Schengen Visa Photo Size — 35×45 mm, Pixels and VFS Rules
Schengen visa photo size in every unit — 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm, 413×531 px at 300 dpi), the 70–80% head band, the UK's 45×35 notation trap, and what VFS adds.
The Schengen visa photo is 35 mm wide × 45 mm high — the standard ICAO portrait that most of Europe, India, Japan and Australia also use. Under Annex VI of the EU Visa Code the head must fill 70–80% of the image height, which lands at 32–36 mm on a 45 mm print. The print size is harmonized across Schengen states; the upload mechanics are not. This page is the size deep-dive — for the full requirements (expression, coverings, print quality) see Schengen visa photo requirements.
The size in every unit
| Unit | Width × height | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 35×45 mm | as published by consulates |
| Centimetres | 3.5×4.5 cm | what photo labs write on the sleeve |
| Inches | ≈1.38×1.77 in | mm ÷ 25.4 — not a US inch spec |
| Pixels @200 dpi | ≈276×354 px | light draft print |
| Pixels @300 dpi | 413×531 px | lab-standard print |
| Pixels @600 dpi | ≈827×1063 px | maximum-quality print |
| Shape | 7:9 portrait | width ÷ height ≈ 0.78 |
px = mm ÷ 25.4 × dpi — the same math every print spec uses (worked examples here). When a portal publishes its own pixel window, that number outranks any conversion.
35×45 vs 45×35 — the notation trap
The single most-confused line in this spec family. GOV.UK publishes the UK passport photo as “45 mm high × 35 mm wide”; the EU publishes the visa photo as “35×45 mm” (width first). They are the same rectangle — 35 across, 45 down, portrait orientation. Nobody wants a landscape photo; the two notations just list the sides in a different order.
Where the trap becomes real: the contents of the rectangle differ.
| UK passport | Schengen visa | |
|---|---|---|
| 45×35 mm (same 35×45 mm rectangle) | 35×45 mm | |
| Head (crown→chin) | 29–34 mm (64–76%) | 32–36 mm (70–80%) |
| Background | light grey or cream | plain light (white/grey) |
| Photo age | <1 month (online) | ≤6 months |
| Glasses | allowed, no glare | discouraged |
Same paper, different photo. A UK-framed shot can sit with the head at 30 mm — perfect for HMPO, 2 mm under the Schengen floor — and a Schengen-tight crop at 36 mm can overshoot the UK ceiling. If you're filing both, crop each output for its own band from the same source photo. The [converter table](/photo-size-converter-table/) puts every spec's head band side by side.
What stays harmonized, what the channel adds
Two layers of rules apply to a Schengen filing:
Harmonized (EU level): the 35×45 mm print size, the 70–80% head band, a plain light background, a photo ≤6 months old, neutral expression. These follow the ICAO template and don’t change between Schengen states — the ICAO 9303 spec is the reference card.
Channel level (consulate / outsourced centre): pixel windows, file-size caps, how many prints, and background tone preferences. Most Schengen filings go through an outsourced centre — VFS Global, BLS International or TLScontact — and each publishes a per-destination photo checklist. Three real-world wrinkles:
- Background tone. “Plain light” is the harmonized wording, but individual checklists often name white specifically — and Chinese-style strictness aside, a grey booth backdrop that passed the UK counter can draw a question at a Schengen one. White is the safe default.
- Number of prints. Most checklists want one photo on the form; some want two. The count is a consulate detail, not an EU rule.
- Biometrics at the centre. Many appointments include a live facial capture alongside fingerprinting. That capture is separate from your submitted 35×45 mm photo — the print is still checked at the counter, and a non-compliant one can cost you the slot even if the live image is fine. Most VFS centres have a photo booth on site for exactly this failure.
National wrinkles inside Schengen
The 35×45 mm size itself is fixed, but member states wrap it in their own photo documents:
- Germany applies the Bundesdruckerei biometric template (the Fotomustertafel) — the same 35×45 mm frame with the face at 70–80% of the height, and the same template covers the German passport and ID card.
- France runs an e-photo system for online filings: rather than uploading a file you cropped yourself, you enter a photo code issued by an approved booth or photographer. Counter filings still take the 35×45 mm print.
- Other states follow the harmonized print spec through their own consulate checklists — which is why the safest instruction is always the checklist of the consulate or centre you file through, not a generic “Schengen photo” guide.
Sources
Related: Schengen visa photo requirements · UK passport photo size · the full spec converter table · US passport & visa specs · why photos get rejected.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Schengen visa photo 35×45 mm or 45×35 mm?
35 mm wide × 45 mm high — Europe writes the width first. GOV.UK writes the same rectangle the other way round ("45 high × 35 wide"), so a UK passport photo is the same piece of paper. What actually differs is the crop inside: Schengen wants the head at 32–36 mm, the UK at 29–34 mm.
What size is a Schengen visa photo in pixels?
There is no EU-wide pixel spec — the print size is harmonized, the upload window is not. At the lab-standard 300 dpi, 35×45 mm is 413×531 px, but the portal you file through (a consulate form, VFS Global, BLS or TLScontact) sets its own pixel and KB limits. Check your channel's checklist.
Can I use a UK passport photo for a Schengen visa?
The print size matches — same 35×45 mm rectangle — but the crop may not. The UK head band is 29–34 mm; Schengen's is 32–36 mm. A UK-framed photo with a small head can come in under the Schengen floor. Re-crop from the original so the head measures 32–36 mm.
Does VFS take the photo at the visa centre?
Often both things happen: your submitted 35×45 mm photo is checked at the counter, and the centre also captures biometrics — fingerprints and a live facial image — at the appointment. The live capture doesn't replace the submitted photo, and a rejected print can still cost you the visit. Many VFS centres sell photo services on site.
Is a Schengen photo the same size as a US visa photo?
No — different shapes entirely. The US uses a 2×2 in (51×51 mm) square with a 25–35 mm head; Schengen uses a 35×45 mm portrait with a 32–36 mm head. Neither can be trimmed into the other; you re-crop from the original photo.
How many photos do I need for a Schengen visa?
The consulate's checklist sets the count — most ask for one recent photo glued to the form, some ask for two. The photo must be no more than six months old in either case.