Back to Home

PHOTO GUIDE

Schengen Visa and Photo Guides

Understand what a Schengen visa is, how the photo is checked, and why country or visa-center instructions can change the final photo size.

All guides

What is a Schengen Visa? What is a Schengen Visa? A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that lets a traveler visit the Schengen Area, a group of European countries that have largely removed border checks between them, for tourism, business, transit, or family visits. For many nationalities, a single uniform visa (Type C) covers the whole area for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. Schengen Visa Photo Requirements Summary Schengen Visa Photo Requirements Summary A quick summary of the standard photo specifications for Schengen visa applications. Use this checklist as a general reference. Schengen Visa Photo vs. Passport Photo Schengen Visa Photo vs. Passport Photo Understanding how Schengen visa photos compare to other standard passport-style photos. How to Prepare a Schengen Visa Photo on Your Phone How to Prepare a Schengen Visa Photo on Your Phone Take or choose a recent face photo with good lighting. Use a plain, light background (white, off-white, or light grey). Align your face with the on-screen guide in the app. Crop the photo to the size confirmed for your application route (commonly 35 × 45 mm). Export the print-ready sheet or digital upload-ready file. Check the latest official instructions from the embassy or visa center before submitting. Background: Plain, light-colored (white, off-white, or light grey) Background: Plain, light-colored (white, off-white, or light grey) Plain, light-colored (white, off-white, or light grey) Backgrounds with patterns, textures, household objects, or strong color variations. Uneven lighting causing shadows across the face, nose, or background. Glasses / Head Covering Glasses / Head Covering Not recommended. If worn, eyes must be clearly visible with no glare, reflections, tinted lenses, or frames covering the eyes. Only for religious or medical reasons; face must be fully visible Glare or thick frames obscuring the eyes. Removing glasses is highly recommended. Hair covering the eyes, eyebrows, or ears, which can affect facial recognition. Common Schengen Visa Photo Mistakes to Avoid Common Schengen Visa Photo Mistakes to Avoid Many visa applications are delayed or rejected due to minor photo errors. Avoid these common mistakes: Editorial illustration for preparing an Austria visa photo Austria visa photo Austria short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo requirements: 35×45 mm print, head about 2/3 (max 36 mm chin-to-crown), single-colour light ideally grey background, colour, within 6 months. Based on the BMI Passbild-Kriterien and ICAO criteria cited by BMEIA. Editorial illustration for preparing a France visa photo France visa photo France short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo requirements: 35 mm width, face 70–80% (32–36 mm chin-to-forehead), plain light-coloured background, recent colour photo. Based on the France-Visas ISO/IEC photo PDF and ICAO guidelines. Editorial illustration for preparing a Germany visa photo Germany visa photo Germany short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo requirements: 35×45 mm print, face 70–80% (32–36 mm chin-to-crown), bright plain background, recent photo. Based on the official German missions biometric photo PDF and ICAO guidelines. Editorial illustration for preparing a Greece visa photo Greece visa photo Greece short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 mm width, face 70–80%, plain light background, within 6 months. Per Greece MFA Annex VII and ICAO guidelines. Editorial illustration for preparing an Italy visa photo Italy visa photo Italy short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo requirements: 35×45 mm is the format confirmed by most Italian missions, with a white background, face 70–80%, photo within 6 months. The exact size can vary by application location (for example, US Detroit requires 2×2 inch, some Canada consulates 35×40 mm, and UK London does not publish exact dimensions). Based on Italian missions ICAO guidelines and the European Commission photo standard. Editorial illustration for preparing a Netherlands short-stay Schengen visa photo Netherlands visa photo Photo preparation for a Netherlands short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) depends on your application route. When you submit a photo it must be 35x45 mm with the face at 26-30 mm chin-to-crown, a white or light-coloured background, and no more than 6 months old (NetherlandsWorldwide and Dutch government ID photo standards); some external-provider routes capture the photo at the appointment instead. National Visa (Type D) is out of scope. Editorial illustration for preparing a Portugal visa photo Portugal visa photo Portugal short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35–40 mm width, face 70–80%, plain light-coloured background, within 6 months. Portugal MFA refers to ICAO. Editorial illustration for preparing a Spain visa photo Spain visa photo Spain short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo requirements: colour photo of the face on a light background, face 70–80% of the image, 35–40 mm width, within 6 months. Based on the Spanish MAEC consular template and the EU ICAO photograph guidelines. Editorial illustration for preparing a Switzerland visa photo Switzerland visa photo Switzerland Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 mm width, face 70–80%, plain light background, within 6 months. Swiss FDFA photograph requirements and ICAO guidelines.

Before using these guides

Schengen photo rules are not controlled by one universal upload screen. Use these guides as preparation, then check the embassy, consulate, VFS, TLScontact, or BLS page for your actual destination and appointment location.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Schengen visa photo requirements?

The most common requirement is a 35 × 45 mm photo, taken within 6 months, against a plain light background, with your face centered and occupying 70–80% of the image, neutral expression, and eyes open. However, the exact size can vary by destination, application country, jurisdiction, and provider — the app confirms the spec for your route.

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

The most common physical size is 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), but the exact size depends on your destination, application country, jurisdiction, and provider. For example, Finland specifies 36 × 47 mm, and the Spain BLS US tourist route requires 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm). For digital uploads, pixel requirements vary by portal.

Is 35 × 45 mm always required for Schengen visas?

35 × 45 mm is the most common format, but it is not universal. The size depends on your destination, application country, jurisdiction, and provider. For example, the Spain BLS US tourist route requires 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm), and Finland specifies 36 × 47 mm. The app confirms the size for your route.

Do all Schengen countries use the same photo requirements?

Most routes use the common 35 × 45 mm and ICAO rules, but the exact spec depends on destination, application country, jurisdiction, and provider. Some routes differ — for example, Finland (36 × 47 mm) or the Spain BLS US tourist route (2 × 2 inch) — and some routes take the photo at the appointment. Digital upload specifications also vary by portal.

Is this an official Schengen visa app?

No, this app is an independent helper tool. It is not affiliated with any government, embassy, consulate, or official visa application center like VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International.

Does this app guarantee acceptance?

No. This app helps format your photo based on published specifications, but acceptance is determined by the embassy, consulate, or visa center. Requirements may change, so always check the latest official guidance.

Official and submission sources

Prepare your Schengen visa photo on your phone

Create photo files for common Schengen visa requirements using your iPhone. Formatted for printing or digital export.

Download on the App Store
Download on the App Store