What are the Schengen Photo Requirements?

A passport photograph is one of the most important documents for the Schengen visa application process. As you know, you must submit two passport-size photographs along with other important documents such as a passport. Now, let’s understand the basic requirements that should be met for your photograph.

Photograph quality should be:

Your photograph should be at most 6 months.
The photograph should be 45mm X 35mm in size.
Your face and shoulders should take 70-80% of the photograph.
The photograph should be sharp and focused.
It should not have any ink marks or creases.

Facial expressions should be:

Ensure you are looking directly at the camera.
Your skin tone should appear natural without the use of filters.
The image should have balanced brightness and contrast.
Maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed.

Please note: Photographs taken from a digital camera should be of high-quality colour and printed on quality paper. The Atlys tool can help you to convert passport photos to visa size quickly.

Style and lighting should be:

Your photograph should be colour-neutral.
Eyes should be open, and no hair across your eyes.
Show your facing square on the camera, not looking over one shoulder or tilted head.
The background of the photograph should be light-coloured.
It should not show any shadows, flash on your face or have red eyes.

Accessories should be:

If you wear glasses, they should show your eyes clearly without flash reflection (if possible, wear light-framed glasses).
Make sure your frames are not covering any part of your eyes.
Head coverings like hats are not permitted except for religious reasons. If you are wearing a hijab, your facial features should be clearly shown from the bottom of your chin to the top of your forehead and both edges of your face.