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PHOTO GUIDE

Portugal Schengen Visa Photo Requirements (Type C)

Photo requirements for a Portugal short-stay Schengen visa (Type C): the photo size, background, and face-position conditions to meet for the application. The width follows the EU ICAO photograph guidelines at the width band described below, with the face at the required proportion.

Checked: 2026-08-15

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Editorial illustration for preparing a Portugal visa photo

Key photo requirements

Photo size and shooting rules

These are the photo rules for a Portugal short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — the visa for short stays. National visas (Type D) for longer stays, residence, work, or study follow a different document list on the Portugal MFA (vistos.mne.gov.pt) portal and are not covered here.

The Portugal MFA required-documentation page lists only 'Passport Photograph' and states no dimensions, background colour, age, or face ratio. Its biometric-identifiers page references the International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, which links that 'Passport Photograph' to the EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF hosted by the European Commission as the Schengen visa photo standard. Under that PDF the format is 35–40 mm in width with the face taking up 70–80% of the photograph, no more than 6 months old, on a plain light-coloured background, colour neutral with natural skin tones, high-quality colour printed on photo-quality paper (black-and-white is not acceptable). No chin-to-crown millimetre figure is stated in either source, so frame by the 70–80% face ratio. This service prepares the print in exactly that format. The common shooting rules below are drawn from the same EU ICAO guidelines and Schengen/ICAO guidance.

The number of prints and the exact submission steps are set by the office that accepts applications where you live. Confirm the live checklist on the official Portugal MFA page for your country of residence before you book or print. Fingerprints and a live photo are captured separately at the appointment as biometric identifiers; children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting but must still attend, and a compliant photo is part of the file.

  1. Recency: no more than 6 months old; must look like you today.
  2. Quality: colour, sharp focus, high quality, no creases or ink marks. Digital captures printed on photo-quality paper at high resolution.
  3. Background: plain light-coloured (a plain light grey can work if even). Avoid busy scenes and strong shadows on the face or behind the head.
  4. Lighting: even light, natural skin tones, appropriate brightness and contrast; no flash reflection on skin, no red-eye.
  5. Pose and expression: look straight at the camera; face square-on, not tilted; eyes open and not covered by hair; neutral expression, mouth closed; alone in the frame.
  6. Glasses: eyes fully visible; no tinted lenses; no flash reflection on the lenses; frames must not cover the eyes. Remove glasses if those conditions are hard to meet.
  7. Head covering: only for religious reasons, and the full face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face must still be clear.
  8. Editing: keep brightness and crop adjustments that do not change how you look. Avoid contour reshaping, eye or nose changes, and heavy beauty filters. The photo must remain realistic with natural skin tones.
Neutral photo preparation illustration

Photos for children

Children need a photograph that meets the same quality rules: recency, a colour photo, a plain light-coloured background, and the child alone in the frame. The basis here is the ICAO general rules: the Portugal MFA publishes no child-specific photo rules and no separate numeric face-size table for children, and its biometric-identifiers page references International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, so the EU ICAO photograph guidelines apply to children as well. Under those guidelines the child must appear alone in the frame with no chair backs, toys, or other people visible, looking at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed.

The Portugal MFA pages and the EU ICAO photograph guidelines do not publish a separate, age-based face-size table for children (unlike some other Schengen states, which publish a relaxed range for young children). Treat the face-ratio rule above and the plain light-coloured-background rules as applying to children too, unless the office that accepts your application tells you otherwise. Minors need their own photograph under the same quality rules.

Fingerprint and live-photo capture rules for children (for example, that under-12s are exempt from fingerprints, and prints taken within the last 59 months may be reused) are part of the application process rather than the photo specification. The office that accepts your application can confirm the current biometric procedure for children.

Illustration of preparing a child visa photo

Common mistakes and how to fix them

These are the mistakes to avoid with a Portugal visa photo, and how to fix them.

Portugal-specific risks: a width outside the stated band; the face under 70% or over 80% of the image; a dark or patterned background (the EU ICAO guidelines ask for plain light-coloured); shadows on the face or behind the head; flash reflections on the face; a black-and-white photo (colour is required); tinted or reflective glasses; a tilted head or portrait-style framing; a photo older than 6 months or that no longer matches your current appearance; a low-resolution print.

Because the Portugal MFA required-documentation page states only 'Passport Photograph' with no numbers, the safest reading is the EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF, which the biometric-identifiers page reaches via its ICAO reference. When in doubt, frame by the face ratio above on a plain light-coloured background.

  1. Head cut off or tilted: retake with more distance, face square-on to the camera, both edges of the face visible.
  2. Uneven colour, shadows, or blow-out on the background: use a plain light background and even light so the face and the back of the head stay free of hard shadows.
  3. Glasses glare: remove glasses if practical, or use clear lenses and lighting that shows the pupils fully.
  4. Old photo: replace any portrait older than six months or that no longer matches your appearance.
  5. Heavy beauty filters: start again from a natural image; do not change face shape or skin texture.
  6. Pixelated print: export a high-resolution colour file and print on photo-quality paper.
Illustration of common visa photo mistakes

Create your Portugal digital photo

Create a digital JPEG for your Portugal visa application in your browser.

Create your photo

What this tool creates

  • the required face photo (for printing)

Also available as an iPhone appOpen the App Store

Check before you apply

Photo requirements can change. Before you submit, re-check the Portugal MFA required-documentation and biometric-identifiers pages on vistos.mne.gov.pt and the checklist of the office that will accept your application. The Portugal MFA states only 'Passport Photograph' without millimetres; the stated width band, the face-ratio rule, and the 6-month recency follow the EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF, reached via the biometric-identifiers page's ICAO reference, and the Schengen/ICAO common standard.

shoumei.org helps users prepare photo files based on publicly available requirements. It does not submit visa applications, and it is not an official government service, Schengen authority, embassy, consulate, VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International service. Please verify the latest requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or visa application center before submitting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a Portugal Schengen visa photo?

The Portugal MFA required-documentation page states only 'Passport Photograph' without millimetres. Its biometric-identifiers page references International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, which links the visa photo to the EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF; under that PDF the format is 35–40 mm in width with the face at 70–80% of the photograph. This page prepares a print in that 35×45 mm range. Confirm the live checklist of the office that accepts your application before you submit.

Is a specific face height (chin-to-crown) required?

No fixed chin-to-crown millimetre figure is stated. The Portugal MFA pages give only 'Passport Photograph', and the EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF states a proportional face size rather than a millimetre height. Frame by that ratio together with the plain light-coloured-background rule.

Can I reuse a photo from another application?

Only if it already meets every rule: the width band above, the required face proportion, a plain light-coloured background, a colour photo taken within 6 months, matching your current appearance, sharp focus, even lighting, and no flash reflections on the face. Matching the outer size alone is not enough, and the photo must still look like you today.

What background colour is required?

The EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF (the standard the Portugal MFA biometric-identifiers page reaches via its ICAO reference) asks for a plain light-coloured background with no patterns and no shadows behind the head or across the face. White is not required as long as the background is plain, light, and even; white is the safest choice. Avoid dark, coloured, or patterned backgrounds.

May I wear glasses?

The Portugal MFA pages do not list a glasses rule. The EU ICAO photograph guidelines PDF, which the biometric-identifiers page references, requires the eyes to be fully visible. If you wear glasses, there must be no flash reflection on the lenses, no tinted lenses, and no frames covering the eyes. Otherwise remove the glasses for the photo.

Can I take the photo with a smartphone?

The Portugal MFA pages do not name a required camera. If you use a smartphone, the final print must still meet every rule: the width band above, the required face proportion, sharp focus, even lighting, plain light-coloured background, and high-quality colour printed on photo-quality paper (black-and-white is not acceptable).

Do the same rules apply to children?

Yes for quality. Portugal MFA publishes no child-specific photo rules and no separate age-based face-size table for children; its biometric-identifiers page references International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, so the ICAO general rules apply to children: the child appears alone in the frame with no chair backs, toys, or other people visible, looking at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed. Minors need their own photograph under the same recent, colour, light-background rules.

Official and submission sources