Schengen Visa Photo

Schengen Visa India: The perfect photo

When you’re an Indian citizen and want to travel to the Schengen area, you need to apply for a Schengen Visa. For your application to be successful you need to attach two identical biometric photos that were taken recently. Our Schengen Visa photo guideline will provide you with all the necessary information on the perfect photo and we’ll also show you how you can create it all on your own - with just your phone. 

Schengen Visa Photo: Requirements

The requirements for a visa photo are the same as the standards adopted by the European Union. These might differ from Indian visa photo specifications. So here is what you have to pay attention to:

Size and Format for your Schengen Visa Photo

The biometric photo for your Schengen visa needs to be 35mm wide and 45mm high (35x45mm). Your entire face and the top part of your shoulders should be visible. Your face should make up 70 - 80 % of the picture. The image needs to be in colour and sharp.

Schengen Visa Photo Quality

If you want your application to be successful the picture you’re submitting should be clean, spotless and without any creases. It mustn't be blurry or pixelated so that your face and features are clearly visible. It’s also important that there weren't any filters used and that the picture wasn’t altered in any way. Your features as well as the colour of your skin and eyes need to be true to the original.

The perfect Background in Visa Photos

For your photo you’ll need a light coloured and plain background. It should be free of any patterns and “clutter”. If you don’t have a white or light-coloured wall in your house you can always put up a clean sheet. In this case it’s important that there are now shadows or wrinkles on the sheet. If you don’t have an appropriate wall or sheet at your disposal, our passport photo tool is here to help you. It will remove the background in your picture and replace it with a white one. So there is one thing less to worry about.

Lighting in your Visa Photo

Pay attention to the lighting. The photo mustn't be under or overexposed. Your whole face needs to be lit evenly and there shouldn’t be any shadows or reflections.

What to do with your Face and Eyes in a Visa Photo

When taking the photo you need to look straight into the camera and keep both eyes open. You’re also not allowed to smile and have to hold a neutral facial expression. Keep your mouth shut as you shouldn’t show any teeth and don’t tilt your head. Try to avoid the red-eye effect as this will cause your photo to be denied. Also make sure that no hair is covering your face and that your facial features remain clearly visible.

Rules for Glasses and Accessories in Visa Photos

Prescription glasses are allowed on visa photos, sunglasses and any glasses with tinted lenses, however, aren’t. Your eyes need to remain fully visible and they shouldn’t be covered by the frame. Make sure that the glasses don’t cause any reflections or glare.

Please note that it’s forbidden to wear hats, caps or similar accessories in the picture. The only exception is religious headwear. You’re allowed to keep it on, if your face is still fully visible from the tip of the chin to your forehead.

How to take your Schengen Visa Photo with your Phone

There is no need to get the help of a professional as you can take your visa photos on your own. All you need is a smartphone, a tablet or a digital camera and our passport photo tool. It helps you prepare the perfect photo for your visa application and brings you one step closer to being accepted. You can either use the editor here on our website or download the free app in the Google Play Store or in the App Store. Our Schengen Visa photo guidline from above gave you all the information you need to create the perfect picture.

It works in three easy steps:

1. Take your picture with a smartphone, a tablet or a digital camera and upload it.
2. Our AI-based software checks the picture, resizes it to fit the official requirements and replaces the background.
3. Afterwards a human professional will re-check and verify your photo. If everything looks good, we will send a digital photo template (JPEG-format) to your e-mail address.

All done! Now you’ve got the perfect photo for your Schengen Visa application ready. You can take the template to any printing station nearby or, if you prefer it that way, order the photos directly from our website. They will then be sent to your home address. No fuss, no stress.

A tip from us: When taking the pictures the camera needs to be placed about 1,5 m away from your face. So we recommend you ask someone for help or use a tripod.

Your Benefits When Using Our Visa Photo Tool

With Passport Photo Online you can save time and money by taking your visa photos on your own. But that’s not all. Our photo editor provides you with many more benefits:

Background remover

When you’re using our web editor or app you don’t have to worry about the right background for your picture. Usually we don’t have a perfectly coloured and clutter-free wall in our homes and there is no need to find one. Our AI-based software can remove and replace the background of the photo in order to fit the requirements. Just let us take care of it. 

Endless tries

With Passport Photo Online there is no rush or pressure. Take your time and as many photos as you like. We want you to be happy with your photo and fully satisfied. You’ll only pay for the final picture so it’s completely up to you how often you want to retake your photo.

Acceptance Guarantee

All our photos are checked and verified by our software and human experts. They make sure that the size, lighting, background, head position etc. suit the official requirements. This means every picture that is purchased from us comes with a guarantee of acceptance. If your photo is rejected for any reason by officials, we will offer you a 200% refund. You’re in safe hands with us!