Hungary Schengen Visa (Type C) Photo Requirements

Photo size and capture rules

This page covers the general photo requirements for Hungary short-stay Schengen visas (Type C, up to 90 days in any 180-day period). Long-stay national visas (Type D) and residence permits are separate procedures. Hungary is a member of both the EU and the Schengen area.

The Hungarian MFA's consular information requires "one passport-size colour photo (not older than 6 months)" to be attached to the application, without publishing millimetre dimensions. The photo size therefore follows the checklist published by the mission that receives your application; where missions specify differently, the receiving mission's instruction prevails.

For quality, use a frontal, full-face colour photograph; the ICAO photograph guidelines (35-40mm width, face 70-80% of the photo, plain light background, no shadows) are the reference standard. Common rules on background, lighting, posture, glasses and head coverings follow the ICAO guidance. Re-check the receiving mission's current instructions before you submit.

• Recency: no more than 6 months old; must look like you today.
• Quality: colour, sharp focus, high quality, no creases or ink marks. Digital captures printed on photo-quality paper at high resolution.
• 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.
• Lighting: even light, natural skin tones, appropriate brightness and contrast; no flash reflection on skin, no red-eye.
• 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.
• 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.
• Head covering: only for religious reasons, and the full face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face must still be clear.
• 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.

Biometric data collection

When you lodge the application in person at a mission, fingerprints and a facial image are captured as biometric data at lodgement (per the Hungarian MFA consular information). This is separate from the photograph attached to the application file.

Under the common Schengen rules, biometric data (10 fingerprints and a digital facial image) are mandatory for visa examination, and fingerprints are stored for 59 months and can be reused. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting as the general rule (confirm with the receiving mission).

Children's photos and common mistakes

Hungary does not publish a separate face-size table for children. Children also need a photograph meeting the same quality rules (within 6 months, colour, resembling the child); age-related relaxations follow the general ICAO guidelines.

Hungary-specific risks: because no national size is published, preparing a photo based on another country's instructions or on generic assumptions. Always check the checklist of your receiving mission first. Photos older than 6 months or retouched photos may also be rejected.

• Head cut off or tilted: retake with more distance, face square-on to the camera, both edges of the face visible.
• 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.
• Glasses glare: remove glasses if practical, or use clear lenses and lighting that shows the pupils fully.
• Old photo: replace any portrait older than six months or that no longer matches your appearance.
• Heavy beauty filters: start again from a natural image; do not change face shape or skin texture.
• Pixelated print: export a high-resolution colour file and print on photo-quality paper.