Schengen passport photo rules from the European Commission
Schengen passport and visa photographs follow a single biometric standard set by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and implemented by each Schengen member state. The technical basis is ICAO Document 9303, adopted into EU law through Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 and its successors, which require a frontal facial image suitable for automated border verification at every external Schengen crossing.
The 35×45 mm format applies uniformly across all 29 Schengen countries and covers passports, national identity documents, Schengen short-stay visas (Type C), national long-stay visas (Type D), EU residence permits, and EU Blue Cards. Because the same photograph must be portable across consulates and border systems, member states apply the strictest common interpretation of the rules, particularly around pose, expression, and background.
Since the Entry/Exit System (EES) went live on 12 October 2025, facial images are matched biometrically at every external Schengen border. Photographs that fall outside the published specification are rejected at the application stage, and applicants are asked to resubmit, which delays passport issuance and visa appointments.
Schengen passport and visa photo requirements
Schengen states apply a single biometric photo standard built on ICAO Document 9303. The rules below describe what the subject must look like in the final image.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must be neutral with no smile, frown, or raised eyebrows. The mouth must be closed and teeth must not be visible.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking straight at the camera. Hair, frames, or shadows must not cover the eyes.
- Frontal head positionThe head must face the camera squarely with no tilt, turn, or three-quarter angle. Portrait-style poses are rejected.
- Square shouldersShoulders must be level and square to the camera, with the top of the shoulders visible in the frame.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesRemoving glasses is strongly recommended. If worn, lenses must be fully clear with no glare, frames must not cover any part of the eyes, and thick or heavy frames are routinely rejected.
- Tinted and transition lensesTinted lenses, photochromic lenses in their darkened state, and sunglasses are not permitted. The iris and pupil of each eye must be clearly visible.
- Contact lensesClear prescription contact lenses are accepted. Coloured or cosmetic lenses that change the appearance of the iris are not allowed.
Hair
- Face must be unobstructedHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the edges of the face. The full width of the face including the jawline and cheekbones must be visible.
- Bangs and fringesBangs are acceptable provided they sit above the eyebrows and do not cast shadows over the eyes.
- Wigs and hairpiecesWigs are permitted only when worn daily and representative of the applicant’s usual appearance.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other head coverings are not permitted.
- Religious and medical exceptionsHead coverings worn for religious or documented medical reasons are accepted. The covering must be a single plain colour with no patterns or embroidery, must not cast shadows on the face, and must leave the full face oval visible from the chin to above the eyebrows and across both cheek edges.
Jewelry & accessories
- Earrings and necklacesSmall, non-reflective jewelry is acceptable. Large or reflective earrings that cause glare and necklaces that cast shadows on the neck or cover the jawline should be removed.
- Facial piercingsSmall flat studs are generally accepted. Reflective or large piercings that alter facial geometry must be removed.
- Hair accessoriesVisible scrunchies, bows, headbands, and large clips should be avoided.
- Headphones and earbudsHeadphones, earbuds, and other wireless devices are strictly prohibited.
Cosmetics
- Natural appearanceMakeup must reflect the applicant’s everyday appearance and must not alter natural skin tone or facial geometry.
- Heavy makeupHeavy contouring is not permitted because it changes the perceived shape of the cheekbones, nose, and jawline used in biometric matching.
- False eyelashesDramatic or heavy false eyelashes are not permitted. They obscure the eye and interfere with feature detection.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingMedium to dark, plain civilian clothing is recommended. Tops should contrast clearly with the photo background.
- Uniforms prohibitedMilitary, police, airline, and other uniforms are not permitted. Camouflage patterns are also rejected.
- CoverageBare shoulders and deep necklines should be avoided so the applicant does not appear unclothed in the cropped photo. Religious dress that leaves the full face visible is acceptable.
Avoidable photo issues
- Shadows on the faceHeavy shadows under the nose, eyes, or chin and shadows cast by hats or hair will fail biometric checks.
- Red-eyeRed-eye must be prevented at the moment of capture. Digital red-eye correction is not accepted.
- Motion blurThe subject must remain still during capture. Soft focus or movement blur on the face causes rejection.
- Closed or partially closed eyesSquinting, blinking, or eyes partially obscured by eyelashes or hair will be rejected.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (roughly 70–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28 mm and 32 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- Top margin (from the top of the head to the top edge): 2–3 mm.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
Schengen states relax certain rules for young children and infants, reflecting ICAO guidance on photographing minors.
Infants (under 12 months)
Rules for babies are the most relaxed across the Schengen specification.
- EyesEyes do not need to be fully open.
- MouthThe mouth may be open.
- Head supportThe head may be supported by hands provided the hands are completely invisible in the final photo.
- PositionThe baby may be photographed lying on a plain light-grey blanket from above, or seated in a car seat covered with a plain light-grey cloth.
- No pacifiersPacifiers, bottles, and toys must not be visible.
Children under 6
- ExpressionA neutral expression is not required.
- GazeThe child does not need to look directly at the camera but should face forward.
- Head tiltA minor head tilt is acceptable.
- Eyes and mouthBoth eyes should be open and the mouth closed where reasonably achievable.
Children under 10
- Head sizeThe head height requirement is relaxed compared to adults to accommodate smaller facial proportions.
- Adult rules otherwise applyExpression, gaze, and pose follow the adult standard. The child must face the camera with a neutral expression and a closed mouth.
Country-specific details to know.
A few characteristics of the Schengen photo specification are worth flagging because they drive most rejections.
ICAO 9303 alignment
The Schengen photo specification implements ICAO Document 9303, the same international standard used for machine-readable travel documents worldwide. A photo that meets the Schengen rules is also compliant for most other ICAO member states.
Crown means top of skull
Head height is measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the skull, not the top of voluminous hair. Tall hairstyles that push the measurement to the top of the hair are a frequent rejection cause.
Six-month recency rule
The photo must have been taken within the previous six months and must represent the applicant’s current appearance. Significant changes such as new facial tattoos, major weight change, or facial surgery require a new photo.
EES biometric matching
The EU Entry/Exit System has been operational since 12 October 2025. Photographs are now matched digitally at external Schengen border crossings, so subject-side compliance with pose, expression, and visibility rules is enforced more strictly than in earlier years.
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Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- High-quality photographic paper with a matte finish.
- Inkjet printing is not accepted. Use a professional photo lab.
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.
- 2 identical prints are required.