Quick answer: This Schengen visa preset uses 35 × 45 mm with plain light background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, see glasses rule. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .
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| 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. |
| Digital resolution | Check the authority portal before digital upload |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | Check the authority portal before upload |
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.
| Authority | European Union / Schengen authorities |
|---|---|
| Source | EU Schengen visa / biometric photo practice |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — general |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Schengen area schengen visa applications. The final decision always belongs to European Union / Schengen authorities, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.
Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall — match Plain light background. The gap eliminates shadow on the wall behind you. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with patterned wallpaper or any background colour gradient.
Face a large window during daylight hours. Even frontal light prevents shadow under the brow ridge and beside the nose — two of the most common rejection triggers for consular visa applications.
Look straight at the camera. Keep your head level and centred in the frame. Even a 3–5° tilt is flagged by the consular ICAO alignment check before a human reviewer sees the application.
Both shoulders square to the camera. Visa photos are biometrically checked against the same reference standard as passports — turned shoulders shift the perceived face centre.
No tinting or reflections; eyes must be fully visible For visa photos, consular pre-screening is particularly strict on glasses glare. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, document this in your application.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open and looking directly at the lens. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no parted lips. Match the expression of someone sitting for an official photograph, not a friendly portrait.
Deep solid colours photograph cleanest against a light background. Avoid white tops (they merge with the background), uniforms, religious headwear except where permanent and documented, and any large jewellery near the face or neck.
Verify the photo dimensions match 35 × 45 mm, the head occupies 70–80% of the height, both eyes are clearly visible, and the background matches the rule above. The tool catches most issues automatically but a manual check prevents surprises.
European Union / Schengen authorities publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.
| Code | Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
VIS-Q01 |
VIS biometric quality score below 0.6 threshold | Re-shoot with sharper lighting and exact ICAO 9303 geometry |
EU-V-BG |
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 |
EU-V-HEAD |
Head height outside 70-80% of frame (chin to crown) | Standard ICAO crop — 32-36mm head on 45mm photo |
EU-V-GLARE |
Glasses reflection covering eye region | Remove glasses or rotate lens plane 1-2° downward |
EU-V-AGE |
Photo older than 6 months from application date | Re-shoot with current appearance |
Plain light background is required. Consular pre-screening systems are strict on background — even minor texture, gradient or off-white tone is grounds for immediate rejection before a human reviewer sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require photos taken within the last three to six months. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause, especially for first-time visa applications.
Each visa type has specific dimensions. Submitting a passport-sized photo for a visa that requires different proportions is grounds for rejection. Verify the spec table above matches the visa category you are applying for.
The face must be centred horizontally and vertically with the head straight. Consular automated systems flag head tilt above 3–5 degrees before manual review.
Glasses glare, hair across the eye, head covering that obscures the facial outline (except for documented religious exception), or any accessory near the face is rejected by automated pre-screening.
Smile, raised eyebrows, parted lips or visible teeth all cause rejection. Consular photos use the same biometric standard as passports — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
If submitting a physical photo, low-quality home printing, glossy paper instead of matte, ink streaks or finger smudges around the edges all cause manual rejection at the consular submission stage.
This schengen visa preset uses 35 × 45 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 70–80% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. 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 or off-white shade 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. Use the exact profile for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Schengen area 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. The refund covers the €4.99 download fee. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
No tinting or reflections; eyes must be fully 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.
Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.