Schengen visa photo, 35x45 mm

How it works

1. Drop a portrait taken from the front, in even light, with space above the head and around the shoulders.
2. Choose White or Light grey if the wall behind you is patterned or dark. Consulates ask for a plain, light, uniform background.
3. Press Make photo. The head is measured from the chin to the top of the hair and scaled to about 34 mm, the middle of the 32 to 36 mm range, with roughly 4 mm of space above the hair.
4. Download the JPG: 413x531 pixels at 300 dpi, which prints at exactly 35x45 mm. Most consulates want two printed copies.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries use this size?

All 29 Schengen states use the same photo specification for visa applications: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and the rest. It follows the ICAO standard, which is also what Australia, Japan, South Korea, India's visa applications and many others use, so the same photo often serves more than one application.

What are the rules besides the size?

The photo must be recent, usually within six months, in colour, sharp, against a plain light background, with the face straight to the camera, a neutral expression, the mouth closed and both eyes open and visible. Head coverings are allowed for religious reasons as long as the face from the chin to the forehead is clear. Glasses are discouraged and must not reflect. This tool handles the size and the head height, which is what most rejected photos get wrong; the rest is down to how you take it.

Is this the same as a passport photo in my country?

Often but not always. The 35x45 mm frame is common across Europe, but some countries set their own head range for their own documents: the UK asks for 29 to 34 mm, Spain's DNI and passport photo is 26x32 mm, and Turkey's biometric photo is 50x60 mm. This page makes the Schengen visa photo; the main passport photo page offers eight other standards.

Can I print it at home?

You can, on photo paper, but check the print is exactly 35x45 mm with a ruler: printer software often scales a picture to fit the paper. The file carries 300 dpi, so a print at 100% comes out right. Printing several on one sheet is what the ID photo sheet tool is for.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The face detector and the cut-out model run in your browser; the photo never leaves your device, which matters for a document that will carry your name and travel plans.