EU/Schengen Visa Photo Requirements 2026
Complete guide to eu/schengen visa photo specifications, size, background, and compliance rules. Updated 2026-01-10.
EU/Schengen visa photos must be 35x45mm with a white or light-coloured background, and the face must occupy 70-80% of the vertical frame. All photos must comply with the ICAO 9303 machine-readable travel document standard, which is uniformly enforced across all 27 Schengen area member states. Digital submissions should be 600x750 pixels at 300 DPI in JPEG format, with file sizes between 50 KB and 5 MB. These requirements are established by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs and apply to tourist, business, and transit Schengen visas alike. PassportPic produces fully ICAO-compliant photos for any Schengen application, backed by our 100% acceptance guarantee.
Photo Specifications
| Photo Size | 35mm x 45mm |
| Pixel Dimensions | 600 x 750 pixels |
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Background Colour | White or light-coloured |
| Head Size | 70-80% of frame height |
| File Format | JPEG |
| File Size | 50 KB - 5 MB |
| Document Type | Visa |
Photo Requirements
Facial Expression
Neutral expression, looking directly at the camera
Glasses
Allowed if eyes are clearly visible with no glare
Head Covering
Not allowed unless for documented religious reasons
Additional Requirements
- Must comply with ICAO 9303 standard
- Photo must be taken within the last 6 months
- Face must occupy 70-80% of the vertical frame
- No shadows on the face or background
- Photo must be sharp and in focus
- Same requirements apply to all 27 Schengen area countries
Common Rejection Reasons
Wrong background
The background must be white or light-coloured — plain and uniform, with no patterns, textures, shadows, or other people visible. Stand about half a metre in front of the wall so your body does not cast a shadow onto it.
Head the wrong size or off-centre
Your head must occupy 70-80% of the frame height, centred, facing the camera square-on. Arm's-length selfies usually fail this measurement — have someone take the photo from 1.2–2 metres away, or use a tool that crops to the specification automatically.
Glasses problems
The rule for EU/Schengen Visa photos: allowed if eyes are clearly visible with no glare. Glare, tinted lenses, or frames covering the eyes are among the most common causes of rejected photos worldwide.
Wrong expression
Required: neutral expression, looking directly at the camera. Smiling with visible teeth, raised eyebrows, or a tilted head can fail automated biometric checks.
Shadows or uneven lighting
Light must fall evenly across your whole face — no shadows on the face or the background, no glare or red-eye from flash. Face a window or place two light sources at 45° either side of your face.
Wrong size or file format
Prints must measure exactly 35mm x 45mm; digital submissions need 600x750 pixels in JPEG format. A photo that looks fine but is sized or compressed wrong is rejected automatically.
For the full list with fixes, read the 12 most common passport photo rejection reasons, or follow our step-by-step at-home photo guide to avoid them from the start.
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Last updated
2026-01-10