Schengen Visa Photo Size and Requirements (2026)

A Schengen visa photo is normally 35 x 45 mm, taken within the last six months, with your face filling 70–80% of the photo. The EU itself only says the photo must meet ICAO standards (the international standard for travel-document photos), so each consulate publishes its own checklist, and the background colour it asks for can differ. Always follow the checklist of the consulate you are applying to. For other countries, see our passport and visa photo size chart.

Checked on 19 September 2026 against the European Commission's Schengen visa page, the German Federal Foreign Office's Schengen visa checklist for its missions in India and its German passport photo guidance.

What does the EU say about Schengen visa photos?

The European Commission's list of documents for a Schengen visa asks for "a photo in compliance with ICAO standards." ICAO is the UN body that sets the standards for machine-readable passports and travel documents, including how the face should appear in a photo. The Commission does not publish its own size table on that page, which is why the practical details come from the consulates.

An older European Commission leaflet on ICAO photographs describes the basics: the photo should be "no more than 6-months old", "35–40mm in width", a "close up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70–80% of the photograph", and "taken with a plain light-coloured background."

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

Most consulates ask for 35 x 45 mm. For example, the German Federal Foreign Office's Schengen visa checklist for its missions in India asks for: "Min. 1 biometric passport picture (35x45mm white background, 70%-80% face coverage), not older than six months."

On a 45 mm tall photo, a face covering 70–80% of the height is about 32 to 36 mm from chin to the top of the head. German guidance for German passports and ID cards states this directly, with a face height of "32 – 36 mm von der Kinnspitze bis zum oberen Kopfende" (from the tip of the chin to the top of the head). That figure is German passport guidance, so treat it as a helpful benchmark for visa photos rather than a separate EU rule.

What background colour does a Schengen visa photo need?

It depends on the consulate. The German visa checklist above asks for a white background. The European Commission leaflet says "plain light-coloured". German guidance for German passports prefers light grey ("idealerweise neutral grau"). These are not contradictions so much as different documents with different wording, but they mean you should check the exact checklist of the country you are applying to.

Whatever the colour, the background must be plain, evenly lit and in good contrast with your face and hair.

Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?

Generally yes, if your eyes are clearly visible. The European Commission leaflet says "the photograph must show your eyes clearly with no flash reflection off the glasses, and no tinted lenses", adds "if possible, avoid heavy frames", and asks you to "make sure that the frames do not cover any part of your eyes." Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not acceptable.

This differs from the US, which asks you to remove glasses, and from the UK, which says not to wear them unless you have to. If you are applying for several documents, it is simplest to take glasses off for all your photos.

How recent must the photo be, and can it be edited?

Both the German visa checklist and the European Commission leaflet say the photo must be no more than six months old. The Commission's requirement is ICAO compliance, and photos for travel documents are meant to show you as you actually look: do not retouch, filter or AI-edit the photo. That includes images from Kissemall's passport photo preview tool, which you can use to plan the framing and background but should not submit.

Schengen visa photo checklist

• 35 x 45 mm (confirm with your consulate's checklist)
• Face about 70–80% of the photo height (roughly 32–36 mm)
• Plain background in the colour your consulate asks for (often white or light)
• No more than six months old
• Eyes clearly visible; no tinted lenses, glare or thick frames over the eyes
• Unedited: no filters, retouching or AI

Also applying for a UK passport? Its rules differ: a 29–34 mm head, a cream or light grey background, and a photo from the last month. See our UK passport photo guide. For a Chinese visa, see our China visa photo guide, and for every country in one place, the passport and visa photo size chart.

Key takeaways

• Most Schengen consulates ask for a 35 x 45 mm photo, no more than six months old, with the face filling 70–80% of it.
• The EU only requires ICAO standards, so follow your consulate's own checklist, especially for the background colour.
• Glasses are usually fine if your eyes are clear and there is no glare or tint.
• Never retouch, filter or AI-edit a visa photo.