On this page
Specifications
Every measurable requirement, in the same order on every country page. Bracketed numbers point to the official source below.
| Printed photo | ||
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm | [4] |
| Head height (chin to crown) | Face 70–80% of the photo height (≈ 32–36 mm on a 45 mm photo) | [2] |
| Eye position | Not specified by the authority | |
| Background | Plain, light-coloured (member states accept white or light grey) | [2] |
| Print resolution | High resolution; digital photos printed on photo-quality paper | [2] |
| Paper | High-quality photo paper; no ink marks or creases | [2] |
| Copies required | 1 — consulates may require only one photograph | [3] |
| Digital upload | ||
| Pixel size | Not specified by the authority | |
| File format | Not specified by the authority | |
| File size | Not specified by the authority | |
| Colour | Colour, with natural skin tones | [2] |
| Validity | ||
| Taken within | 6 months | [2] |
| Also specified | ||
| Wording of the EU-published guideline | States only the width, 35–40 mm; every member state's checklist specifies the 35 × 45 mm print | [2] |
| Member states | 29 — 25 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland | [6] |
| Live photo at the appointment | Where fingerprints are collected in person, the photo may be taken live instead of submitted | [3] |
| Digital upload example (Belgium via VFS Global) | JPEG, at least 240 × 320 px, 3:4, ≤ 120 KB, 300 dpi | [5] |
Rules
What is allowed and what is refused. Same ten rows on every page; “Conditional” means allowed only as described.
| Expression | Required | Neutral expression, mouth closed, looking directly at the camera [2] |
| Eyes | Required | Open and clearly visible; no hair across the eyes; no red-eye [2] |
| Glasses | Conditional | Eyes must be clearly visible: no flash reflection on the lenses, no tinted lenses, frames must not cover any part of the eyes; avoid heavy frames [2] |
| Head covering | Conditional | Not permitted except for religious reasons; the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown [2] |
| Hair | Conditional | Must not fall across the eyes [2] |
| Ears | Not specified | — |
| Clothing | Not specified | — |
| Retouching / filters | Not specified | — |
| Shadows and objects | Not allowed | Uniform lighting; no shadows across the face or behind the head, no flash reflection on the skin; plain background with nothing else in the frame [2] |
| Infants and children | Conditional | Same rules; the child must appear alone — no chair backs, toys, hands or other people visible [2] |
Notes and common mistakes
One standard, written down twice
The Visa Code Handbook says a photograph “must fulfil the standards set out in the photograph specifications” of ICAO Doc 9303, and that photos which do not comply “shall not be accepted” [3]. The Commission’s own applicant page turns that into a plain-language guideline [1][2]; the rules on this page are that guideline, with member-state checklists cited only where they add a practical detail.
Face proportion is the rule most home photos break
The guideline defines the framing as the face taking 70–80% of the photo, not as a millimetre figure [2]. On a 45 mm-high print that is roughly 32–36 mm from chin to crown — crop tighter rather than re-shooting, and keep the head centred with both edges of the face visible.
Where the differences actually are
Member states differ on procedure, not on the photo: whether one or two prints are glued to the form, whether a live photo is taken at the visa centre, and the pixel and file-size limits of any online form [4][5]. Those belong on each country’s page; the photo itself does not change.
Countries with the same photo size
35 × 45 mm Australia Canada Egypt France Germany Ireland Italy Japan Netherlands New Zealand Pakistan Portugal Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand United Kingdom
Questions
Is the photo the same for every Schengen country?
Yes for the rules that matter — size, face proportion, background, expression, glasses and recency come from the same EU Visa Code and ICAO guideline. A consulate or visa centre may add practical details (number of prints, digital-file limits for an online form), which we list on that country's page where they exist.
The EU guideline says 35–40 mm wide — why does everyone say 35 × 45 mm?
The ICAO guideline the Commission publishes gives only a width range; every member state's own checklist specifies the standard 35 × 45 mm print, and that is what consulates and visa centres accept.
Do I still need a printed photo if I apply through a visa centre?
Often not. Where fingerprints are collected in person, the Visa Code Handbook allows the photo to be taken live at the appointment, and several member states' checklists say so explicitly — but bring one unless your checklist says otherwise.
Is a white background accepted?
The guideline asks for a plain, light-coloured background; member states accept white or light grey. Avoid patterns, shadows behind the head and anything else in the frame.
Sources
Every value above is taken from the following official documents. If a source disagrees with this page, the source is right — tell us. Report an error.
- [1] Applying for a Schengen visa — European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs ("A photo in compliance with ICAO standards")
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en - [2] ICAO photograph guidelines (the document the Commission page links to)
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/5bb16566-c8c2-4afb-b038-530f488cb72a_en?filename=icao_photograph_guidelines_en.pdf - [3] Handbook for the processing of visa applications (Visa Code Handbook I), point 3.3 "The photograph" — Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 4319
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/1d79f44d-49ba-4847-951e-129f924b1051_en - [4] Checklist: Applying for a Schengen visa for tourism — Government of the Netherlands (member-state example: 3.5 × 4.5 cm, ≤ 6 months, white or light background)
https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/checklist-schengen-visa-tourism - [5] Photo specifications — VFS Global for Belgium (official visa service provider; digital-file example)
https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/belgium/iran/english/pdf/photo-specification.pdf - [6] Schengen area — European Commission (29 member states)
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area_en