Schengen visa applications
Schengen Visa Photo
The 35 x 45 mm photo for your Schengen visa, ready to print
Schengen visas need a printed 35 x 45 mm photo, with the face 32 to 36 mm tall for most countries. You get a print sheet and the digital file in minutes, checked before you pay.
Every requirementverified before you pay
Ready to printa 4x6 sheet with cut guides
Acceptance guaranteedouble your money back
Your photo is deleted 30 days after delivery and never used to train AI.
35 mm1.38 in
45 mm1.77 in
32 to 36 mm70 to 80%Face heightchin to top of headPhoto requirements
Schengen Visa Photo Size and Requirements
Schengen countries follow the international passport photo standard: 35 x 45 mm, face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown. A few consulates add their own details, listed below.
| Size | 35 x 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Face height | 32 to 36 mm, chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain and light. We use white, which Italy requires and the Netherlands and Spain accept |
| Taken within | The last 6 months |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses | Best without; no tinted lenses or glare |
| On photo paper at 100% size | |
| Digital upload | No. Consulates want a printed photo or take one at the appointment |
| What you get | A 4x6 sheet to print and the 35 x 45 mm file |
Sources: Schengen visa checklist, German Missions in the US, France-Visas FAQ and Schengen checklist, netherlandsworldwide.nl. Always check the checklist of the consulate you apply to.
How it works
Your Schengen visa photo in 3 steps
Guided by the camera, measured by the software, checked before you pay.
Take or upload a photo
The camera guides you on distance, tilt and light while you line it up. Or upload a recent photo.
We crop it and check it
The AI crops it to 35 x 45 mm, sizes your face, sets a plain white background and checks every requirement.
Print it
The 4x6 sheet and the digital file are in your inbox within minutes, as soon as the final automated check passes. Print the sheet at any photo shop at 100% size and cut along the guides.
- 35 x 45 mm
- Face 32 to 36 mm
- Plain light background
- Even lighting, no shadows
- Eyes open, mouth closed
- Ready to print
Three tips before you take the photo
Get these three right and the software handles the rest.
Distance From The Camera
Take the photo 16 to 20 inches, or 40 to 50 cm, from your face.
Face The Camera
Hold the camera at face height. Keep your head straight and your expression neutral.
Ensure Even Lighting
Stand facing a light source, such as a window. Don't worry about the background.
Why customers choose PassportPhotos
Fast, guided, and backed by our acceptance guarantee.
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Three minutes of your time
Take the photo, watch the initial check pass, pay once. No account, no appointment, no line at a counter.
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Guided, then checked
The camera guides you while you take it. Software does the crop, the background and the measurements, then verifies the result against the official requirements before you pay.
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Accepted or double your money back
Add the Acceptance guarantee at checkout. If the authority rejects the photo, you get twice what you paid, to the card you used.
Accepted or double your money back
Every photo gets two automated checks: one while you take it, before you pay, and a final check of the finished photo before we release it. Add the Acceptance guarantee at checkout for $6.99 and that final check is stricter. If the consulate rejects the photo, email us within 14 days of the rejection and you get twice what you paid.
What the Schengen visa photo needs, in plain words
Most Schengen countries use the same 35 x 45 mm size. Face size and background vary a little by country.
Size
35 x 45 mm, in color, face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown, centered.
Background
Plain, light and even, no shadows. We use white, which Italy requires and the Netherlands and Spain accept.
Recent
Taken within the last 6 months.
Pose And Expression
Face the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
Glasses And Coverings
Best without glasses. If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, keep the full face visible.
Printed, Not Uploaded
Hand in a printed photo. Consulates do not take a photo you upload yourself, and some take your photo at the appointment.
The software measures the size, the background, the pose, the expression, glasses and the light before you pay. It cannot see when the photo was taken, so take a new one for your application.
Where you need this photo
The photo goes in with your application at the consulate or visa center.
Short Stay Visa
Tourist, business and family visit visas for up to 90 days in the Schengen area.
Visa Centers
Visa centers take the printed photo with your application, unless they take one at the appointment.
Any Schengen Country
35 x 45 mm works for most Schengen countries. Apply at the consulate of your main destination.
Long Stay Visas
National visas often use the same 35 x 45 mm photo. Check the consulate's checklist.
Fingerprints And Photo
Visa centers usually take your fingerprints, and some take a digital photo at the appointment.
Printing
Print the 4x6 sheet on photo paper at 100% size, matte or glossy, and cut along the gray guides.
What it costs
| Photo and print sheetA 4x6 sheet to print plus the 35 x 45 mm file | $11.99 |
|---|---|
| DeliveryBy email, within minutes of the final check | Included |
| Acceptance guaranteeOptional, added at checkout | +$6.99 |
Prices show in your currency where we can, and taxes, where they apply, show at checkout. You pay once, after the initial check has passed, and never before.
Why visa centers return photos, and how we catch it
The common problems:
- the wrong size, or a face too small or too large
- a patterned or dark background
- shadows or glare
- a photo printed too small or too large
The software builds the exact 35 x 45 mm photo and checks it before you pay. Print it at 100% size.
What we do not do to your photo
We crop it, size it, place your head correctly and set the background your document asks for. We do not change your face, your features, your eyes or your expression. Altered photos get rejected, and a photo that looks like you is the whole point.
Sources: Schengen visa checklist, German Missions in the US, France-Visas FAQ and Schengen checklist, netherlandsworldwide.nl. Always check the checklist of the consulate you apply to.
FAQ
Your questions, answered
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 x 45 mm, with the face 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain light background.Can I upload the photo instead of printing it?
Not for a Schengen visa. Consulates want a printed photo, and some take your photo at the appointment. We give you a 4x6 sheet ready to print.Where do I print it?
At any photo shop or pharmacy that prints 4x6 photos, or on photo paper at home. Print at 100% size, not fit to page, then cut along the gray guides.Is the photo the same for every Schengen country?
The 35 x 45 mm size is standard. Face size and background vary: the Netherlands asks for a smaller face, 26 to 30 mm, and Germany prefers light gray. Check your consulate's checklist.Can I wear glasses?
Take them off. Some consulates accept clear glasses without glare, but a photo without them avoids the question.How recent does it need to be?
Taken within the last 6 months.Does the guarantee cover Schengen visas?
Yes. With the Acceptance guarantee, if the consulate rejects your photo, send us the written rejection within 14 days and you get double your money back.What happens to my photo afterward?
Used to make your photo and for nothing else. Deleted 30 days after delivery, never used to train AI.
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Choose your document
We make compliant photos for official IDs from all over the world. We do not provide or issue the documents themselves.
