Schengen Visa Photo Online

A Schengen visa photo is a biometric photograph that must adhere to strict regulations. The color photo must be 35 x 45 mm and have a plain, light-colored background. The face must cover 70–80% of the image, and you must maintain a neutral facial expression. The picture must be no older than six months.

Schengen Visa Photo Requirements

The photo specifications for a Schengen visa follow the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and cover aspects such as size, quality, facial expression, and more. This section summarizes them all.

Schengen visa photo size

Photographs for a Schengen visa must measure 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height (or 1,38 x 1,78 inches). Additionally, the applicant’s face must take up 70–80% of the image. 

Your face and upper torso should be visible but not too zoomed-in or far away

Quality

Your photo should be taken at 600 DPI (dots per inch) to ensure it’s sharp, in focus, and reflects your natural skin tones. The photograph must have proper contrast and brightness and no shadows across your face or in the background.

The photo must have proper lighting and reflect natural skin tones. Blurry, over or underexposed photographs will be rejected.

Attire and accessories

Dark-colored clothes without patterns, for example, plain navy blue, black, or burgundy, are recommended to avoid blending with the light backdrop. You can wear jewelry (as long as it doesn’t reflect light or obscure your face). Still, head coverings are acceptable only if worn for religious purposes.

Examples of unacceptable attire (white, visible patterns) and proper clothes.

Facial expression and posture

A neutral facial expression is required. Ensure your eyes are fully open and your mouth closed. Portrait-style photos aren’t allowed, so you must face the camera directly. Moreover, the top part of your shoulders should be visible.

Keep a neutral facial expression with your eyes fully open and your mouth closed.

Hair and makeup

Your hair and bangs mustn’t obscure your eyes, eyebrows, or the oval of the face (ears don’t need to be visible). If you want to do makeup, opt for a natural look that doesn’t change your skin tone or facial features. Avoid shimmers, glossy-finish products, and fake eyelashes.

 Keep the hair off your face and opt for natural makeup that doesn’t change your facial features.

Glasses

Only thin-framed, clear glasses with non-reflective lenses are acceptable. The frames shouldn’t obscure the eyes or eyebrows in any way. If possible, remove the glasses.

Ensure the glasses don’t cause reflections and obscure your eyes and eyebrows.

Children

When taking a child's photo for a Schengen visa, remember that the child must be the only subject present. You can't hold your child, and they're not allowed to have toys in their hands. The child should look directly at the camera and maintain a neutral facial expression (as much as possible).

Children must be the only subject in the picture and look at the camera with their mouths closed and eyes open.

Schengen visa photo: Matte or glossy?

You can print Schengen visa photos in either matte or glossy finish using high-quality photographic paper. Ensure the prints have no creases, ink marks, or other damage.

Are the Schengen visa photo guidelines the same for all member countries?

The visa photo requirements are the same for all Schengen member countries. However, a Schengen visa isn’t the same as a national visa; it lets you transit or stay in any of the 29 countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days.

Important: Not all European countries are part of the Schengen area. For example, a flight from the UK to France will be considered an external flight, and a Schengen visa won’t be enough to enter.

Schengen Visa Photo Online with PhotoAiD

You can take a visa photo at home with the help of our Schengen visa photo tool and in-house photography experts. The process is simple, won’t take longer than a few minutes, and you can be sure the photo will be accepted—or you’ll get a 200% refund.

Here’s what it looks like:

1. Take a photo

First, find a well-lit room to ensure the photo is high-quality. If possible, ask someone to photograph you or place your phone on a flat surface (a table or window sill). Maintain a neutral facial expression and look directly at the camera lens. Don’t worry about the background; our editor will automatically remove it.

2. Upload it to our tool

When you’re satisfied with the result, load the photo into our tool with the button below. You can also download our app, PhotoAiD® for iOS or PhotoAiD® for Android, and complete the process entirely on your phone.