Schengen Visa photo requirements

Schengen visa photo requirements, in plain English

A Schengen visa photo is a biometric photo. The rules are set by the EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009) and follow the international ICAO Doc 9303 / ISO-IEC 19794-5 standard for travel-document portraits — the same standard used for biometric passports. That means the bar is stricter than a casual snapshot: a neutral face, even lighting, and a plain background are all enforced.

Size, head height, and position

Your photo must be 35×45 mm. It should be a close-up of your head and the top of your shoulders, framed so that your face fills 70–80% of the photograph, centred and in sharp focus. The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months, and most consulates ask for two identical copies.

Expression — neutral only

Unlike the US passport, the Schengen visa does not allow a smile. Use a neutral expression with your mouth closed. An open mouth, visible teeth, or any exaggerated expression will be rejected.

Looking at the camera

Face the camera square on — not turned over one shoulder ("portrait style") and not tilted. Both eyes must be open and clearly visible, with no hair across the eyes, and both edges of your face should be visible in the frame.

Glasses

Glasses are allowed only if your eyes stay clearly visible: there must be no flash reflection off the lenses and no tinted lenses, and the frames must not cover any part of your eyes. Lighter frames are preferred over heavy ones. Because reflections and frame thickness are common rejection reasons, many member states recommend removing glasses entirely.

Head coverings and hats

Hats and caps are not permitted. Head coverings are allowed only for religious reasons, and even then your facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, and both edges of your face, must be clearly shown.

Lighting, shadows, and red-eye

Use uniform lighting so your skin tones look natural with appropriate brightness and contrast. The photo must show no shadows — neither behind your head nor across your face — and no flash reflections on the skin or no red eye. Diffused light or careful flash placement avoids both.

Background

Use a plain, light-coloured background that is uniform and free of patterns, objects, or shadows — white or light grey satisfies the general standard. Note that some member states are stricter: France, for example, requires a light grey or blue-grey background rather than pure white, so always check the requirements of the specific consulate where you apply. Snapassport standardizes your background to a compliant colour automatically.

Infants and children

A child's photo follows the same rules with sensible allowances: the child must appear alone (no chair backs, toys, or other people visible), looking at the camera with a neutral expression and the mouth closed. The same head size and plain-background rules apply.