ETIAS Travel Authorisation Photo Guide 2025/2026

ETIAS — the European Travel Information and Authorisation System — is a pre-travel screening requirement being introduced by the European Union. It applies to nationals of countries that currently have visa-free access to the Schengen Area, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

ETIAS is not a visa. It is a travel authorisation — a security check carried out before you board your flight, similar to the US ESTA or the UK ETA. Once approved, an ETIAS authorisation will be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and will allow multiple entries into the Schengen Area for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).

The system is operated by eu-LISA (the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice) in conjunction with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).

The ETIAS application is submitted online via the official ETIAS portal. You will be required to upload a digital biometric photograph as part of the application. Based on the published ICAO and EU biometric standards that ETIAS follows, the photo requirements are:

• Dimensions: 35mm wide × 45mm tall (ICAO biometric standard), at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi for a sharp digital image.
• Background: Plain white or light plain background. No shadows, patterns, or colour gradients.
• Expression: Neutral. Mouth closed. Both eyes fully open and directed at the camera.
• Glasses: Not permitted. ICAO standards, which ETIAS follows, prohibit glasses in biometric photographs.
• File format: JPEG (.jpg). Check the ETIAS portal for exact file size limits at the time of application.
• Head coverings: Permitted only for religious or medical reasons, provided the full face from chin to crown is fully visible.
• Recency: The photo should represent your current appearance. Take it as close to your application date as possible.
• No retouching: Digital filters, beauty retouching, or any alterations to your appearance are not permitted.

The specifications above are based on published ICAO and EU biometric documentation. Verify the exact requirements on the official ETIAS portal when it opens.

ETIAS applies to nationals of countries that currently travel visa-free to the Schengen Area. This includes citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, and many others.

The following travellers are exempt from ETIAS:

• EU, EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and Swiss citizens.
• Nationals of countries that already require a Schengen visa (ETIAS does not replace the visa requirement).
• Holders of a valid Schengen long-stay visa, residence permit, or EU long-term residence permit.

Children under 18 and adults over 70 may benefit from a reduced ETIAS fee. Consult the European Commission ETIAS information page for the current fee schedule.

Because ETIAS is a digital application with a photo upload, a clean, correctly formatted ICAO biometric photo is essential. Follow these steps to prepare:

1. Use a plain white or very light plain background. Avoid shadows, patterns, and coloured walls. A white wall with even lighting works well.
2. Ensure even, front-facing lighting. Natural light from a window in front of you (not behind you) is ideal. Avoid harsh flash shadows on the face or background.
3. Face the camera directly. Keep your head upright, look straight into the lens, and maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
4. Remove glasses. ICAO standards prohibit eyewear in biometric photos.
5. Use a biometric photo tool to verify the crop and dimensions. The face should occupy the correct proportion of the frame — typically 70–80% of the photo height from chin to crown.
6. Export as JPEG and check that the file size is within the limits specified on the ETIAS portal at the time of application.