Many Schengen visa checklists ask for a biometric 35×45 mm photo. This guide helps you take and crop one at home, then verify the remaining rules with the embassy or visa centre receiving it.
Requirements checked 11 August 2026. This guide compares published EU/ICAO guidance with official French and German instructions. Always follow the embassy or visa centre receiving your application if its checklist differs.
Face fills about 70–80% (roughly 32–36 mm chin to crown)
Background
Plain and light, with even illumination; follow the receiving authority’s specified colour
Expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera
Colour
Colour, sharp, no red-eye, no shadows
Recency
Commonly within 6 months, but some consulates specify a shorter period
Many Schengen application checklists use a 35×45 mm biometric photograph, but there is no safe shortcut that replaces the receiving authority’s checklist. France, for example, describes a width of 35–40 mm; German missions commonly specify 35×45 mm and can set their own recency instruction.
Step by step: take the photo
Plain light wall, standing about half a metre away. Use the exact background colour requested by your embassy or visa centre.
Even, soft daylight from a window — no shadows on the face or behind the head.
Someone photographs you from about 1.2 m at eye level, phone upright, you facing straight ahead.
Neutral face — mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible, no smiling.
Take several and pick the sharpest, most evenly lit one.
💡 Shared dimensions do not mean identical rules. A 35×45 mm crop may be reusable, but background, face height, photo age, print quality and digital-upload requirements can still differ.
Common reasons Schengen visa photos get rejected
Shadows on the face or background — the most common issue for biometric photos.
Background does not match the receiving authority’s checklist, or contains shadows, texture or objects.
Face too small or off-centre — it should fill most of the frame.
Smiling, tilted head, or hair over the eyes.
Glare or reflections on glasses — clearest to remove them.
FAQ
What size is a Schengen visa photo? Many consulates request 35 × 45 mm with a biometric, front-facing composition. Check your destination’s current checklist: France, for example, publishes a 35–40 mm width range.
Is an EU passport photo the same as a Schengen visa photo? They often share biometric composition and similar dimensions, but they are not interchangeable by definition. National passport rules and the visa centre’s submission rules control.
Can I take it at home? Yes. Lighting and a plain background matter most — any modern phone has enough resolution.