Schengen Visa Photo Specifications
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Face height (chin to crown) | 32–36 mm |
| Face coverage | 70–80% of the frame |
| Background | Light grey or white (uniform, no pattern) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, no smile |
| Glasses | Not recommended (banned in most countries) |
| Biometric | Yes — ICAO 9303 compliant |
| Number of photos | 2 identical photos (some consulates require 1) |
| Recency | Within 6 months |
| Print quality | High resolution, sharp focus, photo-quality paper |
What Is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa (Type C) allows you to travel freely across all 29 Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It's one of the most commonly applied-for visas in the world, with over 10 million applications per year. Whether you're visiting Paris, Rome, Berlin, or Amsterdam — you need the same type of visa and the same photo format.
All 29 Schengen Countries
Your Schengen visa photo works for applications to any of these countries:
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇪🇪 Estonia
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇱🇻 Latvia
- 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇹 Malta
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇵🇱 Poland
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- 🇷🇴 Romania
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
Detailed Photo Requirements
Face and Expression
Your face must be centered and occupy 70–80% of the photo. Expression must be completely neutral — no smile, no raised eyebrows, mouth closed. Both eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera. The face must be evenly lit with no shadows on either side.
Background
The Schengen standard requires a uniform light-colored background. Light grey is the safest choice as it's accepted by all consulates. Some countries (like France) also accept light blue. Pure white may cause issues at certain consulates — light grey avoids this problem entirely.
Glasses
While the Schengen regulation doesn't explicitly ban glasses, most individual countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, UK) have banned them since 2017–2018. To be safe, always remove glasses for your Schengen visa photo.
Head Coverings
Head coverings are not allowed unless worn for religious reasons. Even then, the full face must be visible from chin to forehead, and both edges of the face must be clearly visible.
Photo Quality
The photo must be printed on high-quality photo paper — not regular printer paper. It must be sharp, in focus, with no red eye, no pixelation, and no ink marks. Colors must be natural with correct skin tones.
Schengen Visa Types That Need This Photo
- Type C — Short-stay visa (tourist, business, family visit) — up to 90 days
- Airport transit visa (Type A) — for transit through Schengen airports
- National visa (Type D) — long-stay visa (study, work) — same photo format
- Multiple-entry Schengen visa — same photo requirements
Country-Specific Variations
While the base standard is the same (35×45mm, biometric), some consulates have slight preferences:
| Country | Background Preference | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | Light grey or light blue | Moderate |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Light grey only (no white) | Very strict |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Light grey only | Very strict |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | White or light grey | Moderate |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | White | Moderate |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Light grey | Strict |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Light grey | Strict |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Light grey or white | Moderate |
Common Rejection Reasons
- Wrong background color — Must be light grey or white, not patterned
- Glasses worn — Remove all eyewear
- Face too small or too large — Must be 32–36mm chin to crown
- Shadows on face or background — Lighting must be even
- Expression not neutral — No smile, mouth closed
- Photo too old — Must be within 6 months
- Low print quality — Must be on photo paper, not regular paper
- Red eye or blurry — Must be sharp and clear
- Wrong dimensions — Must be exactly 35×45mm
- Head tilted or turned — Must face camera directly
Cost Comparison
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| Photo booth (Europe) | €5–€12 |
| Professional photographer | €10–€25 |
| Visa agency photo service | €15–€30 |
| WithSwag (at home) | €3.00 |
How to Take a Schengen Visa Photo at Home
- Stand in front of a plain, light-colored wall with even lighting
- Use natural daylight — avoid direct flash which causes shadows
- Keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
- Remove glasses, hats, and head coverings
- Have someone take the photo at eye level, or use a tripod
- Upload to WithSwag and select the EU 35×45mm size
- Use AI background removal to set the correct light grey background
- Download and print on photo-quality paper
Create Your Schengen Visa Photo
35×45mm with correct light grey background. Biometric-compliant for all 29 Schengen countries. Ready in 2 minutes.
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