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Crop a photo to 35 × 45 mm — Schengen area residence card

Upload a photo — the frame is already set for a Schengen area residence card. Ready to print or upload.

Document

No sign-up · no watermarks · your photo stays in your browser

Want studio precision?AI correction fixes the light, shadows, clothing and pose — to the document's rules.€5.99
Example · selfie → document photo
01Requirements

Exact numbers for this document

ParameterWhat it must be
Print size35 × 45 mm
Pixels at 300 dpi413 × 531 px
Pixels at 600 dpi827 × 1063 px
Aspect ratio7:9
Head, share of height70–80% of photo height
BackgroundPlain light background.
GlassesNo tinting or reflections; eyes must be fully visible.
Head coveringReligious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval.
Format35 × 45 mm
Head70–80 %
02Three steps

How to crop it, in three steps

  1. 01

    Upload a photo taken face-on, in even light

  2. 02

    The tool finds the face and aligns the frame itself — check that the head lands in 70–80%

  3. 03

    Save the 35 × 45 mm result — print it or attach it to the application

03What we fix

What we fix for free, and what AI fixes

Fixed for free

  • Background. Replaced with the one this document asks for: plain light background.
  • Head tilt. Straightened if the head leans slightly to one side.
  • Frame. Exactly 35 × 45 mm, by the document’s rules.
  • A light shadow on one side of the face. Gently brightened.
  • File and print sheet. A file to the document’s rules and a 10 × 15 or A4 sheet to print.

What can't be fixed for free, AI correction fixes

  • Hard shadows and uneven light on the face.
  • A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given.
  • Too few pixels. If the original is smaller than 413 × 531 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
  • Clothing and pose. Shoulders out of frame, body turned away from the camera.
Make it with AI €5.99 · you see the result before paying

Glare on the lenses. Take the glasses off or turn away from the light source and shoot again.

04Rejections

Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one

ReasonFix
Photo not 35×45mmReprint at EU standard size
Head outside 32-36mmRe-shoot at correct distance
Background non-uniformRe-shoot against member-state-specific backdrop
05Good to know

Schengen area-specific things to know

  • Harmonized EU residence permit card (Regulation 1030/2002, biometrics since 2011)
  • Chip card storing photo + fingerprints
  • Issued by each member-state migration authority in harmonized format
06Printing

Printing on a single sheet

4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.

Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.

10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″Photos: 8 (4 × 2)

A4 · 21 × 29.7 cmPhotos: 36 (6 × 6)

07Source

Where these numbers come from

Source: European Parliament and Council of the EU. Last checked against the official page on 19 Aug 2026.

What the source confirms

  • Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2017/1954, sets the uniform format for residence permits issued to third-country nationals.
  • The regulation states that residence permits issued by Member States to third-country nationals shall be drawn up in a uniform format.
  • Photo technical specifications are delegated: they follow ICAO standards and the passport specifications adopted under Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004.
  • Article 3 allows those specifications to be declared secret and not published, so no EU-level millimetre or pixel figure exists in the public text.
  • Regulation (EU) 2025/1208 is a separate act covering identity cards for EU nationals and residence documents for family members of EU citizens exercising free movement.

Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 (consolidated, as amended by 2017/1954) — uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals ↗

08Questions

Questions people ask before cropping

What size must a residence card photo be in Schengen area?

35 × 45 mm. 70–80% of photo height.

How many pixels is 35 × 45 mm when printed?

413 × 531 px (300 dpi) · 827 × 1063 px (600 dpi).

How much of the frame should the head take?

70–80% of photo height.

What background does this document need?

Plain light background.

What can’t be fixed here for free?

Hard shadows and uneven light on the face. A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given. Clothing and pose. Shoulders out of frame, body turned away from the camera. AI fixes this from the same photo — you see the result before paying.

How many photos fit on one 10×15 cm sheet?

4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.