Is the photo requirement the same for every Schengen country?

The 35x45mm ICAO format and head-size range are shared across member states under the EU Visa Code, but the guidance we found says exact digital file-size caps and background shade preferences can differ by consulate or application centre. Check the checklist for the specific country and visa centre you are applying through.

Do I submit a printed photo or a digital file?

Both routes appear in the guidance we found — a printed photo for in-person applications, and a digital upload for portals such as VFS Global. This tool produces a file that works for either.

ID & document photos · EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) / ICAO Doc 9303

Schengen visa photo, cropped and sized to spec

The 35x45mm ICAO format is shared across all Schengen states. Fit the oval and the crop matches the published head-height range. Your photo never leaves this device.

Print size: 1 × 2 in
Pixels: 413 × 531
Head height: 70–80 %
File size: max 5 MB

Upload your photo

JPG · PNG · HEIC

Fit your head to the oval

Drag to move · pinch or slide to resize

Size 100%

Make your head fill the oval — hair near the top edge, chin near the bottom. It does not need to be exact. Anywhere between the solid and dashed outlines is within spec.

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Compress to an exact size

Every candidate is measured, not guessed

Target size (KB)

Minimum width (px)

The engine will not go below the minimum width, because under it the photo stops meeting the portal's own spec. Sharpening is disabled here, because EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) / ICAO Doc 9303 rejects enhanced or retouched photos.

What EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) / ICAO Doc 9303 requires

35mm wide x 45mm tall, the shared ICAO biometric format
Head occupies 70-80% of the frame, measured chin to crown
Plain white or light-coloured background
Taken within the last 6 months
Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, no glasses under current guidance
Two prints are typically required; digital upload limits are set by each consulate or visa centre, not by one shared rule

Source: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy_en · last checked 2026-08-14

We re-check these figures roughly every quarter, but EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) / ICAO Doc 9303 can change them without notice and different portals sometimes ask for different limits. Confirm the numbers on the form you are filing before you submit.

Common questions

Is the photo requirement the same for every Schengen country?: The 35x45mm ICAO format and head-size range are shared across member states under the EU Visa Code, but the guidance we found says exact digital file-size caps and background shade preferences can differ by consulate or application centre. Check the checklist for the specific country and visa centre you are applying through.
Do I submit a printed photo or a digital file?: Both routes appear in the guidance we found — a printed photo for in-person applications, and a digital upload for portals such as VFS Global. This tool produces a file that works for either.