Malta Schengen Visa Photo Requirements (Type C)

Photo size and shooting rules

This page covers the photograph for a Malta short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — the visa for transit through or a stay in the Schengen states of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Long-stay national visas (Type D) and residence permits follow different processes and are not covered here. Malta is a member of both the EU and the Schengen area.

The photograph format is 35 × 45 mm (35 mm wide × 45 mm high). The photo specification published on Malta's visa application pages through VFS Global, the designated provider, sets the full composition: the face from the tip of the chin to the crown takes up 70–80% of the photo — a face height of 32–36 mm, which may not fall below the stated minimum — centred, with voluminous hair fully depicted without shrinking the face; the head is neither at an angle nor turned; the expression is neutral with the mouth closed and the eyes open, looking directly at the camera; the background is one colour and bright (ideally a neutral grey), pattern-free, contrasting with the face and hair, with no shadows; the photo is sharply focused, evenly illuminated without reflections or red eyes, neutral in colour with natural skin tones, printed on high-quality paper at a resolution of at least 600 dpi, with no creases or impurities; the eyes stay clearly recognisable — no reflections, tinted lenses, or sunglasses, and no frames covering the eyes; and headwear is not permitted except for acknowledged religious reasons, with the face visible from the lower tip of the chin to the forehead. This service prepares a 35 × 45 mm print.

Malta's Ministry for Foreign Affairs publishes the Schengen visa application forms on its Schengen visa applications portal, and applications are lodged at Malta's embassy or consulates, or at visa application centres operated by Malta's external provider where one is used; at the centres the photograph is also captured as part of biometrics, and applicants are instructed to carry one photograph as per the specification. If your trip covers several Schengen states, apply at the country of the main destination (longest stay), or the first country of entry if the stays are equal.

• 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.

Photos for children

Children meet the same size and quality rules as adults: the same 35 × 45 mm format, the same bright one-colour background, the same neutral expression with the mouth closed and the eyes open, and the child alone in the frame. For children below one year of age, the visa centre guidance states that the child need not be present for biometrics and two photographs of the child are submitted with the application.

Malta publishes no age-banded child face-size table, so prepare the child's photo at the same outer size (35 × 45 mm) and to the same composition rules as for adults unless the accepting office says otherwise. No toys or other objects may appear in the frame.

Fingerprint exemptions for children are part of the application and biometrics process rather than the photograph specification. The mission or visa centre that accepts your application can confirm the current biometric procedure for children.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

These points combine the Malta photo specification wording with general ICAO-style preparation checks.

Malta-specific risks: a print that is not 35 × 45 mm; the face under the stated minimum height or above the 70–80% band; a busy or patterned background, or a background without contrast to the hair; shadows on the face or behind the head; red eyes; a blurred, low-contrast, or pixelated print; unnatural colour; a creased or ink-marked photo; an open mouth, tilted head, closed eyes, or hair across the eyes; tinted glasses or flash reflection on the lenses; headwear other than religious. The common failure patterns and fixes follow the ICAO guidelines.

• 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.

Applying: where the photo is submitted

This page covers the photograph specification only; appointments, fees, and biometrics are out of scope. Applications for Malta are lodged at Malta's diplomatic missions or consular posts, or at visa application centres operated by Malta's external service provider where one is used. At the centres the photograph may be captured as part of biometrics, so carrying a compliant print per the specification keeps the process smooth; confirm the current document list with the mission or centre that will receive your application.