Schengen Visa Photo: 35×45 mm, 413×531 px
Every Schengen country uses the same photo specification — 35 × 45 mm, which is 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI. One photo works for all 29 member states. This tool crops and compresses to that exact size in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded.
Passport photo rules change over time. Always confirm the current requirements with the official issuing authority before you submit. This tool prepares your file; it cannot guarantee acceptance.
The wrong-size trap
The most common reason a Schengen photo is rejected has nothing to do with lighting or expression — it is applicants using their home country photo size instead of the Schengen standard.
If you are American, your passport photo is square: 2 × 2 inches, 600 × 600 px. A Schengen photo is a rectangular portrait at 35 × 45 mm. They are not interchangeable and no amount of trimming makes one into the other, because the head-to-frame proportions are different too. Indian applicants hit the same problem from the other direction — Passport Seva photos are a different pixel spec again.
If you already have a US-format photo, start from the original image rather than the cropped square, and re-crop it here. Coming the other way, our US passport photo page handles the square format.
Official Schengen visa photo specifications
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall |
| Digital size | 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI |
| Face coverage | 70% to 80% of photo height |
| Head height | 32 mm to 36 mm, chin to crown |
| Background | Plain light grey preferred, white often accepted |
| Format | JPEG, full colour, unaltered |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and visible |
| Applies to | All 29 Schengen countries, same spec |
How to make a Schengen visa photo
- Take or choose a photo from the last six months: face the camera squarely, plain light grey wall, even lighting, no glasses, neutral expression.
- Stand at least a metre from the wall so your head casts no shadow behind you.
- Upload it here — the output is already locked to 413 × 531 px.
- Position the crop so your face fills roughly three quarters of the frame height, eyes a little above centre.
- Click Resize & compress, then download your JPEG and print it at 35 × 45 mm.
Why Schengen visa photos get rejected
- Using a home-country photo size instead of 35 × 45 mm.
- Face too small in the frame — under the 70% coverage minimum.
- A background with shadows, patterns or an uneven gradient.
- Glasses causing glare, reflection or frames across the eyes.
- Smiling, an open mouth, or eyes partly closed.
- Beauty filters, skin smoothing or AI retouching of any kind.
- A photo older than six months.
- Low-resolution booth prints that look fine but fail biometric processing.
One honest note: this tool gets the dimensions and file size right, which removes the most common technical rejection. It cannot judge your head position, lighting or background shade — no browser tool can. Individual consulates also interpret background colour differently, so check the checklist published by the consulate or visa centre handling your application before you submit.
Schengen visa photo — FAQ
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 mm wide by 45 mm tall when printed. At 300 DPI that is 413 × 531 pixels, which is the size this tool produces. The same specification applies across all 29 Schengen countries, so one photo works whether you are applying to France, Germany, Spain or any other member state.
Can I use my US passport photo for a Schengen visa?
No, and this is the single most common mistake applicants make. A US passport photo is square — 2 × 2 inches, 600 × 600 pixels. A Schengen photo is a rectangular portrait at 35 × 45 mm. Submitting the wrong shape is rejected at the counter, not fixed later.
Should the background be white or grey?
Plain light grey is the safer choice. Pure white is often accepted, but grey gives better contrast for the automated biometric systems used at VFS verification centres, and some consulates specifically ask for it. The background must be completely uniform with no shadows, patterns or gradients.
How much of the frame should my face fill?
Between 70 and 80 percent of the total photo height, with the head measuring 32 to 36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head. This is the most frequently violated requirement — standing too far from the camera leaves the head too small.
How recent does the photo need to be?
It must be taken within the last six months and reflect your current appearance. Reusing the photo from an older passport is only acceptable if it still falls inside that window and meets Schengen specifications.
Can I wear glasses?
Glasses are technically permitted but not advisable. Glare, reflections, shadows or frames crossing the eyes all cause rejection, and a large share of rejected applications involve glasses. Removing them is the safer option.
Are photo filters or AI retouching allowed?
No. Beauty filters, skin smoothing, reshaped features and AI-generated backgrounds are detected by biometric screening and rejected. The photo must be an unaltered image of you.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. The photo is cropped and compressed entirely inside your browser. For a visa application that matters — nothing is transmitted, stored or seen by anyone but you.
Passport photo sizes by country
Every country sets its own pixel size, file size and background rules. Each page below locks the tool to that exact official spec.
Other tools
Shot on an iPhone? Convert HEIC to JPG first. Need a different exact size? Use the resize tool.