — the diplomatic and consular representations of Bulgaria
A full colour photograph, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, light background, face 70–80 %.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Source | Visa for Bulgaria |
| Verified |
Questions
A full colour photograph of 3.5 × 4.5 cm against a light-coloured background, with a full-face, clear face that takes up 70–80 % of the photo.
No — the Ministry lists photos with dark glasses as ineligible, as well as non-professional photos and ones cut out of amateur photos.
Not earlier than three months before the intended travel, personally or through an authorised agent.
The recommended size for the Bulgaria Schengen visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain light background. 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 Bulgaria 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.
No dark glasses; eyes must be clearly visible. 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: EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, ID card, national visa (Type D), residence card for family member of an EU citizen, residence permit.