Schengen visa photo maker (35 x 45 mm)

Schengen visa photo requirements

Schengen visa photo requirements

Print size	35 x 45 mm
Head height (chin to top of head)	32–36 mm
Background	Plain white, off-white or another light, uncolored shade, in contrast to you, with no shadows or patterns
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed if there is no glare and your eyes are fully visible
Head covering	Only for religious reasons
How recent	Taken in the last 6 months (some consulates ask for 3 months)

• The photo must meet the ICAO Doc 9303 standard for travel document photos (EU Visa Code, Article 13)
• A color photo printed on photo-quality paper; not a copy or scan of another document
• Not retouched; face straight to the camera, eyes visible, face and hairline not hidden by a head covering
• How many photos you need depends on the consulate (often one); visa centers of some countries take a digital photo at your appointment instead

Official source: EU Visa Code — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, consolidated text of 28 June 2024 (Articles 10 and 13)

One photo standard, with local differences

A Schengen visa is issued by the consulate of the country you will spend the most time in, and each consulate publishes its own checklist. They all start from the same rule: the EU Visa Code says the photo must meet the ICAO Doc 9303 standard for travel document photos. That is why the size is the same everywhere: 35 x 45 mm, a frontal photo of your face on a light, plain background.

The details can still differ between consulates:

• Head size. German missions ask for the face to fill 70–80% of the photo, 32–36 mm from chin to crown, which is what this tool uses. Dutch visa photos follow Dutch passport rules instead, with a head of 26–30 mm.
• How recent. Six months is common; the German Embassy in London asks for three months.
• How many. Often one photo. Some visa centers take your photo digitally at the appointment and need none.

Check the checklist of the consulate or visa center that handles your application, and bring what it asks for.

Will I need a printed photo at all?

The EU is changing how visa photos are collected. Under the updated Visa Code, your facial image is taken live when you give your fingerprints at the consulate or visa center, and a printed photo is only needed where that does not apply. This comes with the revised Visa Information System, which the EU plans to have fully running by the end of 2026. Some visa centers already work this way: Dutch visa centers take a digital photo at your appointment. Until your consulate says otherwise, bring a printed photo that meets the rules; it costs little and avoids a second visit.

How to take a Schengen visa photo at home

1. Find a plain white or light gray wall with nothing on it. Avoid doors, frames and plants.
2. Stand about half a meter in front of it, so your shadow does not fall on the wall.
3. Light your face evenly: face a window in daylight, or a soft lamp. Turn off the flash.
4. Get ready. Take off hats and headbands (religious head coverings are allowed if your face is fully visible), move your hair away from your eyes and take off tinted or reflective glasses.
5. Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 meters, with the phone at your eye level and no zoom, portrait mode or beauty filter.
6. Look straight at the camera with your head level, eyes open and mouth closed.
7. Upload the photo above. The tool finds your face, sizes it to 32–36 mm, checks the rules and makes the print sheet.

What the tool checks for a Schengen visa

On the 35 x 45 mm frame the tool measures your head from chin to crown against the 32–36 mm range, and checks that you are centered and straight, that your eyes are open and your mouth is closed, that the photo is sharp, evenly lit and well exposed, and that the background is plain and light. It cannot see why you wear a head covering, so it asks you to confirm that rule, and it cannot judge glare on glasses reliably, so check your lenses yourself.

The tool keeps your own background, because consulates ask for photos that are not retouched and the Dutch rules say “unaltered by computer software”. It only crops, scales and straightens.

Common reasons Schengen visa photos are refused

• Wrong head size: a photo cut from a larger picture, with the head too small or too large.
• Shadows on your face or on the wall behind you.
• Background that is patterned, colored or too dark to contrast with your hair.
• Expression: a smile, an open mouth or raised eyebrows.
• Glasses with glare, tinted lenses or frames across your eyes.
• Copies: a photo scanned or copied from your passport or driver’s license.
• Old photos that no longer look like you, or older than the consulate allows.
• Black and white photos, or prints on plain paper with visible dots.

Printing your Schengen visa photos

Use Download print sheet with the 10 x 15 cm size. It places six 35 x 45 mm photos on one 10 x 15 cm (4 x 6 inch) sheet at true size, with cut guides. Order it as a standard color photo print at any photo counter, which is usually far cheaper than a studio passport photo, or print it at home on smooth photo paper at 100% scale. The print sheet maker explains how to keep the size exact. Cut along the guides, and do not staple or glue the photo to the form unless your consulate tells you to.

Photos for children

Children need their own photo for their own application. Babies and young children who cannot sit up can be photographed lying on a plain white sheet. Nobody else may show in the photo: the Dutch rules allow a supporting hand only if it is hidden, for example under the child’s clothing. They also relax the expression and head-position rules for children under 6; other consulates may be stricter, so take a few shots and pick the one with open eyes and a closed mouth. Our baby passport photo guide covers the details.

After the photo

A Schengen visa allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole area. Plan your trip with our Schengen calculator so you do not overstay, and use the photo checker if you already have a photo from a shop and want to check it against the same rules.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

A Schengen visa photo is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Your head, from the chin to the top of the head, should fill 70 to 80% of the height, which is 32 to 36 mm. German missions state these exact numbers, and they follow the ICAO standard that the EU Visa Code sets for all Schengen countries.

Is the photo the same for every Schengen country?

The standard is shared, the details are not. Every consulate asks for a recent 35 x 45 mm biometric photo on a light background, but the head size, how recent the photo must be and how many photos you bring can differ. The Netherlands, for example, uses its own passport rules with a smaller head. Read your consulate's checklist before you print.

How many photos do I need for a Schengen visa?

Usually one. German missions ask for one recent biometric photo with the application form. Some visa centers need none, because they take a digital photo of you at the appointment, as Dutch visa centers do. Print a sheet of six anyway, so you have spares for other forms or a second appointment.

Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?

Clear glasses are generally accepted if your eyes are fully visible, the lenses are fully transparent and there is no glare or shadow, as the Dutch rules put it. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not. Glare on lenses is the most common glasses problem, so take them off if you can.

Can I smile in a Schengen visa photo?

No. Consulates ask for a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, looking straight at the camera. The photo is used for face recognition, and a smile changes the shape of your face. Keep your face relaxed with your lips together.

How old can my Schengen visa photo be?

Most consulates accept a photo taken in the last 6 months, but some are stricter, and the German Embassy in London asks for one no older than three months. Take a new photo for each application so it matches how you look now, and never reuse the photo from your passport.

Does the background have to be white?

It has to be plain and light. German missions ask for white, off-white or a light uncolored background, and the Dutch rules allow white, light gray or light blue. White is accepted everywhere, so it is the safest choice. There must be no shadows, patterns or objects behind you.

Why does the tool keep my own background?

Consulates ask for photos that are not retouched or altered by software, so for Schengen visas the tool only crops, sizes and straightens your photo and checks the background you have. Stand in front of a plain white or light gray wall in even light, and the tool will check it for you.

Sources

1. EU Visa Code — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, consolidated text of 28 June 2024 (Articles 10 and 13) (opened September 30, 2026)
2. German Embassy London — Visa FAQ: requirements for passport photographs (opened September 30, 2026)
3. German Embassy Yaoundé — Schengen visa information sheet (opened September 30, 2026)
4. Netherlands Worldwide — Checklist: applying for a Schengen visa for tourism (opened September 30, 2026)
5. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland — Revised VIS project (opened September 30, 2026)
6. Netherlands Worldwide — Photo requirements for Dutch passports and identity cards (the rules Dutch visa photos follow) (opened September 30, 2026)

Last checked: September 30, 2026

passportvisapic.com is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority makes the final decision on every photo.