Photo PassMake my photo
Shared regional standard

Schengen visa photo requirements

Schengen states use a shared biometric framework, while the responsible consulate or application centre can publish additional capture and submission instructions.

Core photo format

The reviewed Photo Pass preset uses a 35 × 45 mm portrait with the face occupying approximately 70–80% of the photograph, usually about 32–36 mm from chin to crown. The face should be centred and front-facing, the expression neutral, the eyes open and visible, and the background plain and light. The portrait must be recent and should not be retouched.

The EU Visa Code requires the photograph to follow the applicable international biometric standard. Local consulates and visa application centres may also specify how many prints to provide, whether the image is scanned or captured at the appointment, and whether a digital upload is accepted.

Why there is one canonical Schengen guide

Photo Pass previously exposed a near-identical indexed page for every Schengen destination. Because the shared rule and guidance were substantially the same, those destination variants now point search engines to this consolidated guide. The destination links below remain available to preselect the correct country in the tool, but they are not separate indexing targets unless a country publishes genuinely distinct requirements.

This avoids repetitive doorway-like pages while preserving a useful destination-specific workflow for applicants.

Before preparing the photo

  • Use the country responsible for deciding the visa application, not every country you plan to visit.
  • Read the appointment or application-centre checklist for photo quantity and capture method.
  • Use a recent original portrait with even lighting and no hard shadow behind the head.
  • Do not reshape facial features, smooth skin, add hair or replace the face.
  • Keep the original file in case the authority asks for a different crop or an unedited copy.

Destination presets

Choose a destination to open the Photo Pass maker with the shared Schengen preset selected. Always follow the consulate or application-centre instructions linked from your appointment confirmation if they differ.

Austria Schengen visa photoBelgium Schengen visa photoBulgaria Schengen visa photoCroatia Schengen visa photoCzech Republic Schengen visa photoDenmark Schengen visa photoEstonia Schengen visa photoFinland Schengen visa photoFrance Schengen visa photoGermany Schengen visa photoGreece Schengen visa photoHungary Schengen visa photoIceland Schengen visa photoItaly Schengen visa photoLatvia Schengen visa photoLiechtenstein Schengen visa photoLithuania Schengen visa photoLuxembourg Schengen visa photoMalta Schengen visa photoNetherlands Schengen visa photoNorway Schengen visa photoPoland Schengen visa photoPortugal Schengen visa photoRomania Schengen visa photoSlovakia Schengen visa photoSlovenia Schengen visa photoSpain Schengen visa photoSweden Schengen visa photoSwitzerland Schengen visa photo

Primary authority reference

Read the consolidated EU Visa Code on EUR-Lex. The destination consulate remains the best source for local filing instructions.