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Schengen / EU Passport Photo Maker

A Schengen visa or EU member-state passport photo is 35 × 45 mm with the head 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown — about 70-80% of the frame height. The background must be light-coloured; most member states prefer light grey (#EFEFEF) over pure white. JPG, taken within the last six months. The same dimensions apply across all 27 Schengen countries.

27 countriesshare the Schengen photo specification (35 × 45 mm, ICAO-compliant) since 2009 —·European Commission

Updated May 22, 2026·Verified against Schengen / EU official passport spec · headshot research team

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Passport country

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Schengen / EU passport photo at a glance

Physical size	35 × 45 mm
Pixels @ 300 DPI	413 × 531
Head height	32 - 36 mm
Background	Light-coloured (white preferred)
Accepted formats	JPG
Studio cost	€8 to €15 across the EU
Official source	commission.europa.eu

What the rules actually say

The Schengen photo spec was harmonised in 2009 as part of the Visa Information System (VIS) rollout. All 27 member states accept identical dimensions: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall, head 32-36 mm from chin to crown, light background, neutral expression, no head covering except for religious reasons.

The biggest country-to-country difference is the biometric scanner used at the consulate. Germany and France use Bundesdruckerei / Imprimerie Nationale systems that prefer a very flat light-grey background (#E6E6E6 to #EFEFEF) — pure white can confuse the silhouette detector. Italy, Spain, and Portugal are more relaxed and accept white. When in doubt, light grey passes everywhere.

For visa applications, the photo is glued or printed onto the application form and re-scanned at the consulate. Quality matters more than for national passports — the consular officer compares the photo to your live appearance at the biometric appointment, so the photo must be no more than six months old.

If you're applying for a Schengen visa from outside the EU, the same 35 × 45 mm photo works for all 27 countries. You apply to the country that's your main destination (most days, or first entry if all stays are equal). The photo specification doesn't change based on which consulate you visit.

Top reasons Schengen / EU passport photos get rejected

Head height outside the 32-36 mm band
Coloured or patterned background (must be uniform light)
Direct flash creating shadow on the wall behind
Smile that shows teeth or any expression beyond neutral
Hair covering eyes or eyebrows

Where to apply for your Schengen / EU passport

Schengen visa photo requirements. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/photo-requirements/ →

Studio alternative: €8 to €15 across the EU. The photo from this tool meets the same published spec — print on photo paper at home or at a drugstore for the same compliance result.

Related countries

If you also need a passport photo for a neighbouring or related country, the spec usually differs slightly. Here are the closest matches:

Germany passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, uniform light grey
France passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, fond uni clair
Italy passport photo — 35 × 45 mm, sfondo chiaro
Spain passport photo — 32 × 26 mm, fondo blanco liso

Privacy: what we do with your photo

The Schengen / EU passport photo maker runs entirely in your browser. Cropping, scaling, and background colour replacement happen on your device using the Canvas API. The background-removal step uses our private worker server, processes the image in memory only, and deletes it immediately after returning the cutout — no logs, no storage, no training data.

Page URL: https://freeheadshot.org/tools/passport-photo/schengen-eu. Spec verified against commission.europa.eu on 2026-05-22.

Questions, answered

Schengen / EU Passport Photo Maker — frequently asked questions

Is the Schengen photo size the same as my country's national passport size?

For visa applications, yes — all 27 Schengen states accept 35 × 45 mm. For national passport applications, most EU countries use the same size but a few (Spain at 32 × 26 mm, the Netherlands' biometric process) have country-specific tweaks.

Why do German and French passport photos look different from Italian or Spanish ones?

Germany and France use stricter biometric scanners that prefer light grey backgrounds and harder shadow control. Italy, Spain, and Portugal are more flexible on background colour as long as it's uniform and light.

Can I use the same photo for a Schengen visa AND my national passport?

Usually yes if both follow the 35 × 45 mm spec. The exception is Spain's national DNI photo (32 × 26 mm) — that won't satisfy the Schengen spec.

What's the ICAO 9303 standard?

ICAO Doc 9303 is the international civil aviation standard for travel-document photos. It specifies 35 × 45 mm physical size, head 70-80% of frame, light background, neutral expression. Most countries' national specs are based on it, with minor variations.

Do I need a different photo for the Schengen biometric VIS appointment?

No — the same 35 × 45 mm photo is used for the application AND the biometric appointment. The fingerprints and iris scan are captured at the consulate; the photo you bring is what goes on the visa sticker.

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