Germany example
One German mission asks for one recent 35 × 45 mm biometric photo that is unretouched, front-facing, and taken against a light plain background.
German mission checklistReviewed against EU and consular guidance on 16 July 2026
Schengen visa photo requirements35 × 45 mm is the common size
The EU requires an ICAO-standard photo. Most country checklists use a 35 × 45 mm portrait print, but there is no EU-wide pixel size, file limit, or universal number of copies. Your destination's application checklist is the final instruction.
Free and private. The checker reads only the photo shape and never uploads the image.
Free 35:45 ratio check
Check your Schengen visa photo crop ratio
Stays on your device
Choose a digital photo
We read only its pixel dimensions to compare the crop with the 35 × 45 mm. The image is not uploaded, edited, or stored.
Common printed format
35 × 45 mm
Confirm the exact size with the processing consulate or visa centre.
EU photo baseline
ICAO standard
Recent, clear, front-facing, colour neutral, and evenly lit.
Digital uploads
No EU-wide pixels
Portal-specific pixel, format, and file-size rules can differ.
Do not treat 413 × 531 pixels as an official Schengen upload rule
That pixel size is only the approximate conversion of a 35 × 45 mm print at 300 PPI. It does not prove the physical print dimensions and is not an EU-wide digital requirement. Use the values shown by your official application portal.
Shared ICAO baseline
Schengen visa photo requirements at a glance
The European Commission says a Schengen application needs a photo compliant with ICAO standards. Its photo guide provides these general quality and composition rules; your local checklist may be more specific.
Photo age
No more than 6 months
It must be recent and show your current appearance.
Common print size
35 × 45 mm
Common in country checklists; the EU photo guide states 35–40 mm wide.
Face in frame
About 70–80%
A close-up of the head and top of the shoulders.
Background
Plain and light-coloured
Use even lighting with no shadows or flash reflections.
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed
Look directly at the camera with both eyes open and visible.
Quality
Sharp, clear, colour neutral
Use high-quality photo paper when a printed photo is requested.
Find the right authority
Follow your main destination's checklist
For one destination, use that country's consulate. For several destinations, apply where you will spend the longest time. If the stays are equal, use the first country you will visit. The same authority's local document list controls your photo details.
Find official country websitesOne main destination
Follow that destination's consular or authorised service-centre checklist.
Longest stay
That country normally processes a multi-country itinerary.
Equal-length stays
Use the consulate of the first Schengen country you will enter.
Local appointment rules
A visa centre may capture the photo digitally instead of taking a print.
Why local details matter
Official examples do not use one universal submission rule
These current official examples show why a generic “two photos for every country” answer is unreliable.
France example
France-Visas states 35–40 mm in width and a face height of 32–36 mm, or about 70–80% of the picture.
France-Visas FAQNetherlands example
The Dutch checklist uses 35 × 45 mm, but says an external service provider may take a digital photo at the appointment instead.
Netherlands checklistRead the Netherlands visa photo guideCurrent Schengen area
29 destination countries
This page covers short-stay Schengen visa photo guidance. National long-stay and other document routes use their own requirements.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Clear answers
Schengen visa photo FAQ
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
A 35 x 45 mm portrait print is the most common Schengen visa photo format and is specified by official German and Dutch application checklists. The European Commission photo guide more broadly says 35 to 40 mm wide. Always use the exact checklist for the consulate or authorised visa centre handling your application.
What is the Schengen visa photo size in pixels?
There is no single EU-wide pixel requirement for a Schengen visa photo. A 35 x 45 mm print converts to about 413 x 531 pixels at 300 PPI, but that is a print-production conversion, not a universal upload rule. Follow the pixel, format, and file-size instructions shown in your own application portal.
Are Schengen visa photo rules identical in all 29 countries?
The common EU application rule requires a photo that follows ICAO standards, but operational details differ. A consulate can specify the exact print size, number of photos, background wording, or whether a service centre captures a digital image at the appointment.
How many photos do I need for a Schengen visa?
There is no safe universal answer. One German mission asks for one 35 x 45 mm photo, another can ask for two, and the Netherlands says applicants using an external service provider may not need to bring a photo because it is captured at the appointment. Check your location-specific document list.
Which country’s photo instructions should I follow?
Use the instructions for the country that will process your application. If visiting several countries, the European Commission says to apply to the country where you will spend the longest time; for equal stays, apply to the first country you will visit.
Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?
The European Commission photo guide allows clear glasses only when the eyes are fully visible, with no tinted lenses, flash reflection, or frames covering the eyes. Your consulate may use stricter wording, so follow its checklist.
Can I edit the background of a Schengen visa photo?
PassPhoto can replace the background, but acceptance varies by destination and filing location. German official checklists reject digitally altered photos, and some French guidance requires unretouched photos. The maker displays this note before processing; check your application centre before using the edited file.
Does the PassPhoto ratio checker prove compliance?
No. It only compares the file’s width-to-height ratio with 35:45 in your browser. It cannot measure a physical print, verify face height or photo age, assess appearance and lighting, detect edits, or apply destination-specific instructions. The consulate decides acceptance.
Before your appointment
Check the destination-specific document list
Confirm photo size, copies, background, and whether your visa centre captures the image during the appointment.