Schengen visa photo requirements 

For a Schengen visa, the photo must be 3.5 × 4.5 cm, with the face taking up 70—80% of the overall space. Other requirements include those pertaining to photo quality, haircut, and accessories.

The rules are described in the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO. They take up three sheets and look just as intimidating as a manual for a robot vacuum cleaner. 

We provide you with clearly and briefly described rules and examples of the photos so that you can check the work of your photographer yourself.

Basic photo requirements

The requirements for Schengen visa photos might differ from those for visas to other countries. Therefore, it is crucial that the prepared pictures comply with the rules of the Schengen Area.

The photo for the Schengen visa must be a close-up of a person’s head and the top of their shoulders, so that their face occupies 70—80% of the image.

The size of the Schengen visa picture is 3.5 × 4.5 cm or 1.37 × 1.77 inches.

Quality and printing. The image shouldn’t be print-marked or creased; pixelated ones are also not allowed. The final photo must be printed on high-quality paper of 160—300 GSM.

The background should be plain and light-coloured, for example, white or light grey, without any patterns or objects visible. There should be no shadows.

The person must look directly at the camera and have a neutral facial expression; smiling and frowning is not allowed. The eyes must be visible and not covered by anything. Positions with a tilted head and an over-the-shoulder gaze are not permitted. 

The photo should not be digitally altered or enhanced. It must accurately represent the person’s appearance.

Colouring. The picture must be colourful and not blurry. It must have appropriate brightness and contrast, which can be achieved with medium settings on a digital camera.

Perfect photo brightness is achieved when light is uniformly diffused across the face. It’s essential to eliminate any reflections, shadows, or red-eye effects.

Photo requirements for children 

Any child, regardless of age, must have a photograph to apply for a Schengen visa. The requirements are the same as those for adults. 

If the youngster is too little to sit by themselves, an adult holds them. In this case, the person in the background should be edited out. 

Requirements for hair, clothes, and accessories

In the picture, the person’s hair shouldn’t cover their face or eyes. For someone with long hair, it’s best to have it in a ponytail, bun, or tucked behind their ears. 

It’s recommended that you keep your hairstyle the same after taking the photo. For instance, if you want to cut your long hair short, dye it, or get permanent curls, plan the photoshoot after visiting the hairdresser.

The makeup shouldn’t be heavy.

Head coverings are not allowed unless they are worn for religious reasons. In that case, the person’s face should still be clearly visible from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from edge to edge. 

Glasses are allowed; however, they shouldn’t have a thick frame or tinted lenses. The frame shouldn’t cover the eyes, and the lenses must not reflect flashes. Wearing coloured contact lenses is prohibited.

Clothing shouldn’t be overly colourful, patterned, or revealing. It is generally recommended to wear attire appropriate for work or business casual settings.

Let’s rewind. Here’s what’s not recommended when preparing for a photo shoot for a visa:

• wearing very colourful, heavily-patterned clothes, head coverings or oversized accessories;
• wearing tinted glasses or glasses with a thick frame;
• wearing heavy makeup; 
• wearing coloured contact lenses; 
• having a hairstyle that covers the face; 
• changing the hairstyle right after the photo shoot, growing or shaving off the beard. 

How old should the photo be

Officially, the photo for a Schengen visa application is required to be no older than 6 months. 

Sometimes consulates of Denmark, Iceland, and Norway request pictures taken within the last 3 months. However, there is no official confirmation of this. 

We recommend taking new photos a day or two before applying for the visa.  

How many pictures are required for a Schengen visa application

It is required to attach only one photo to the visa application. Some visa centres ask for two images. 

We recommend providing at least two photos in your application package. If one of them is not needed, you will keep it.  

How much does it cost to make a Schengen visa photo?

Consulates accept only printed pictures. The easiest way is to go to the nearest photo service and have the picture taken and printed there. If you already have a picture you want to apply with, you can take your file to a photo service and have it printed. 

In both cases, the price will be approximately the same. It depends on the region and the level of urgency and usually starts from around €10. 

There is no need to glue the picture to the application. Just attach it with a paper clip or place it in the envelope with the application. 

Aside from the photograph, the applicant for a Schengen visa has to provide a package of documents, including their employment contract, a bank statement, and biometric data. For travels with minors, additional papers will be required. 

Frequently asked questions