Schengen visa photo requirements: 35×45 mm, white or light grey background, head 32–36 mm from chin to crown, neutral expression, no glasses, photo taken within 6 months. Valid for all 27 Schengen member states. No AI face alteration. ICAO Doc 9303 compliant.

Schengen Visa Guide · Last verified: March 2026

Schengen Visa Photo Requirements 2026: Size, Format & What Gets Rejected

🇪🇺 27 Countries ✅ ICAO Compliant 💯 Money-back Guarantee

The Schengen visa photo requirements are standardized across all 27 member states. The core specs — 35×45 mm, white background, head 32–36 mm, no glasses — apply whether you're applying at a German, French, Spanish, or any other Schengen consulate. This guide covers every requirement, common rejection reasons, and how to get a compliant photo from home.

Written by the pixid.studio compliance team · March 2026. Requirements verified against EU Visa Policy (European Commission), last checked March 2026.

TL;DR: Schengen visa photo = 35×45 mm, white or light grey background, head 32–36 mm, neutral expression, no glasses, taken within 6 months. Identical for all 27 Schengen states. No AI retouching allowed. PixID auto-checks all specs — $4.99, 100% money-back guarantee.

Schengen Visa Photo Specifications 2026

RequirementSpecification
Photo size35 × 45 mm (width × height)
Head height (chin to crown)32–36 mm — face should fill 70–80% of the frame
BackgroundPlain white or very light grey — no patterns, no shadows
ExpressionNeutral — mouth closed, eyes open looking directly at camera
Glasses❌ Not allowed — EU/ICAO standard since 2015
Headwear❌ Not allowed except for documented religious reasons
Photo ageTaken within 6 months
Print sizeStandard 35×45 mm print (2 copies usually required)
Digital file (for online)JPEG, min 600×800 px, max 5 MB, under 240 KB for portal uploads
AI retouching❌ Not allowed — facial features must not be altered
StandardICAO Doc 9303, Part 3

2026 update — AI ban: EU consulates and Schengen embassies now use biometric screening software that detects AI-altered facial features (smoothed skin, reshaped jawline, AI-generated backgrounds). Photos with AI enhancement are rejected. PixID does not alter facial features — it only removes and replaces the background.

Schengen Photo Size vs US Passport Photo

SpecificationSchengen VisaUS Passport
Photo size35 × 45 mm51 × 51 mm (2×2 in)
Head height32–36 mm25–35 mm
BackgroundWhite or light greyWhite only
GlassesNot allowedNot allowed
ExpressionNeutralNeutral
Format standardICAO Doc 9303ICAO Doc 9303

Note: A single photo session cannot produce both a Schengen and a US passport photo — they have different dimensions and crop ratios. PixID supports both; select the correct document type before processing.

All 27 Schengen Countries — Same Photo Specs

The Schengen photo requirements are set by EU regulation and apply uniformly to all member states. You do not need different photos for different Schengen 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

Top 7 Schengen Visa Photo Rejection Reasons

Wrong size or crop

Photo is not exactly 35×45 mm, or head is outside the 32–36 mm range. Most common DIY mistake.

Off-white background

Cream, beige, light blue, or shadowed background. Must be pure white or very light grey, evenly lit.

Glasses

Any glasses — including prescription — are rejected under ICAO/EU standards since 2015.

AI-edited features

Smoothed skin, altered jawline, AI-generated background. Biometric scanners flag these since 2024.

Non-neutral expression

Open mouth, wide smile, raised eyebrows, squinting. Mouth must be closed, eyes fully open.

Photo too old

Photo taken more than 6 months ago. Consulates verify this at interview — use a recent photo.

Shadows on face or background

Side lighting casting shadows on one side of the face, or shadow on the background wall.

Schengen Visa Digital Photo — When You Need a JPEG

Most Schengen applications still require two printed 35×45 mm photos submitted with the paper application form. However, several countries now accept or require digital upload for some visa categories:

  • Germany — digital upload available via the German Mission portal for some visa types
  • Netherlands — digital submission via MVV and Short Stay portals
  • France — France-Visas portal accepts digital photo
  • Others — check the specific consulate website for your country of residence

PixID provides both: a print-ready 35×45 mm JPEG (300 DPI) and a 4×6 inch printable sheet with two photos — ready for both paper applications and portal uploads. File size is automatically optimized to meet portal requirements (under 240 KB).

How to Take a Compliant Schengen Photo at Home

  1. 1
    Set up a white background
    Use a white wall, a large sheet of white paper, or a white sheet. Make sure it's evenly lit — no shadows behind you.
  2. 2
    Face natural light directly
    Stand facing a window for natural front lighting. Avoid light from behind or the side — it creates shadows that consulate scanners detect.
  3. 3
    Remove glasses, neutral expression
    No glasses of any kind. Keep your mouth closed, look directly at the camera, eyes fully open.
  4. 4
    Upload to PixID and check compliance
    PixID.studio auto-checks background, face size, expression, and 100+ biometric criteria. Select "Schengen Visa" as your document type for exact 35×45 mm crop and head positioning.
  5. 5
    Download and print
    Download the 35×45 mm JPEG or the 4×6 printable sheet. Print at any photo lab or drugstore. Cut to size and submit with your application.

Get Your Schengen Visa Photo — $4.99

100% biometric compliance · ICAO 9303 · 100% money-back if rejected · Works for all 27 Schengen countries

Create My Schengen Photo

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. Head height from chin to crown must be 32–36 mm. This is the ICAO standard format and applies to all 27 Schengen member states.
Can I use the same photo for different Schengen countries?
Yes. The 35×45 mm, white background, head 32–36 mm specs are identical across all 27 Schengen countries. One set of photos works for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, or any other member state.
Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?
No. EU ICAO guidelines ban glasses in biometric photos since 2015. Remove all glasses — including prescription glasses — for your Schengen visa application photo.
How many photos do I need for a Schengen visa?
Most consulates require 2 identical printed 35×45 mm photos submitted with the Schengen visa application form. Check the specific consulate instructions — some require 1, others require 2.
Can I take a Schengen photo with my phone?
Yes, if the result meets all specs (correct size, white background, head size, expression). PixID processes phone photos and automatically crops to 35×45 mm with correct head positioning and removes the background.
Does PixID work for Schengen visa photos?
Yes. Select "Schengen Visa" as your document type. PixID outputs an exact 35×45 mm JPEG at 300 DPI, checks head size, background, expression and 100+ compliance criteria. If rejected, full refund.
Are Schengen photo requirements the same in 2026?
The core dimensions (35×45 mm, head 32–36 mm, white background, no glasses) remain unchanged for 2026. The key update is stricter enforcement of the AI editing ban — consulates use biometric verification software that detects AI-altered facial features.

Country-specific Schengen guides

Ready to get your Schengen visa photo?

Create Schengen Photo — $4.99 →

100% money-back if rejected · ICAO 9303 compliant · Digital + print-ready