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? 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 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 Understanding how Schengen visa photos compare to other standard passport-style photos. 
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) 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 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 Many visa applications are delayed or rejected due to minor photo errors. Avoid these common mistakes: 
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. 
Belgium visa photo Belgium short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, plain light background, colour, matching your current appearance. Per the Belgian (Dofi/IBZ) visa photo rules, Belgian mission checklists, and ICAO guidelines. 
Bulgaria visa photo Bulgaria short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, full colour, light-coloured background, full-face with the face at 70–80% of the photo. Bulgaria issues uniform Schengen visas from 31 March 2024. Per the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.bg) Visa for Bulgaria page and ICAO guidelines. 
Croatia visa photo Croatia short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, colour, light monochromatic background, head about 2/3 of the photo and no more than 36 mm high. Per the Croatian Ordinance on Visas (Art. 11), the current MFEA Schengen pages, and ICAO guidelines. 
Czechia visa photo Czechia short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, white background, one colour photo matching your current appearance. Per the Czech MFA (mzv.gov.cz) mission checklists and ICAO guidelines. 
Denmark visa photo Denmark short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, plain light background, colour, within 6 months. Per the Danish immigration authorities (nyidanmark.dk) short-stay visa checklists, the Visa Code Handbook photograph rules, and ICAO guidelines. 
Estonia visa photo Estonia short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, plain light-coloured background, taken within 6 months, face 70–80% of the photo. Per the Estonian MFA Schengen visa page (which links the common ICAO-based photograph guidelines) and official application-route checklists. 
Finland visa photo Finland short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 36 × 47 mm — Finland's own format — head 32–36 mm, light one-coloured (grey recommended) background, within 6 months. Per the MFA visa page (delegating to the Police photo standard) and official mission checklists. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
Hungary visa photo Photo requirements for Hungary short-stay Schengen visas (Type C). The Hungarian MFA asks for a colour passport-size photo taken within 6 months and does not publish millimetre dimensions nationally. Check the checklist of the mission that receives your application. 
Iceland visa photo Iceland short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm passport photo. Per the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (island.is) visa supporting-documents page and ICAO guidelines. 
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. 
Latvia visa photo Latvia short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: one colour photograph 35 × 45 mm, not older than 6 months, uniform background, face taking up 70–80%. Per the Latvian MFA documents-required page (updated 2026) and the PMLP photo-quality requirements. 
Liechtenstein visa photo Photo requirements for Liechtenstein short-stay Schengen visas (Type C). One colour photo (good quality, white background) is required, but neither Liechtenstein nor Switzerland publishes millimetre dimensions — the specification is delegated to the ICAO guidelines. Applications are received by Swiss representations. 
Lithuania visa photo Lithuania short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, colour, very bright monochrome background, within 6 months. Per the Lithuanian Migration Department photo requirements, the MFA visa pages, and the VFS Global (designated provider) checklist. 
Luxembourg visa photo Luxembourg short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, head height 32–36 mm on mission checklists, colour, plain light background. Stated by the Luxembourg MFA mission network (mae.lu) and ICAO guidelines. 
Malta visa photo Malta short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, face 32–36 mm (70–80%), bright one-colour background, at least 600 dpi. Per the VFS Global (Malta's designated provider) photo specification and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs portal. 
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 35×45 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. 
Poland visa photo Poland short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, within 6 months, face at 70–80%, uniform light background, head covering removed. Per the Polish government portal (gov.pl) visa application pages and ICAO guidelines. 
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. 
Romania visa photo Romania short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo: 35 × 45 mm, not older than 6 months, head 70-80% of the photo. Stated directly by the Romanian MFA eVisa portal (eviza.mae.ro). 
Slovakia visa photo Photo requirements for Slovakia short-stay Schengen visas (Type C). The Slovak MFA requires a full-face colour photo conforming to ICAO standards and publishes no millimetre dimensions. The 3×3.5 cm figure applies to national long-stay visas (Type D) only — do not confuse the two. 
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. 
Sweden visa photo Sweden short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) photo rules: most applicants attending in person have the photo captured digitally at the appointment as biometrics. A printed photo is required only in specific cases (Migrationsverket: representative applications; centre checklists: children and non-attending applicants). 
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.
- Schengen visa photos are most commonly 35 × 45 mm, but the exact size depends on your destination, application country, jurisdiction, and provider.
- Photo requirements can vary by embassy, consulate, country, or visa application center.
- Spain's BLS US tourist route is one exception: it requires 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) photos; other routes, such as Finland (36 × 47 mm), have their own specs, and some routes take the photo at the appointment.
- 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.
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, shoumei.org 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 shoumei.org guarantee acceptance?
No. shoumei.org 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
- European Commission - EU visa policy Checked: 2026-06-30
- European Commission - Applying for a Schengen visa Checked: 2026-06-30
- France-Visas - Photo FAQ Checked: 2026-08-20
- France-Visas - Photograph quality PDF Checked: 2026-06-30
- Government.nl - Requirements for ID photos Checked: 2026-08-20
- BLS Spain Visa USA - New York tourist visa photo specification Checked: 2026-08-20
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