Take 100% Compliant Schengen Visa Photos at Home

Your Ultimate Guide to Schengen Visa Photos

If you're from any of the 106 countries that require a European visa to explore the Schengen countries, you've come to the right place. Read on to learn about detailed requirements (e.g., size specifications) and other finer points your photos must meet to get accepted. 

Schengen visa photo guidelines

Just as with any other travel paperwork, your Schengen visa application photo needs to adhere to strict rules set by European Union authorities. Don't gamble on the possibility of your application being turned down. Ensure you're clued up on these essential requirements before you snap that photo.

Here at PhotoAiD®, we’ve created this comprehensive guide that will help you understand all you need to know about a photo that meets all the official criteria—and have to take your own photo for a Schengen visa!

Unpacking Schengen visa photo guidelines

• Color: Must be in color, reflecting your natural skin tones
• Recency: The photo should have been taken within the past six months and reflect your current looks
• Image clarity: The applicant’s face must be sharp and clear, without pixelation, or shadows and with uniform lighting
• Filters: Any type of social media filter is unacceptable
• Background: Choose a plain, light-colored background. It’s recommended to opt for gray
• Dimensions: The photo should measure 35x45 mm (3.5x4.5 cm or 1.38x1.78 inch), with the head filling 70–80% of the whole image
• Print Quality: The photo must be printed on high-quality matte or glossy photo paper
• Resolution: The minimum resolution should be 300 DPI
• Digital Alterations: Strictly prohibited

Important: Currently, it’s impossible to apply for your Schengen visa online, but the European Commission is planning to introduce such a possibility in the future. As for now, you’ll need 2 identical photos printed on high-quality paper. 

The finer details of photos for a Schengen visa

Your Schengen visa photo may be rejected not only if it’s the wrong size but also if it fails to meet more specific guidelines mandated by the European authorities. Learn more about these additional requirements below.

Important: Using passport-size photos for your visa application isn’t recommended as they may not meet all Schengen-specific requirements.

Schengen visa photo—size specifications

Securing compliant Schengen visa photos in the required size (35x45 mm or 1.38x1.78 inches) is crucial, given that most photo centers in the US only cater to photos for official documents used in America.

Moreover, you must take into consideration additional Schengen visa photo size requirements.

As you can see in the visual example above, a close-up of your head must fill 70–80% of the whole picture, and the length of your head (from the bottom of the chin to the top of your hair) must fit between 32–36 mm. 

Also, a clear white space must be even on both sides of the image. 

Digital providers of Schengen visa photos

To find a local spot where you can take your visa photos, it’s best to do a quick “Schengen visa photo near me” search.

But remember that Schengen visa photos may not be common in the country you’re in, and you won’t have a guarantee that your pictures meet the official guidelines.

Instead, leave it to mobile and online apps dedicated to photos for all types of official documents.

Not only do you save time and money, but you can rest assured your application won’t be rejected due to a non-compliant photo. 

Have a look at the table we’ve created and compare the most important features of these popular photo booth apps.

 

Don’t risk delaying your visa application process by submitting unacceptable photos. With PhotoAiD®, you can leave your worries behind.