Schengen Visa Photo Guide
A Schengen visa photo is 35 × 45 mm and biometric: face-on, unretouched, eyes uncovered, on a plain light background. This guide sets out the official wording, the government sample table, the child age tiers and the framework it sits in. Verified against German mission guidance, October 2026.
The 15-second answer
The photo must be 35 × 45 mm and biometric — the face taken frontally, not retouched, the eyes not covered, and the background a single-colour light tone. The German missions publish a link to the government photo sample table for the detail.
The biometric photo rule
The official German wording for the Schengen checklist reads, in the original: “Passfotos: Ein aktuelles Passfoto, Größe 35 x 45 mm, biometrisch (Gesicht frontal aufgenommen), nicht retuschiert, Augen nicht bedeckt, Hintergrund einfarbig hell…” In English, that is four requirements on top of the size:
- Biometric (biometrisch) — the face captured frontally.
- Not retouched (nicht retuschiert) — no editing of the face.
- Eyes not covered (Augen nicht bedeckt) — nothing over the eyes.
- Plain light background (Hintergrund einfarbig hell) — a single, uniform, light colour.
The official sample table (Mustertafel)
The German missions point applicants to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) photo sample table, the Foto-Mustertafel, as the authority on what a compliant photo looks like. Cross-checking your crop against the sample table is the surest way to avoid a resubmission.
Children: two official age tiers
The missions publish the sample table in two age bands, which is the clearest signal that frames are not identical for everyone:
- 6 to 9 years — the child sample table.
- 10 years and over — the standard sample table.
Younger children are sometimes allowed a little more freedom in framing, so use the age-matched table before you shoot.
The framework around the photo
The photo is submitted with the rest of the Schengen application, and the same checklist sets conditions for the passport itself: it must be valid for at least three months and have at least two blank pages. The application form is filed on the VIDEX short-stay form. Read the full Schengen 90/180-day rule and the Schengen visa documents checklist alongside this page.
One format, many member states
The 35 × 45 mm biometric format is the Schengen standard, but each member state's mission applies and documents it in its own way. This guide reflects the German missions' published execution of that standard, which is representative but not identical to every consulate. Always check the wording published by the mission where you apply. You can produce a compliant 35 × 45 mm image with the Schengen visa photo maker and verify it with the free passport photo checker.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 x 45 mm, and it must be biometric: the face taken frontally, not retouched, the eyes not covered, and the background a plain light colour.
What makes a photo \u2018biometric\u2019?
The official wording lists four things: the face photographed frontally, no retouching, the eyes not covered, and a single-colour light background. These are the features the biometric systems check.
Is there an official sample photo?
Yes. The German missions point to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) photo sample table (Foto-Mustertafel) as the reference for what a compliant photo looks like.
Do children need a different photo?
There are two official sample tables by age: one for children aged 6 to 9, and one for persons aged 10 and over. Younger children sometimes get relaxed framing, so check the child table before shooting.
Are the rules the same in every Schengen country?
The 35 x 45 mm biometric format is the Schengen standard, but each member state's mission applies and documents it in its own way. This guide reflects the German missions' published execution; always check your specific country's mission or the EU rules for your case.
What about my passport, not the photo?
Two conditions often sit alongside the photo: the passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure, and it must have at least two blank pages.
Schengen visa photo maker → Photo size chart →
Browse all passport guides or the photo size chart.
Source note: the 35 × 45 mm size and the four biometric requirements (frontal face, not retouched, eyes uncovered, single-colour light background) are quoted from the German mission Schengen checklist (jaunde.diplo.de); the reference to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) photo sample table, the two child age tiers (6–9 years and 10 years and over) and the passport conditions (valid at least three months, at least two blank pages, VIDEX form) are from the German mission biometric-photo page (beirut.diplo.de) and the checklist. Both checked October 2026.