Schengen visa photo requirements: size, background and the rules missions actually enforce

Where the rule comes from

Article 13(4) of the Visa Code requires a photograph to be entered in the VIS with each application and states that "the technical requirements for the photograph shall be in accordance with the international standards as set out in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) document 9303 Part 1, 6th edition". That is the source of the 35 by 45 mm format, the framing and the neutral-expression rules that every Schengen mission in India repeats on its checklist.

The specification

• 35 by 45 mm, colour, on plain photographic paper if you are pasting it on the form.
• Taken within the last six months and true to your current appearance.
• Face 70 to 80 percent of the image height (Germany's checklist states this explicitly), centred, looking straight at the camera.
• Plain light or white background, evenly lit, no shadows behind the head.
• Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and unobstructed.
• No sunglasses or tinted lenses. Thin frames are acceptable if the eyes are fully visible and there is no glare.
• No head covering except where worn for religious reasons, and the face must remain uncovered from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.
• Not a scan, a photocopy or a filtered image. Switzerland's checklist says the picture must be pasted on the form and that stapled or pinned pictures are not accepted.

Where missions differ, from their own checklists

Mission	What its checklist asks for
Germany	at least one biometric picture, 35x45 mm, white background, 70 to 80 percent face coverage, under six months old
Switzerland	one picture, white background, under six months old, 35 to 40 mm wide, not copied or scanned, pasted on the form
Greece	two recent colour photographs, white background, ICAO specification (the outsourcer states 3.5 x 4 cm)
Belgium	one recent colour photograph, 5 x 3 cm, white background, glued on the form
Sweden	one photograph under six months old, white background, 3.5 x 4.5 cm
Netherlands	3.5 x 4.5 cm, white or light background, under six months; no photo is submitted when you apply through VFS, because a digital photo is taken at the appointment
Italy	one recent photograph, white background (the outsourcer adds 80 percent face zoom, non-smiling)

The lesson from that table: the ICAO frame is common, the paper size and the number of copies are not. Print to your own mission's checklist, and carry a spare pair.

Why it is worth getting right the first time

A photograph is not a refusal ground on its own; ground 16 is insurance, not photos. What a wrong photo costs you is the appointment. Centres in India routinely turn applicants back to the photo booth, and in peak season a lost slot is weeks, not hours. The Netherlands sidesteps the problem entirely by taking the picture at the counter.

FAQ

What is the Schengen visa photo size?

35 by 45 mm in the ICAO standard the Visa Code refers to, with the face filling roughly 70 to 80 percent of the height. Some missions in India specify slightly different paper sizes: Belgium 5 x 3 cm, Switzerland 35 to 40 mm wide, Greece two photos.

Can I smile in a Schengen visa photo?

No. The standard requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed and both eyes open.

Can I wear glasses or a head covering?

Thin-framed glasses are acceptable if your eyes are fully visible with no glare; tinted lenses are not. Head coverings are allowed for religious reasons provided the face is uncovered from chin to forehead.

Do I need to bring a photo if I apply through VFS?

It depends on the mission. The Netherlands takes a digital photo at the appointment and asks for no printed photo; Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Greece and Italy all ask for a printed picture on the form.

Printed from Schengen Odds (https://schengen-odds.pages.dev/guide/schengen-visa-photo-requirements/). Sources are listed below; rules change, so check the linked official pages on the day you apply.