Schengen visa photo requirements: what gets accepted

A visa photo is a mandatory part of every Schengen application. It does not have to be pretty, it has to meet the standard — and a photo that does not fit is among the most common reasons for a follow-up request or a delayed decision.

What the photo must meet

The standard comes from ICAO Doc 9303 and has been adopted by the Schengen states: 35 × 45 mm portrait format, face size 70–80% of the image height (head height about 32–36 mm, chin to top of head visible), a plain light background without patterns or shadows, and in general not older than six months. The face front-on and fully visible, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. Sharp and correctly exposed, without shadows, red-eye or reflections. No filters, no editing. Usually two identical prints.

Individual consulates deviate in the details. Always check the checklist of the competent consulate.

What most often goes wrong

Too dark or too bright, so the photo looks shadowed or washed out. The head is too small or too big, so the face is not at 70–80%. Shadows behind the head or on the face. The photo is older than six months or shows a clearly different appearance. Glare on glasses, or the eyes are not clearly visible. Headwear covers the forehead or chin line. Filtered selfies or edited backgrounds. And objects or patterns in the background.

Glasses, headwear, clothing

Best without glasses. If you wear them, you need a shot without reflections and with clearly visible eyes; tinted lenses do not work. Headwear for religious reasons is allowed as long as the face is fully visible from chin to forehead and no shadows appear. No uniforms; religious clothing is fine.

Where to have it taken

At a photographer or a booth, asking for a "biometric passport photo, 35 × 45 mm". Better not from your phone: digital photos need high resolution — 35 × 45 mm at 300 dpi is about 413 × 531 pixels — and must not be edited. Many visa centres take the photo on site, which is practical because they know the rules. Do not staple, punch, label or glue the photo.

If the photo does not fit

The visa centre can reject the file or ask for a new photo, for a fee. If the file is already submitted, you get a follow-up request, and that costs time. A photo that does not clearly show your identity can affect how credible your documents look (refusal reason 11: doubts about authenticity or reliability). A purely technical photo is rarely a refusal reason on its own if the rest is fine — but it delays things and is easy to avoid.

Just before the appointment

35 × 45 mm, face 70–80%, head 32–36 mm. Recent (under six months), unchanged, no filter. Light background without shadows. Glasses without reflections, or leave them off. Two clean, unlabelled prints. And re-read the consulate's checklist once more.

Note: general information, not legal or case-specific advice. The competent authority's answer is decisive. Last updated: 16.10.2026.

Sources

ICAO Doc 9303, Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 3 (photo specifications): https://www.icao.int/publications/pages/publication.aspx?docnum=9303
Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (Visa Code), Art. 13 (biometric data/photo): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02009R0810-20200202