Austria Visa Photo: Size and Standards [And a Hassle-Free Visa Photo Tool]

Get your perfect biometric photo (compliance guaranteed)

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approved
ID photos
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Austria Visa Photo: Size and Standards [And a Hassle-Free Visa Photo Tool]
1M+
approved
ID photos
200%
Guarantee of
acceptance

How does it work?

Get the perfect biometric photo in 3 minutes or less.

Check out just how simple it is!

Snap or upload a photo

Snap or upload a photo

That's the only thing you need to do. Snap or upload a photo - we'll take care of the rest.

AI prepares the photo

AI prepares the photo

Artificial Intelligence will check your photo, crop it to the right size and remove the background.

Expert verification

Expert verification

Our Photo Expert will make additional verification to check if your photo meets the official requirements.

Digital or print photos

Digital or print photos

You can download a digital version and order a printout which we will send within 2-4 days. Delivery is free!

Why?

Take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home

You save time and money

Convenience

Don't waste time, effort or money. You can take your passport photo without leaving home.

Professional service

Over 1 million people have used our services within the past 11 years. Our Photo Experts are available 24/7.

Money-back guarantee

We guarantee the authorities will accept your photo(s) or we will refund double your purchase cost!

Satisfaction guarantee

Take as many photo shots as you want - you pay only when you are satisfied.

How to take a photo?

Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.

Follow these simple instruction to take the perfect ID photo.

1

Body-camera distance

The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.

2

Posture: Straight ahead

Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.

3

Lighting

Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.

Austrian Visa Photo - Size and Requirements

Austria Visa Photo: Size and Standards
Size
Width: 35 mm
Height: 45 mm
Resolution
600 dpi
Is it suitable for online submission?
Yes
Image definition parameters
Head height: 34 mm
Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
Is it printable?
Yes
Background Color
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Austria Visa Photo - All You Need to Know

Austria visa photo specifications

Since 1997, Austria has been a state member of the Schengen Area, which has standard visa rules for foreign visitors. While some countries and their nationals are granted visa-free entry and unlimited stay in the Schengen area, others must go through the tiresome application process in order to receive a visa and, consequently, the permission to enter and stay on the Schengen territory. The citizens of countries that do not need a visa to enter Austria can only stay for 90 days every half a year, and they need to fill out the residence registration form at a local registration office. However, nationals of EEA countries (EU member countries, Lichtenstein, Iceland, and Norway) and Switzerland are allowed to stay for an unlimited period of time. 

When applying for an Austrian visa or any other Schengen visa, a photo will be essential for your application. Our guide discloses Austrian Visa Photo specifications and which documents are required for the application process.

Austria visa photo - an online guide

Obtaining an Austrian visa should not be an impossible mission. Nevertheless, each country has different rules concerning its official documents. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that you are well informed to meet all requirements before you hand in your application for a visa. Everyone who applies for an Austrian visa must include a photograph of themselves in the application, and the photo has to follow specific criteria to be accepted. You can choose to make your photo in a photo studio, or you can use a professional and very convenient online photo service, Passport Photo Online, right from your home.

Austria visa photo size

The size of the Austrian visa photo has to be 35mm in width and 45mm in height. The photograph must include the whole head of the applicant, including the hairstyle. Around 70-80% of the picture must be filled with the applicant’s face, with an acceptable face height of 32-36mm. The head position must be straight (portrait photos are not allowed), and the face should not be covered by any object. 

Austrian visa photo - requirements

  • The photo must not be older than six months (it must reflect the current look of the applicant).
  • The photo must be in color. 
  • The background must be in light color (light gray is suggested).
  • The applicant must look straight into the camera. 
  • The applicant must retain a neutral facial expression (light smiling is allowed, but the mouth must stay closed).
  • Wearing clothes that match the background should be avoided. 
  • Eyes must be visible, wide open, and not obscured by hair or else.
  • Optical glasses are allowed if necessary, and if wearing them does not change the look. When wearing glasses, the applicant’s eyes must be visible and not covered by frames. 
  • Religious headwear is allowed only if the face is visible from the lower tip of the chin to the forehead (e.g., a hijab scarf is permitted, but not a niqab). 
  • The photo must be of good quality - sharply focused, high contrast.
  • The skin tone must be neutral. 
  • The photo must be printed on high-quality picture paper with at least 600 dpi printing resolution.

Austrian visa photo online tool - take your photo at home

If you are looking for convenient software that enables you to make visa or passport photos right from your home, check Passport Photo Online!

It is a professional ready-to-use solution that assists you at every step of the process to get a perfect passport or visa photo. All you need to have is a smartphone or camera, a proper facial expression, and a correct pose. Passport Photo Online software which utilizes AI (artificial intelligence), will do all the rest, including image uploading, editing the background, cropping, and double-checking whether the photo meets all official national standards.

Visa or passport photos requirements are similar in most countries, and they differ only in minor details such as the size of the photo or the size of the face in the photo. If the photograph is not in line with all rules at the national level, your application process will be prolonged; therefore, to avoid disappointment, it is important to make sure that your photo is valid and correctly taken. However, if you decide to use our online visa photo maker, we guarantee that your picture will be accepted by any institution you are applying to. 

How does the Austrian visa photo maker work

In order to get a perfect photo that meets all requirements for an Austrian visa application, you can use our online service or download the mobile application. If you decide to take a photo with your smartphone, then we advise you to follow the steps below:

  1. Download the Passport Photo Online application on your smartphone - it is available in both AppStore and GooglePlay.
  2. Make a photo that is not a selfie. You can ask a friend or a family member to take a picture of you, or you can use the self-timer feature. 
  3. Open the application and choose the type of documents you are applying for.
  4. Upload the photo.
  5. The software will analyze the photo to check whether it meets the requirements.
  6. In the end, if the photo is approved, you can choose a premium option to receive only a digital photo via email, or in case you want a physical photo as well, then you can choose a premium+printing option. 

Whichever option you choose, your photo will be verified by experts before you receive it, and if anything is wrong, you will be notified promptly to take another photo, and we will also let you know which mistakes to avoid. 

Instead of downloading the application, you can also use the online service. In that case, you will have to go to the Passport Photo Online website, choose the desired document, upload your photo, and within minutes, you will see the result. The good thing about using an online passport photo maker is that you can try different outfits, wear different make-ups, and take as many photos as you like. In the end, you are the one who chooses the best photo for your identification card.

With our technological solution, we are determined to end the era of ugly passport and visa photos! 

The commonly made mistakes on photos for Austrian visa application and how to avoid them

Suppose you decide to use our digital service and take the Austria visa photo at home. In that case, we advise you to follow the above-specified requirements carefully because any small mistake can lead to the rejection of your application. We created a list of the most common mistakes that you should keep in mind when taking and submitting your photos. 

Wrong photo size 

One of the common reasons why visa pictures get rejected is the wrong size. The accepted size for an Austrian visa photo is 35 mm x 45 mm. You do not need to worry if your photo is bigger because you can always crop it to the required size or let our software do it for you. 

Edited photos

People like to edit photos and use special filters, especially when it comes to creating social media posts. For this reason, almost all smartphones now include diverse options you can choose when taking your photo (e.g., reduce wrinkles, remove scars, etc.). However, the photo required for the Austrian visa application must not be edited because it has to show the person accurately. Edited pictures will lead to the rejection of the whole application. 

Wrong head position

Portrait photos will not be approved for an Austrian visa or passport photo; therefore, make sure that your head is in a straight position (not tilted) with your eyes looking straight forward into the camera. 

Selfies

Taking selfies has become a global phenomenon, and everybody enjoys making them. However, when it comes to visas or passports, selfies will not be accepted. You have to ask somebody else to take a photo of you from a distance of approximately 1.5m, or you can use a self-timer on your mobile device or camera. 

Poor quality

The photo must be sharp and have a clear focus on the applicant’s face. It should be printed on high-quality photograph paper, which must not be damaged or dirty, nor have ceases or layers. The face of the applicant must be evenly lit. Shading on the face and reflections must be avoided. 

Overexposure or underexposure

Although using flashes and selfie lights might make our photo more attractive, in most cases, artificial lights create shadows that appear on your photo, which is not recommended for visa photos. Too much light can lead to overexposure in photography (too bright photos). But also, if you have too little light, your photos might be underexposed (too dark). We advise you to take your picture in the daylight because it will make your skin look natural and create a balance between overexposure and underexposure. 

Red eyes

The visa photo should represent the applicant as accurately as possible, meaning that photos with red eyes will be rejected. The natural eye color must be apparent. 

One of the leading causes for red eyes is the camera’s flash; therefore, you should turn it off when taking your visa photo or use the anti-red eye function.

Inappropriate background

It is important to remember that some countries are strict when it comes to the background color (e.g., Russia allows only white or off-white). For the Austrian visa, the background must be in light shades; if possible, you should use light grey. Colorful backgrounds must be avoided.

Last update: 9/24/23

About the document

Austrian Visa 

While visitors arriving from EEA member states or Switzerland do not need a visa, nationals of other countries will need it to be eligible to enter and stay on the Austrian territory. Although some third-country citizens are allowed to remain in Austria without a visa for up to 90 days within six months, you will need to apply for a specific visa if you want to work or study as a third-country national. 

Austrian visa categories

Austrian visas are divided into four categories:

  • Visa A (airport transit visa) - required for the legal stay in the transit zone of the Austrian airport. Nationals of the following countries need this visa: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria.
  • Visa C (Austrian tourist visa) - intended for touristic purposes (the applicant must not stay longer than 90 days). This visa entitles the applicant to visit Austria and countries that belong to the Schengen area. 
  • Visa D (residence visa) - required for a stay in Austria longer than 90 days. Usually, the duration of this visa is six months, with an exemption for student and work visas, which are generally valid for up to 12 months. Visa D holders can move freely in all Schengen member states. 

Visa fees

The fee for a visa covers the examination of the visa process, and it cannot be refunded in case the visa application is refused. The costs for different types of visas are listed below:

  • Visa A: free of charge
  • Visa C (for adults): 80 Euros
  • Visa C (for children 6 - 12 years old): 40 Euros
  • Visa C (for children below 6 years): free of charge 
  • Visa C (for citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine): 35 Euros
  • Visa D (study abroad, employment, intern, etc.): 150 Euros

How to apply for an Austrian visa

To apply for any type of Austrian visa, you have to do the following steps:

  1. Fill in the application form.
  2. Gather all required documents. 
  3. Make a visa appointment in the Austrian embassy in your country or directly in Austria (if you can enter the country without the visa).
  4. Prepare for the final interview. 

It is advisable to submit the application at least 15 days or at most 6 months before coming to Austria. The processing time will take approximately 15 days, but sometimes it can take a bit longer; therefore, you should plan your application process accordingly. 

Required documents for an Austrian visa 

Depending on the purpose of the trip and the type of visa needed, different documents are required. The following documents are essential and must be presented by all visa applicants:

  • Fully completed application form.
  • Copy of valid passport. Make sure that the passport is not older than 10 years and that it is valid for at least three months beyond the expiration date of your visa.
  • Copy of previous Schengen visas, if any.
  • Passport-size photo that meets all requirements. All photos that are not up to standard will be rejected.
  • Proof of medical insurance covering at least 30,000 Euros.
  • Proof of financial means in the form of a bank account statement, sponsorship letter, or a combination of both.
  • Proof of accommodation in Austria (hotel booking, rental agreement, or invitation letter).
  • Proof of paid visa fee.

Specific documents are further required based on the applicant’s employment status. 

Employees must additionally submit an employer’s declaration. At the same time, self-employed individuals have to hand in a copy of their business license, a letter from the accountant, and another letter from tax authorities. 

When applying for a student visa in Austrian, the applicant will have to submit proof of enrollment, proof of paid tuition fee, and university records from the previous universities (if applicable).

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

What size is Austrian visa photo?

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The Austrian visa photo should be 35mm in width x 45mm in height.

Can I take Austrian visa photo with my phone?

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Yes, you can! It is much easier than going to a photo studio. All you have to do is download a passport photo app, take a picture of yourself or ask somebody to do it for you, upload it, and the app will do all the rest.

What are the requirments for Austrian visa photo?

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The photo must not be older than 6 months. The applicant must have a neutral facial expression (light smiling is allowed, but the mouth must stay closed) and look straight into the camera. The photos must be 35mm in width and 45mm in height. Headgear is not allowed, except if it serves religious purposes.

The background in the Austrian visa photo must be in light shades, preferably light grey.

No! You have to submit your visa photo together with all required documents in person at the Austrian representative authority (embassy or consulate).

You can wear your ordinary clothes. Wearing a uniform of any kind or headgear is not allowed. Exceptions are possible for religious reasons, but your face must be visible from the lower tip of your chin to your forehead.

Most physical photo studios charge between 12 to 25 Euros, but the price is much lower if you use a passport photo app.

Yes! Wearing make-up is allowed, but it should not be too heavy. The photo must be an accurate representation of yourself.

You can wear optical glasses, but only if necessary. However, your eyes should be visible, and frames must not cover them.