head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA)
Verified
Quick answer: A Latvia visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Plain background without foreign objects. 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 background without foreign objects. |
| Pose | Face directly into the camera, face centred in the frame. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | No tinted lenses or reflections; frame must not cover the eyes. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No heavy shadows on the face or background. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; head covering must not obscure the face or cast shadows. |
| 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 Latvian Schengen visa the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists «one colour photograph (35mm x 45mm)» and links the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) leaflet «Requirements for the quality of face photograph required for visa». The leaflet is specific: the photograph must not be older than 6 months, 35 × 45 mm, high resolution and printed on high-quality photo paper, not folded, dirty or damaged, showing the face in close-up with a small portion of the shoulders so that the face takes up 70–80 % of the photograph, sharp, with neutral lighting and contrast and a natural face colour. The face points straight at the camera, centred, on a uniform background, with both eyes open and uncovered, no tinted lenses or flash reflections on glasses and frames not too thick or covering the eyes, no head covering except for religious reasons — and then it must not cover the face or cast a shadow on it — no red eyes or heavy shadows, only the applicant in the picture (no other people or toys), a neutral expression and the mouth closed.
Embassies and centres add their own wording: the New Delhi embassy asks for two colour photos, taken in the last six months, on a white background, and applicants there appear in person for biometric data — «the photograph can be digitally taken at the time of the application or scanned from a recent one, if conform to ICAO standards»; VFS Global asks for one photo against a light (white or off-white) background, non-smiling, no sunglasses or head covering, printed on normal photographic paper and paper-clipped, not stapled, to the form; the London embassy asks for one recent colour passport photograph of 35 × 45 mm.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Latvia visa photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A face outside 70–80 % of the photograph, or a photo that is not 35 × 45 mm | Print 35 × 45 mm with a close-up of the head and a small part of the shoulders, the face at 70–80 %. |
| A photo older than 6 months, or one that is folded, dirty or damaged | Take a new photo within six months and keep the print flat and clean. |
| A non-uniform background, heavy shadows, red eyes or flash reflections on glasses | Use a uniform white background and even light without flash on the face or the glasses. |
| Tinted lenses, thick frames covering the eyes, closed eyes, or hair over the eyes | Keep both eyes open and fully visible, with clear lenses. |
| A head covering without a religious reason, a smile, an open mouth, or other people or toys in the picture | Neutral expression, mouth closed, no head covering, only the applicant in the picture. |
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: 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 Latvian Schengen visa is applied for at a Latvian embassy or consulate or at its visa centre (VFS Global in many countries), with the online application form, the photograph, the passport and the other documents; in India applicants appear in person for fingerprints and a digital photograph.
The consular page of the embassy for your country on mfa.gov.lv
One colour photo 35 × 45 mm within 6 months (two at New Delhi), face 70–80 %, uniform white background.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) |
|---|---|
| Source | Requirements for the quality of face photograph required for visa |
| Verified |
Questions
One colour photograph of 35 × 45 mm taken within 6 months, high resolution on photo paper, a close-up of the face with a small part of the shoulders so that the face takes up 70–80 %, straight on, uniform background, eyes open and uncovered, no tinted lenses or flash reflections, a neutral expression with the mouth closed and no head covering except for religious reasons.
35 × 45 mm (35mm x 45mm on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list), with the face at 70–80 % of the photograph.
One on the Ministry list, in London and at VFS Global Armenia; the New Delhi embassy asks for two.
The OCMA leaflet says «uniform», the New Delhi embassy says white and VFS Global says «light (white or off-white)»; a plain white background satisfies all three.
The Latvia visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height.
Consulates usually ask for a photo taken within the last six months, sometimes within three. Take a new one that looks like you today.
Often yes, but not always: tourist, student, work and transit visas can have different size or background rules. Compare the requirements of each Latvia visa — if they match, one photo will do.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the consulate’s rejection notice.
No tinted lenses or reflections; frame must not cover the eyes. If you keep them on, tilt them slightly downwards by lifting the arms a little above your ears: this usually moves reflections of a window or lamp off the lenses.
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; head covering must not obscure the face or cast shadows. 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: national visa (Type D), residence permit, Schengen visa.