Schengen Visa Photo Requirements
Updated for 2026. Based on EU Visa Code (Regulation EC 810/2009) and ICAO 9303.
Photo specifications
| Print size | 35 x 45 mm |
| Digital size | 413 x 531 pixels |
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Background | Plain white or light grey |
| File format | JPEG |
| File size | 20 KB – 500 KB |
| Head height | 32 – 36 mm (70–80% of photo height) |
Rules
- Expression: Neutral. Mouth closed, no smile.
- Glasses: Not allowed. Most Schengen consulates now reject glasses in photos.
- Eyes: Both eyes must be open and clearly visible.
- Ears: Not required to be visible. The ICAO standard and EU Visa Code do not require ear visibility. Hair naturally covering ears is accepted.
- Forehead: Should be visible. Hair should not obscure the face.
- Head coverings: Only allowed for religious reasons. Face must be visible from forehead to chin.
- Background: Plain white or light grey. Uniform, no patterns or shadows.
- Lighting: Even, no shadows on face or background.
- Recency: Taken within the last 6 months.
Common rejection reasons
- Shadows on face or background
- Wearing glasses
- Head too small or too large in frame (must be 70–80%)
- Background not uniform white/grey
- Photo is blurry or low contrast
- Expression not neutral
Which countries accept this format?
The same photo requirements apply across all 29 Schengen Area countries: 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, and Switzerland.
Official sources
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