Schengen Visa Photo Size — 35 x 45 mm
All twenty-nine Schengen states apply one common photo standard, so a photo made for a French visa is equally valid at the German, Italian or Spanish consulate. It is 35 mm by 45 mm, with the head occupying 32 mm to 36 mm of the height — about 70-80% of the frame, noticeably tighter than a UK or US crop.
The background is the detail people miss: light grey, not white. Consulates check the face outline against it, and a pure white wall is a documented rejection reason.
The measurements
- Photo size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Head height
- 32–36 mm
- Background
- Plain light grey or off-white
- Resolution
- 300 DPI · 413 x 531 px
Source: EU Council common visa photo standard (ICAO 9303)
Head occupies 70–80% of the frame. Accepted by all Schengen consulates.
Make your Schengen visa photo now
Upload your photoFace the camera, plain background, good light. JPG or PNG.
What would you like to do next?
How to get a Schengen visa photo
- Photograph the subject face-on in diffuse light against a plain light-grey surface.
- Upload below — "Schengen — Visa" is already selected.
- The tool crops to 35x45 mm and places the head inside the 32-36 mm band.
- Download the image for the online appointment system, or the sheet to print and take to the appointment.
Rules a crop cannot fix
- Taken within the last six months and recognisably current.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, looking directly at the camera.
- Both eyes open and clearly visible; no hair across the eyes.
- Glasses permitted only with clear lenses, thin frames and no reflection. Tinted or sunglasses are refused.
- No head covering except for religious reasons, and the full face from chin to hairline must still show.
- Plain light grey background, uniformly lit, with no shadows and no border.
Schengen visa photo questions
Yes. The 35x45 mm specification comes from a common EU Council standard, so the same photo is accepted by every Schengen consulate. Only the number of copies requested varies.
Light grey. The standard specifies a plain light background and consulates read a pure white one as making the head outline indistinct — it is one of the more common rejections.
Within six months, and it has to look like you at the appointment. A photo that predates a significant change in appearance is refused even if it is technically in date.
Usually two, but it depends on the consulate and the visa type. Check the appointment confirmation — the tool produces a print sheet with several copies on it.
Only clear, thin-framed glasses with no glare and with both eyes fully visible. Anything tinted is refused, and removing them avoids the argument entirely.
Most Schengen states use the same 35x45 mm photo for residence permits and national long-stay visas, but the issuing authority is national — confirm against the specific form.