Schengen Area · visa
Schengen visa photo: one standard, 29 countries
Every Schengen member state uses the ICAO 35×45 mm photo standard for visa applications: head filling 70–80% of the frame, neutral expression, light grey background, taken within the last 6 months.
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 413×531 px JPEG
- Background
- light grey
- Head height
- 70–80%
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: Some member states and visa centres add their own digital-upload specifics. We default to the strictest interpretation (no background editing, exact ICAO geometry) so the same photo works at any consulate.
How our Schengen Visa photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official Schengen Visa specification (35×45 mm, 413×531 px, light grey background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a Schengen Visa photo?
A Schengen visa photo is a 35×45 mm colour photograph following the ICAO standard: face occupying 70–80% of the frame, neutral expression, plain light grey background, taken within the last six months. The same print standard is accepted by all 29 Schengen member states.
Digital upload requirements vary between consulates and outsourced visa centres (VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS), so always check your centre's portal for pixel dimensions. The printed 35×45 mm photo, in two identical copies, is the constant across every Schengen application.
Check your photo against the standard here. Digital pixel requirements vary by consulate and visa centre, but the 35×45 mm print from our sheet is accepted everywhere.
Schengen Visa photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 413×531 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 413×531px JPEG |
| Background | light grey |
| Head height | 70–80% of frame height |
| Digital upload | accepted |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- Digital requirements vary by member state and visa centre, but the 35×45 mm ICAO print standard is universal.
- Background editing rules differ per member state; we default to no editing.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
Schengen Visa photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
Schengen Visa photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (413×531px)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 413×531px
- Plain light grey background, evenly lit
- Head filling 70–80% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your Schengen Visa photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a file sized for the official upload and a print sheet for the times you need paper.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official Schengen Visa requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
Are Schengen visa photo rules the same for every country?
The print standard is: 35×45 mm, ICAO geometry, light background. Digital upload sizes differ per consulate or visa centre (VFS, TLS), so check your centre's portal. The printed photos from our sheet meet the universal requirement.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last 6 months, and it should reflect your current appearance. Reusing the photo from an old visa is a common rejection reason.
How many photos do I need?
Most applications ask for two identical photos. The print sheet gives you four 35×45 mm copies with cut lines.
Glasses, head coverings, smiling?
Neutral expression with mouth closed; no glare on glasses and eyes fully visible; head coverings only for religious or medical reasons with the full face shown from chin to forehead.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07