Schengen Visa Photo Maker

How to take your Schengen Visa Photo at home

1. Stand in front of a plain light background — light grey, light blue or white — with even light and no shadows.
2. Take off glasses and headwear (religious head coverings are fine if your face is fully visible), face the camera and keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
3. Use a photo taken in the last 6 months; a few consulates ask for a more recent one, so check yours if your photo is close to the limit.
4. Drop the photo above to crop it to 35 × 45 mm with the head 32–36 mm from chin to crown (about 70–80% of the photo height).
5. Print the 4 × 6 inch sheet on photo paper and cut out the copies — most consulates want two identical photos.

Common reasons your Schengen Visa Photo is rejected

• Wrong size — 35 × 40 mm or a square photo instead of 35 × 45 mm
• Head too small or too large for the 32–36 mm range
• Black-and-white photos
• Shadows, a patterned background, or glare from glasses
• Staple holes, creases or marks across the face

Handing in your Schengen visa photos

Schengen visas are applied for at the consulate of the country you are visiting (or its visa centre, such as VFS Global or TLScontact). You usually bring the printed photos to your appointment: one is glued onto the application form and one is handed in loose.

Fingerprints and, in many centres, a live photo are also taken at the appointment, but the printed photos are still part of the application.