Schengen Area Visa
Last verified 2026-04-25 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs (visa policy); applied by each Schengen member state's consular networkStandards: EU Visa Code — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Annex II · ICAO Doc 9303 · ISO/IEC 19794-5Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.
- Pixel size
- 413 × 531 px
- Print size
- 35 × 45 mm · 300 DPI
- Background
- white#FFFFFF
- Face height
- 71–80% · target 77%
- Eye line
- 62%–74% from bottom
- File size limit
- 240 KB
Note: ICAO 9303; neutral expression; glasses not permitted
Coverage: This document covers the short-stay (Type C) Schengen visa photo, which is uniform across the 29 Schengen member states. National long-stay (Type D) visas and residence permits may add country-specific rules — check the destination consulate.
Dimensions
- Print size: 35 × 45 mm, aspect ratio 7:9
- Pixel size: 413 × 531 px (35 × 45 mm @ 300 DPI)
- DPI: Minimum 300 DPI for digital; minimum 400 DPI for printed photo paper
- File format / max file size: JPEG (.jpg) most common; typical max 240 KB (varies by consulate / national e-visa portal — France-Visas, VFS Global, etc.)
- Color mode: sRGB color only — black-and-white not accepted
- Quantity (print): 2 identical photos required
Head position
- Head height (chin to crown): 32–36 mm, ≈ 71%–80% of frame height
- Eye line from bottom of frame: ≈ 62%–74% of frame height (eyes sit in the upper portion)
- Head position: Centered, full-face, directly facing camera — no tilt or rotation
- Shoulders: Square to camera (not part of the biometric crop area)
Background
- Recommended: Light grey, plain, uniform
- Also accepted: Light / off-white at many consulates (varies)
- Avoid: Pure white (over-exposure risk), patterns, gradients, shadows
- Subject contrast: Clothing must contrast clearly with the background
Expression
- Expression must be neutral, mouth closed — no smile, no frown
- Both eyes open, looking directly at camera
- Hair must not cover the eyes; ideally not covering the eyebrows
- Ears visible where possible (not strictly required)
- Even, diffused lighting; no shadows on face or behind head; no red-eye
Accessories
- Eyeglasses: GENERALLY NOT PERMITTED. Per EU consular guidance updates from 2022 onward, glasses are allowed only if all of the following hold: fully transparent lenses, no reflections, eyes fully visible, frames thin and not covering any part of the eye. Many consulates now refuse glasses entirely — best practice is to remove them.
- Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Prohibited
- Religious head coverings: Permitted; must be plain, single-color, contrast with the background; full face from chin to forehead must be visible
- Hats / non-religious head coverings: Prohibited
- Decorative contact lenses: Prohibited
- Heavy makeup: Avoid features that alter natural appearance
Other rules
- Photo must be taken within the last 6 months and reflect current appearance
- Must be biometric / ICAO 9303 compliant — many consulates run automated facial-image quality checks at submission
- No digital filters, retouching, or AI enhancement
- Subject must be alone in frame
- Color photo only
Notes
- Background color is the most-varied rule. EU guidance recommends light grey, but several member states' consulates accept (or even prefer) plain light / off-white. Code currently uses the default light/off-white background; consulate-specific overrides may be needed.
- Glasses policy varies. A few consulates still accept transparent, non-reflective glasses; the safe baseline (and what this app enforces) is no glasses.
- Per-portal file-size and pixel limits differ. France-Visas, the German consular booking system, and VFS Global portals each apply their own digital constraints on top of the 35 × 45 mm baseline.
- The 71%–80% face-height range is the upper ICAO biometric band — meaningfully larger than the U.S. 50%–69% face crop.
Sources
Can I wear glasses for my Schengen visa photo?
Generally no. Per EU consular guidance updates from 2022 onward, glasses are only allowed if lenses are fully transparent with no reflections, eyes are fully visible, and frames are thin and not covering any part of the eye. Many consulates now refuse glasses entirely — best practice is to remove them. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are always prohibited.
Can I wear a head covering for the photo?
Religious head coverings are permitted, but must be plain, single-color, and contrast with the background. The full face from chin to forehead must be visible. Hats and non-religious head coverings are prohibited.
Can I smile in a Schengen visa photo?
No — a neutral expression is required, mouth closed, no smile and no frown. Both eyes open, looking directly at the camera. Many consulates run automated facial-image quality checks that gate on pose and expression.
How recent does the Schengen visa photo need to be?
Within the last six months and reflective of your current appearance. The photo must be biometric / ICAO 9303 compliant — no filters, retouching, or AI enhancement.
What size and background does the Schengen visa require?
Print size 35 × 45 mm (7:9), pixel target 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI (400 DPI for printed photo paper); JPEG, sRGB, color only — black-and-white is not accepted. **Light grey** background is recommended; light / off-white is also accepted at many consulates. Pure white risks over-exposure rejection. Typical portal ceiling ~240 KB (France-Visas, VFS Global, etc.); 2 identical printed photos are required for in-person submission.
Live validation
against the actual rulebook.
Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."
The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.
- Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
- Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
- File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
- Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.
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