head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceEuropean Union / Schengen authorities
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended 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, head centred, no tilt. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | No tinting or reflections; eyes must be fully visible. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No shadows on the face or background. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, without unnecessary 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 Schengen visa photo follows the EU Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009, Annex VI) — a single shared standard across all 27 Schengen states: 35 × 45 mm print, 70-80% head height, light grey or off-white background. The standard references ICAO 9303 directly, so a photo that meets ICAO scoring at any embassy will pass at any other Schengen consulate.
Practical verification is multi-stage. First the VAC operator (VFS Global, TLS Contact or BLS, depending on the consulate) does a visual check at appointment intake — about 8-12% of submissions are returned at this stage for obvious issues.
Then the photo is digitised and added to the Visa Information System (VIS) — since 2025 VIS performs an automated biometric quality score against the ICAO 9303 reference. Scores below the threshold (~0.6 on the 0-1 scale) flag the application for a re-capture appointment, adding 2-4 weeks to processing.
Finally, the consular officer reviews the assembled file. Consulate-level interpretation varies. German embassies require a near-pure light-grey background; French and Italian consulates accept a wider range from cream to grey.
Spanish consulates are strict on the head-position (centred within ±2mm). The safest cross-consulate strategy is a neutral light-grey background and conservative 72-78% head height.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Schengen visa photos get rejected.
Common reasons a document photo is rejected, checked against the requirements European Union / Schengen authorities publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| VIS biometric quality score below 0.6 threshold | Re-shoot with sharper lighting and exact ICAO 9303 geometry |
| Background outside the EU Visa Code light range (too white, too dark, or coloured) | Match exact consulate's interpretation — German: light grey; French/Italian: cream OK; Spanish/Portuguese: pale grey |
| Head height outside 70-80% of frame (chin to crown) | Standard ICAO crop — 32-36mm head on 45mm photo |
| Glasses reflection covering eye region | Remove glasses or rotate lens plane 1-2° downward |
| Photo older than 6 months from application date | Re-shoot with current appearance |
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.
| Authority | European Union / Schengen authorities |
|---|---|
| Source | EU Schengen visa / biometric photo practice |
| Verified |
Questions
The recommended size for the Schengen visa photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
Plain light background. The wall should be evenly lit, with no shadow around the head and no pattern. You don’t need a studio backdrop: the tool sets the right background colour.
For this document the photo must be no older than 6 months. 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 Schengen area 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 tinting or reflections; eyes must be fully visible. 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; 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 ID card, EU passport, national visa (Type D), residence card.