Passport photos
🇪🇺 Schengen Area Visa Photo Requirements
A rejected photo wastes your appointment time and delays your application. Here are the exact specifications.
Size
35 × 45 mm
Head size
Face must occupy 70–80% of the photo (from chin to top of hair/head covering)
Background
Plain white or light-coloured
Expression
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses
No glasses (ICAO standard since 2015)
Recency
Taken within the last 3 months
Quantity
2 identical photos
Head covering
Only for religious reasons; face must be fully visible
What to do
- White or very light background with no patterns
- Front facing, eyes at 2/3 of photo height from bottom
- Full face and top of shoulders visible
- Sharp focus, good contrast, no pixelation
- Natural skin tones — no heavy filters
What NOT to do
- No glasses or sunglasses of any kind
- No hats or caps unless for religious reasons
- No dark backgrounds or coloured backgrounds
- Do not lean head to the side
- No smile — Schengen embassies are strict about neutral expression
Pro tips
- 1Schengen countries may have slightly different requirements — check your specific embassy
- 2France and Germany are particularly strict; use a certified photo studio
- 3Some VFS centres offer an on-site photo service — convenient and guaranteed to meet spec
- 4Print two copies: one for the form, one for your passport