When you apply for a visa to Europe, photos are among the vital requirements for completing your application. No matter what visa type you apply for, you will always be required to submit two photos alongside the other documents.
Schengen Visa Photo Requirements
The photograph specifications for any short-term Schengen visa application are:
- Two identical photos. Not older than six months.
- Photo size: 35x45mm.
- In colour. No black and white
- The head should take 70-80% of the photo.
- Light-coloured background. Light grey is suggested. No patterns.
- The applicant should be looking straight at the camera.
- Neutral facial expression. No smile and mouth closed
- Avoid uniforms or colours matching the background.
Schengen states have gone a step further and specified in detail all of the photograph requirements for a Europe visa.
Get your Schengen visa-compliant photo that perfectly meets all the necessary requirements at MyBiometricPhotos.com.
Following in this article, you can find all of the Schengen visa photograph requirements and specifications elaborated in a clear and understandable way.
Photo Illustration and their Explanation
Format and Photo Size
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Explanation:
The Schengen visa photograph size is static and unchangeable. Both photos should be 35mm in width and 45 mm in height. The acceptable format involves visibly showing facial characteristics of the applicant, from the tip of the chin to the top of the head, counting both, left and right, sides of the face, while the face is positioned in the centre of the photo. About 70-80% part of the photo must be filled by the applicant’s face, with an acceptable face height of 32-36 mm, not forgetting to completely show the applicant’s head, including hairstyle.
All photographs submitted in different sizes other than the specified Europe visa photo size may cause the rejection of a Schengen visa application.
Focus and Contrast
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Explanation:
Allowable form to show the face of the applicant in the photo is being visible and sharply focused, having a strong contrast. Avoid having a photo that is too blurring, too bright or with poor contrast.
Brightness
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Explanation:
The accepted brightness in the photo is when it is uniformly spread all over the face. It is crucial completely avoid reflections, shadows, and red eyes.
Photo Background
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Explanation:
Avoid having a colourful, patterned, or shadowed photo background, as the acceptable form is a one-colour, ideally neutral grey, a background that is bright and gives face and hair the needed contrast.
Quality of the Photo
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Explanation:
Be aware that the photo must be printed on high-quality paper, and a printing resolution of at least 600 dpi, as the only accepted form. The skin tone of the applicant must be natural, while the entire photo must be neutral, avoiding creases and layers.
Facial Expression and Head Position
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Explanation:
Avoid keeping your head neither turned nor at an angle or opening your mouth. The only accepted form to pose is by keeping a neutral look with eyes focused directly on the camera with a mouth closed.
Eyes and Line of Sight
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Explanation:
When you pose for the photo, ignoring to focus your eyes on the camera or closing them or putting your hair across your eyes is intolerable, as the accepted way of posing is by entirely looking straight into the camera, with fully open eyes and not covered by hair or else.
Glasses
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Explanation:
When you pose, avoid putting on sunglasses, dark optical glasses, and optical glasses that have frames covering your eyes, and, similarly, avoid flash reflection. The only accepted photo with optical glasses on is when the applicant’s eyes are fully visible and not covered by the glasses frame.
Headwear
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Explanation:
Avoid posing with a hat, headwear that covers your face, or having your face shadowed by headwear, as none of them is allowable. The only exception is for religious headwear, and even then, the face must be clearly visible from the lower tip of the chin to the forehead.
Are the same photo requirements for all Schengen countries?
Yes, the visa photograph requirements and specifications are the same for every member of the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Source and Photo Credits: msz.gov.pl