PolandPoland Schengen Visa Photo Requirements: 3.5 x 4.5 cm, White Background, Face 70–80% of the Photo
Polish consulates want one 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo: white background, quality paper, under 6 months old, face 70–80% of the photo, no headwear.
Key points
5 points- Size: 3.5 x 4.5 cm (35 x 45 mm), in colour.
- Sharp, white background, printed on quality paper, taken within the last 6 months.
- Taken en face, top of the head to the top of the shoulders, face covering 70–80% of the photo, no headwear.
- Fingerprints are taken too, unless you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months; children under 12 are exempt.
- EU visa fee: €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6–12; apply 6 months to 15 days before the trip.
A Polish Schengen (type C) visa application needs one colour photo, and Polish embassies describe it in the same words. The Embassy of Poland in the USA and the Embassy in Kazakhstan both publish this standard.
Poland visa photo requirements
| Requirement | What the embassy asks |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.5 x 4.5 cm (35 x 45 mm), colour |
| Background | White |
| Quality | Sharp, printed on quality paper |
| Age of photo | Newer than 6 months |
| Pose and framing | En face, eyes and both sides of the face clearly visible, from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, face 70–80% of the photo |
| Headwear | None |
The embassy's general visa page adds that the photo must follow the standards of Council Regulation (EC) 1683/95, the EU uniform visa format. The European Commission's checklist for every Schengen state asks for "a photo in compliance with ICAO standards".
Photo plus fingerprints
For a Schengen visa you give a photo and fingerprints. If you applied for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months and gave fingerprints then, they are not taken again — the system transfers them. Children under 12 and people physically unable to give fingerprints do not give them.
Other documents (Embassy in the USA)
- Application form filled in through e-Konsulat, printed and signed; you apply in person.
- Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after your return, with 2 blank pages, plus a copy of the data page.
- Travel medical insurance, proof of means, accommodation and purpose of the trip.
- For a child: notarised parental consent, parents' passports and the birth certificate.
Fee and timing
- EU visa fee: €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6–12 (European Commission). In the USA the Polish embassy charges 106 USD and 53 USD.
- Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before the trip.
- The consul decides within 15 calendar days; the US embassy says this can be extended to 45 days in individual cases. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
Make a 35 x 45 mm photo with a white background on our Poland Schengen visa photo page.
05Questions
5 answers01What size photo do I need for a Poland Schengen visa?
3.5 x 4.5 cm (35 x 45 mm), in colour, printed on quality paper.
02What background colour is required?
White. The photo must also be sharp and taken within the last 6 months.
03How big should the face be?
From the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, with the face covering 70–80% of the photo.
04Can I wear a hat or headscarf?
The Polish embassies say the photo must be taken without any headwear.
05How much does a Polish Schengen visa cost?
The EU fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6–12. The Polish embassy in the USA charges 106 USD and 53 USD.
06Official sources
- Embassy of Poland in the USA — C-type Schengen visa (gov.pl)
gov.pl - Embassy of Poland in the USA — Visas, general information (gov.pl)
gov.pl - Ambasada RP w Kazachstanie — Wiza typu C, złożenie wniosku (gov.pl)
gov.pl - European Commission — Applying for a Schengen visa
home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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