Passport & visa photos / Schengen visa photo
Schengen visa photo: size, rules, and a photo you can make at home
✓ Checked Oct 2026 against the official pages. See sources
A Schengen visa photo is 35 x 45 mm. Take one against a plain wall at home and PhotoFit crops it to size, checks it, and gives you a print-ready photo and a 4x6 print sheet with 8 copies. The preview is free; the final photo is $4.99.
Make your photo
🔒 Your photo never leaves your device. Face detection, cropping, and the checks all run in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to us or anyone else.
2. Your photo
Tips for a photo that passes
- Stand 2 to 4 feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall (or hang a white sheet). Step forward from the wall so no shadow falls behind you.
- Have someone else take it from about 4 feet away, camera at eye level. Selfies at arm's length distort your face.
- Face a window or a soft lamp so both sides of your face are evenly lit. No flash.
- Take off glasses and hats. Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed. Leave room above your head and show your shoulders.
- Use the original camera photo, not a screenshot or a photo sent by text.
Not an official acceptance guarantee. These are basic checks; the agency makes the final decision. Things we can't check: glasses glare, hair over the eyes, how recent the photo is, and whether it looks like you.
$4.99 for the clean photo
- The digital file at the official size
- A 4x6 print sheet (when the document needs prints). Print it at any photo kiosk as a 4x6 at 100%, then cut along the lines
- Retakes: one purchase covers up to 3 photos
The preview above is free and watermarked. Secure checkout by Stripe. Your photo stays on this device during checkout.
Printing: choose 4x6 in, "actual size" or 100%, no borders. Check one photo with a ruler before you cut.
Schengen visa photo requirements
- Printed size
- 35 x 45 mm
- Head size
- Face 32 to 36 mm (70% to 80% of the photo), chin to crown: the top of the head, not the top of the hair
- Background
- Plain, one colour and light (white, light grey, or neutral grey), no pattern or shadows
- Glasses
- Clear lenses only, no glare, frames must not cover the eyes
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
- How recent
- Taken in the last 6 months
Also required
- Face centred, looking straight at the camera
- Both edges of the face visible
- Even lighting with no shadows, reflections, or red eye
- No head covering except for religious reasons
Good to know
- Each Schengen country's consulate (or its visa centre) sets its own checklist. Most ask for 1 or 2 printed photos, not a digital file. Check your consulate's list.
Questions
What size is a schengen visa photo?
35 x 45 mm. Face 32 to 36 mm (70% to 80% of the photo), chin to crown: the top of the head, not the top of the hair.
Can I take a schengen visa photo at home?
Yes, with a plain light wall, even light, and someone to take it. PhotoFit crops it to size and checks the basics. It doesn't edit your face or background, because agencies reject edited photos.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. PhotoFit runs in your browser, so the photo stays on your device.
Sources
From the official pages below, last checked Oct 2026. Rules change, so check them before you apply.