Schengen visa photo requirements (35 x 45 mm)
Updated 2026-09-20
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.
Every Schengen state applies the same photo standard for short-stay (type C) visas: a recent colour photograph, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, taken against a plain light background, face centred and looking straight at the camera, neutral expression, no head covering except for religious reasons, and the head occupying roughly 70 to 80% of the height. The standard follows ICAO Document 9303, the same rules used for biometric passports, and national bodies publish it as a photo template (France's service-public.fr and Germany's Bundesdruckerei "Fotomustertafel" are the two cited here).
What differs is how you submit it. Most applications still go through a visa centre (VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS) with a printed photo, and many centres photograph you on site. Where a digital upload is required, the pixel and file-size limits are set by that centre or consulate's portal, not by the Schengen rules, and they vary. This guide gives the physical specification, the pixel equivalents at 300 dpi, and a preset that produces them; check the specific portal for its KB limit before uploading.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Print size | 35 x 45 mm (width x height) | service-public.fr |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 x 531 px (827 x 1063 at 600 dpi) | Bundesdruckerei template |
| Head size | Face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown (about 70 to 80% of the height) | Bundesdruckerei template |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months | service-public.fr |
| Colour and background | Colour; plain, light, uniform background with no shadows | service-public.fr |
| Expression and pose | Neutral, mouth closed, facing the camera, eyes open and visible | service-public.fr |
| Digital file format and KB limit | Set by each consulate or VFS portal; usually JPEG. Limits differ, so check the portal you use | schengenvisainfo.com (third-party overview) |
| Visa policy framework | Common rules for all Schengen states | European Commission |
Open the tool with these settings
Centre-crops to the 35:45 ratio and saves as JPEG at 300 dpi size.
Only if the portal states a maximum size; change the target to just under that number.
All tools linked here run in your browser; the photo is never uploaded to GivenTool.
The common specification
35 x 45 mm is the print size used by all 29 Schengen countries for visa applications and by most of them for passports and ID cards. At 300 dpi that is 413 x 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 x 1063. The face (chin to crown) should measure 32 to 36 mm on the print, which is 70 to 80% of the photo height, with the eyes roughly 60 to 70% of the way up. The photo must be no more than six months old, in colour, sharp, with even lighting and no shadows on the face or background.
Background: plain, light and uniform, typically light grey or off-white; pure white is accepted by some countries and rejected by others (Germany asks for a light, contrasting background, not white). Glasses are allowed if the eyes are clearly visible with no glare, but several consulates now ask applicants to remove them. Head coverings are permitted only for religious reasons and must leave the face visible from chin to forehead.
Digital uploads: limits vary by portal
There is no Schengen-wide digital photo rule. When a country or its visa centre offers online application with a photo upload (France-Visas, Italy's and Spain's VFS portals, some TLScontact centres), each sets its own accepted format (nearly always JPEG), minimum pixel size and maximum file size, which we have seen range from 100 KB to 5 MB. Do not rely on a number from another country's portal.
The safe approach: produce a 413 x 531 JPEG (or a larger 827 x 1063 version if the portal asks for a higher minimum), then, if the portal states a KB limit, compress to just under it. Both steps are linked below. The EU is rolling out a digital visa platform intended to unify online applications; until it is live for your country, the consular portal's rules apply.
Step by step
Take or choose a recent photo with a plain light background and even lighting, framed with space above the head. Open the image resizer with the Schengen preset; it crops the centre to the 35:45 ratio and outputs 413 x 531 JPEG. Frame the head in the middle before resizing because the tool does not detect faces.
Check the result against the template: head height about 70 to 80% of the frame, eyes in the upper middle. If the portal asks for a larger minimum, run the preset on the original again with exact pixels 827 x 1063. If it states a file-size limit, use the compressor with the target set slightly under it.
For a printed application, print the JPEG at 35 x 45 mm on photo paper (a 10 x 15 cm print holds several) or take the file to a photo shop.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Schengen photo size the same as the UK passport photo?
The print size is the same, 35 x 45 mm, and the composition rules are similar. The UK digital photo spec (600 x 750 px minimum) is a UK rule and does not apply to Schengen applications.
Can I use a white background?
It depends on the country. France accepts a plain light background; Germany asks for a light background that contrasts with the face and hair and rejects pure white. Light grey is the safest choice for all Schengen states.
Do I need to upload a photo at all?
Often not. Many applications are lodged in person at a visa centre with printed photos, and biometrics (including a photo) are captured there. Check whether your application route asks for an upload before preparing a digital file.
What KB limit should I compress to?
The one your portal states; there is no common Schengen number. If the portal does not state one, a 413 x 531 JPEG at 90% quality is about 60 to 120 KB, which no portal we have seen rejects.
Is the photo sent to GivenTool's servers?
No. Resizing and compression run in your browser; the file leaves your device only when you upload it to the visa portal yourself.
This guide summarises published requirements for convenience. It is not legal advice and GivenTool is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority's page is the only authoritative source.
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.