Is the Schengen visa photo spec the same for every country?

Yes. All 29 Schengen states use the same ICAO Doc 9303 35×45 mm specification for short-stay (Type C) visa applications. One compliant photo works at any Schengen embassy. The only differences are at the application-process level — which centre accepts what, digital vs printed copies — not the photo itself.

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

35 × 45 millimetres (3.5 × 4.5 cm). At 300 DPI that is 413 × 531 pixels. The face must occupy 32–36 mm chin to crown — roughly 70–80% of the photo height. Anything outside that range is rejected.

Can I use my passport photo for a Schengen visa application?

If your passport photo follows the same 35×45 mm ICAO spec and was taken within the last 6 months, yes — but most applicants bring fresh photos because passport photos are often older than that. Two identical printed copies are required at most VFS or TLScontact appointments.

What background colour do Schengen embassies require?

Plain white or light grey. Off-white and very light blue are widely accepted but pure white is the safest. Avoid any pattern, gradient, or coloured backdrop — those reject automatically. France and Switzerland specifically prefer light grey over pure white because fine hair edges halo against white and confuse the biometric template.

Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?

No. Since 2016, EU and Schengen guidance removed the exception for prescription glasses because frames cause reflections and partial face occlusion that interfere with facial recognition at automated border e-gates. Glasses must be removed for the photo even if you wear them daily.

Where can I print a Schengen visa photo?

Any high-street photo lab, supermarket photo kiosk, or online service like Photoweb / Cewe / Cheerz. The photo must be printed on photographic paper (not inkjet on plain paper) at 300 DPI minimum. With PassportPic.ai you generate the file at home for ~€2 of printing versus €10–25 at a photographe agréé.

Do Schengen embassies accept digital photo uploads?

Increasingly yes, but it varies by application centre. The Spanish BLS portal, German VFS, and several others accept digital JPEGs in addition to two printed copies. Iceland's online visa portal is photo-upload-first. Always check the specific centre handling your application before printing.

How recent does the photo need to be?

Within the last 6 months. Schengen embassies cross-check against your passport photo and current appearance. Significant change in hair colour, weight, facial hair, or glasses prescription compared to your passport ID page can trigger a re-submission request even with a fresh photo.

What is the most common reason a Schengen visa photo is rejected?

Three reasons dominate: face too small (under 32 mm chin to crown), non-neutral expression (smile or visible teeth), and background problems (off-white, patterned, or hair haloing against pure white). PassportPic.ai checks all three before you print.

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Schengen Visa Photos One Spec, 29 Countries

All 29 Schengen states accept the same 35 × 45 mm ICAO Doc 9303 photo. One compliant file prints for any embassy — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordics, all of them. AI checks every requirement in under 30 seconds.

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The Schengen visa photo spec

Codified in EU Regulation 2019/1157 and ICAO Doc 9303. Every Schengen embassy reviewer uses these rules.

RequirementSpecWhat it means in practice

Dimensions

35 × 45 mm (≈ 413 × 531 px @ 300 DPI)Identical across every embassy — one print works at all 29.

Face height

32–36 mm chin to crown (70–80% of photo)Reviewers measure with a ruler if needed. PassportPic.ai centres the face automatically.

Background

Plain white or light greyOff-white and very light blue are also widely accepted; patterns and dark backgrounds always fail.

Expression

Neutral — mouth closed, no smileStricter than the US. Slight resting expression is fine; visible teeth or active smile is not.

Glasses

No glasses, including prescriptionUpdated 2016 EU guidance. Removed even if you wear them daily. Religious head coverings allowed.

Photo age

Taken within the last 6 monthsEmbassies compare against your passport photo and recent appearance. Significant change → re-take.

Quantity at appointment

2 identical printed photosMost VFS / TLScontact centres want two. Bring a digital copy on a USB stick as backup.

The same spec also applies to long-stay national (D) visas issued by individual Schengen states.

Find your embassy

All 29 Schengen states

Apply via the embassy of the country you'll spend the most time in (or your first entry if equal). Each page shows that embassy's specific submission quirks.

🇦🇹Austria 🇧🇪Belgium 🇧🇬Bulgaria 🇭🇷Croatia 🇨🇿Czech Republic 🇩🇰Denmark 🇪🇪Estonia 🇫🇮Finland 🇫🇷France 🇩🇪Germany 🇬🇷Greece 🇭🇺Hungary 🇮🇸Iceland 🇮🇹Italy 🇱🇻Latvia 🇱🇮Liechtenstein 🇱🇹Lithuania 🇱🇺Luxembourg 🇲🇹Malta 🇳🇱Netherlands 🇳🇴Norway 🇵🇱Poland 🇵🇹Portugal 🇷🇴Romania 🇸🇰Slovakia 🇸🇮Slovenia 🇪🇸Spain 🇸🇪Sweden 🇨🇭Switzerland

Bulgaria and Romania joined Schengen at air/sea borders in March 2024 and land borders in January 2025; they accept the same 35 × 45 mm spec. The links above point to their passport-photo pages while we ship dedicated visa pages.

Embassy-specific quirks

Same spec, six things that still differ

The 35 × 45 photo is identical everywhere. Submission process, lighting tolerance, and digital-upload support are not.

France

No glasses, including prescription. Plain light grey background preferred over pure white — fine hair haloes against white and is the #1 unforced rejection reason.

Germany

Biometric template strictly enforced — face exactly 70–80% of photo height. Submit through VFS centres in most countries; some Goethe-Institut bookings need the photo printed on photographic paper, not inkjet.

Switzerland

Some Swiss representations request light grey background specifically (not pure white). Always verify with the TLScontact centre handling your application before printing.

Iceland & Norway

Strictest on lighting — under-eye and chin shadows from overhead lighting reject more often here than at southern embassies. Use diffuse frontal light.

Italy

Photos must be taken within the last 6 months and look unmistakably like you today. Significant change in hair colour, weight or facial hair triggers a closer review even with an in-date photo.

Spain

Spanish consulates increasingly accept the digital photo via the BLS / VFS portal in addition to two printed copies. Format: JPEG, 35×45 mm equivalent at 300 DPI minimum.

FAQ

Schengen visa photos, answered

Nine questions covering 90% of what trips applicants up.

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