Schengen visa photo: size and requirements

Schengen visa applications commonly use a 35 × 45 mm photo with the face centred on a plain, light background. The European Commission guide allows a width of 35–40 mm with the face covering 70–80% of the photo, and national rules add their own detail. VisaPhoto’s template follows the French biometric reference: 35 × 45 mm with 32–36 mm from chin to crown.

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Photo size & positioning

Schengen Visa dimension templateFront-facing portrait with width, height, head-height and top-gap dimension arrows. Eye height is shown only when specified for this format.35 mm413 px45 mm531 pxHead height32–36 mm377.6–424.8 pxSuggested top gap2.3–5.4 mm26.6–63.7 px
Illustrative template. Head guides estimate visible head height. Check anatomical crown measurements manually.

Photo requirements

Photo size
35 × 45 mm (VisaPhoto template; the EU guide allows a 35–40 mm width)
Pixels
413 × 531 px at 300 DPI for printing
Head height
32–36 mm from chin to crown, excluding bulky hair (French national reference)
Face coverage
70–80% of the photo (European Commission guide)
Framing
Full head and upper shoulders, face centred
Background
Plain light grey or off-white
Recency
A recent photo that shows your current appearance; check your consulate’s time limit
Glasses and expression
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open; no tinted glasses

Photo rules

  • Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.
  • Keep both eyes open and clearly visible, with no hair across them.
  • Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. With clear glasses, avoid glare and frames over the eyes; some consulates ask you to remove them.
  • Wear a head covering only for religious or medical reasons, with the whole face visible.
  • Use even lighting with no shadows on the face or the background.
  • Show your natural appearance: no filters, beauty retouching or changes to facial features.

Common reasons for rejection

  • Head too small or too large for the 32–36 mm band
  • Shadows on the face or behind the head
  • Background that is patterned, dark or not plain
  • Smiling, an open mouth or a tilted head
  • Glare on glasses or hair covering the eyes
  • Wrong format, such as a 2 × 2 inch photo instead of 35 × 45 mm
  • Blurry, pixelated or low-contrast print

3 steps with VisaPhoto

  1. 1

    Upload a selfie

    Take a clear, front-facing photo with your phone and upload it.

  2. 2

    Generate and check

    AI creates a portrait in this format; framing and image quality are checked.

  3. 3

    Review and download

    Compare the result with the official rules, then download your JPEG files.

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Example

Original selfie 1Reframed photo example 1
Illustrative example in the Schengen 35 × 45 mm frame.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

A 35 × 45 mm frame is the common format, and VisaPhoto exports it at 413 × 531 pixels for 300 DPI printing. The European Commission guide itself allows a width of 35–40 mm, so check the size your consulate asks for.

Can I use a photo taken with my phone?

You can upload a clear phone selfie to VisaPhoto: face the camera in soft, even light and do not use filters. VisaPhoto then creates a portrait with a plain background and crops it to the template. If your consulate wants a printed photo, print the download at its full 35 × 45 mm size without scaling.

What background colour is required?

A plain, light background with no pattern or shadows. VisaPhoto’s Schengen template uses light grey or off-white; some countries specify a particular shade, so check your consulate’s instructions.

Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?

Tinted glasses are not suitable. Some consulates allow clear glasses if your eyes are fully visible with no glare, but removing them is the safer choice.

Can I use a VisaPhoto portrait for a Schengen visa?

VisaPhoto creates an AI-assisted portrait from your selfie and checks its framing and image quality against this template. It cannot promise acceptance: compare the result with your consulate’s rules before you apply, and ask them if you are unsure whether an AI-assisted portrait is suitable.

Official sources

Sources checked on 2026-09-20.