Schengen Visa Photo Requirements 2026 – Size, Background & Rules

The Schengen Area operates under unified short-stay visa rules established by the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009). The photo standard referenced across all Schengen visa application processes is ICAO Doc 9303 — the same standard used for biometric passports worldwide.

• Size: 35mm wide × 45mm tall
• Background: Plain white or off-white — no patterns, gradients, or shadows
• Head height: 32–36mm (face occupying approximately 70–80% of the frame)
• Expression: Neutral — mouth closed, both eyes open, looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: Not permitted
• Head coverings: Permitted for religious or medical reasons only; full face must be visible
• Recency: Taken within the last 6 months
• Format: Colour photo, sRGB colour space, minimum 300 DPI, sharp focus, no shadows

ICAO Doc 9303 is a set of specifications published by the International Civil Aviation Organization that defines how biometric travel document photos must look. Most countries in the world — including all Schengen states — have adopted it as the basis for their passport and visa photo rules.

For practical purposes, the ICAO standard means the photo captures the full face from the crown of the head to the top of the shoulders, with the face positioned centrally and the eyes at a specific height within the frame. The background must be a plain, uniform colour with no objects, gradients, or shadows visible.

The 35×45mm size is the most widely used ICAO format globally. It is used by Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and all other Schengen states for both national passports and Schengen visa applications.

The photo standard for a Schengen visa is the same ICAO 35×45mm format used for most European passports. The difference is in the submission context: a Schengen visa photo is submitted to a consulate or visa application centre alongside your visa application, while a passport photo is submitted when renewing or applying for a passport at the relevant national authority.

A potential source of confusion: national ID cards in some Schengen countries use slightly different rules. For example, France uses a light grey background for its carte nationale d'identité, and Greece uses a 40×60mm format for its national ID. These national ID rules do not apply to Schengen visa photos — always use 35×45mm with white or off-white background for any Schengen visa application.

As of 2026, the Schengen Area consists of 27 countries:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Note that Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are Schengen members but are not EU member states. The Schengen visa applies to the whole area, including these four non-EU countries.

For most Schengen short-stay visa applications processed through embassies, consulates, or authorised visa application centres (VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS International), physical printed photos are required at the appointment. Two identical prints are typically expected.

Some Schengen countries operate online pre-registration or e-visa portals where a digital photo upload is requested before the appointment. For digital submissions, the file should still match the 35×45mm proportions, white background, and ICAO expression requirements. A JPEG file at a minimum of 600×800 pixels at 300 DPI is the typical digital submission specification.

The distinction between a consulate and a commercial application centre (such as VFS Global) matters here. VFS Global and similar centres handle appointment booking and document collection on behalf of the consulate, but the photo rules are set by the issuing Schengen state — not by the application centre. The ICAO standard applies regardless of which route you use.

• Photo older than 6 months at the time of application submission
• Glasses present — no exceptions under the ICAO standard
• Background not plain white or off-white (coloured wall, visible shadow)
• Head too small or too large (outside 32–36mm range)
• Shadow on face or background from direct flash or single-side lighting
• Expression not neutral — visible smile, frown, or raised eyebrows
• Eyes not fully open or not looking directly at the camera
• Photo not in colour — black-and-white is never accepted
• Wrong dimensions — e.g. submitting a 51×51mm US-format photo for a Schengen application
• Head covering that is not for religious or medical reasons
• Photo clearly edited or retouched (spots removed, background painted over)