Specs accepted by all 29 Schengen states — Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland and more: 35×45 mm, 413×531 pixels at 300 DPI, plain white background, head 32–36 mm chin to crown, neutral expression, no glasses. ICAO-compliant.
Schengen rules follow EU Regulation 380/2008 — the same photo is accepted by embassies and VFS centres for all 29 Schengen countries.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px |
| Head height | 32–36 mm chin to crown |
| Eye line | 13–19 mm from the top |
| Background | Plain white (strictly — no grey, no blue) |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, no smile |
| Glasses | Not permitted (Schengen rule since 2022) |
| Photo count | Typically 2 identical prints per application |
| Taken within | The last six months |
The editor auto-crops to the Schengen 35×45 mm visa frame, removes the background and composites over pure white, and exports at 300 DPI — accepted by every VFS Global, TLScontact and BLS Schengen application centre.
Open the Schengen 35×45 mm visa editor
Drop a phone HEIC or JPG — we auto-crop and remove the background.
What VFS, TLS, BLS and direct embassy lodgement officers check on every Schengen visa photo.
Pure white, strictly. Unlike some national passports (UK, France) that prefer light grey, Schengen visa photos must be plain white with no shadow. Use the background-removal tool to guarantee this.
Strictly neutral — no smile, no open mouth, no raised eyebrows. Schengen is among the strictest countries on expression; a neutral resting face is the only accepted pose.
Banned since 2022 across all Schengen states. Remove them for the photo. No medical exception.
Allowed for religious reasons — hijab, turban, kippah. The full face must be visible from chin to forehead and ear to ear. No fashion hats.
Most Schengen visa applications require two identical printed 35×45 mm photos. Embassy-specific portals may accept one digital upload only — check the specific country's VFS/TLS page.
Not older than six months. If your appearance has changed (weight, hair colour, facial hair) the embassy may ask for a newer photo.
35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm), which at 300 DPI is 413×531 pixels. Plain white background, head 32–36 mm chin to crown, neutral expression, no glasses. The same photo is accepted by all 29 Schengen countries.
The dimensions are identical — 35×45 mm — but Schengen requires plain pure white background while the UK accepts light grey or off-white. A white-background photo works for both.
No. A Schengen-wide rule introduced in 2022 banned glasses on visa and passport photos. Remove them before taking the photo.
Two identical 35×45 mm photos for most paper applications. Some countries (Germany, Netherlands) now accept a single digital upload through their online visa portal — check the specific embassy's VFS/TLS page.
Yes. The specification is standardised across all 29 Schengen states under EU Regulation 380/2008. One compliant photo works for Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and the rest.