Schengen Visa Photo Size & Requirements 2024: What Are the Photo Requirements For a Schengen Visa?

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated September 2024

If you’re planning a trip to one of the Schengen countries, it’s important to ensure that your visa application is complete, including having an official photo that meets the requirements set by the European consulate. Failing to meet these requirements could result in your visa application being rejected and delaying your trip.

Keep reading with Wego to find out more about the Schengen visa photo requirements.

Schengen visa photo size & requirements for adults

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.

The visa photo requirements in Schengen are stringent. If your photo does not meet the standards set by the authorities, your visa application will be rejected. These standards encompass specific dimensions, resolution, and appearance criteria that are detailed further below.

Photo size

As per the official rules, your printed photographs should be measured 35 x 40 MM  and not be a cut-down version of a larger picture.

Photo guidelines

• Must be taken within the last 6 months
• It must be colored with a plain white background
• No software corrections are allowed
• The face shown should be 70-80% of the height of the photo
• File size must be between 1MB to 5MB only
• Photo dimensions must be at least 1,300 x 1,600 pixels
• Scanned photographs and screenshots from a computer or mobile phone screen are prohibited.

Attire and expression of the applicant

• No headwear or headphones
• Eyes must be level; the head should not be tilted
• Face must be centered
• If you are wearing glasses or spectacles, your eyes must be clearly visible and should not reflect light.

Schengen visa photo requirements for children (0-7 years old)

• Must be colored and unedited
• Background should be plain and of single color
• Scanned photographs and screenshots from a computer or mobile phone screen are prohibited.
• The child must look straight into the camera, and the mouth must be closed.
• Big hair accessories and other extraneous objects, such as toys, should not be included in the photograph.

Estonian embassy authorities advise requesting assistance when taking pictures of a young child for visa purposes.