head 67–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark — Danish embassies (um.dk); VFS Global as the visa application centre
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Denmark visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background, e.g. light blue or light grey. Head occupies 67–80% of photo height (30–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 67–80% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 30–36 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain light background, e.g. light blue or light grey. |
| Pose | Full face, looking directly into the camera, head and shoulders fully visible. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. |
| Glasses | Frame must not cover the eyes; lenses without tint or reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No shadows, overexposure, or reflections. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; forehead, chin, and cheekbones must be visible. |
| 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 |
The photograph for a Danish Schengen visa is described by the Danish embassies and by VFS Global, the visa application centre: one passport photo of 35 mm × 45 mm with a solid, light colour background, no older than 6 months. The photo must meet the ICAO requirements — in colour, with a light background, taken up close, well lit and straight on, up to date, without headgear, without sunglasses and with the mouth closed, and facing the camera directly.
The head is 30–36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head at the Embassy in Pakistan, and 70–80 % of the photo height, or 32–36 mm, on the VFS page for Canada: a head of 32–36 mm fits both. First-time applicants give fingerprints (not required if given within 59 months; children under 12 are exempt), and the photograph must be no older than 6 months before the application.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Denmark 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 Denmark — Danish embassies (um.dk); VFS Global as the visa application centre publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that is not 35 × 45 mm, or older than 6 months | Take a new 35 × 45 mm photograph within the last 6 months. |
| A background that is not solid and light-coloured | Use a plain light-coloured background with even light. |
| A head outside 32–36 mm, or not facing the camera directly | Keep the head 32–36 mm from chin to top and face the camera. |
| Sunglasses, headgear, or an open mouth | Remove them and keep the mouth closed. |
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: 67–80 % of the photo height (30–36 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 and clearly visible
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 Danish Schengen visa is applied for at the Danish embassy or consulate (or the VFS Global centre) that covers your place of residence, with the form, the passport, one printed photograph and the documents; first-time applicants give fingerprints in person.
The VFS Global Denmark centre of your country
One 35 × 45 mm ICAO photograph, light background, head 32–36 mm.
Authority pageThe visa page of the Danish embassy that covers you on um.dk
One passport photo 35 × 45 mm, solid light background, within 6 months.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark — Danish embassies (um.dk); VFS Global as the visa application centre |
|---|---|
| Source | Danish driving licence photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
One passport photo of 35 × 45 mm meeting ICAO requirements: in colour, on a solid light-coloured background, taken up close, well lit and straight on, no older than 6 months, without headgear or sunglasses and with the mouth closed, the head 32–36 mm from chin to top (70–80 % of the height).
35 mm × 45 mm, with the head 30–36 mm (Embassy in Pakistan) or 70–80 % of the height, 32–36 mm (VFS Canada).
A solid, light-coloured background; the pages do not say white.
No older than 6 months before the application.
The recommended size for the Denmark visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 67–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain light background, e.g. light blue or light grey. 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 Denmark 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.
Frame must not cover the eyes; lenses without tint or 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; forehead, chin, and cheekbones must be visible. 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: driver's license, ID card.