Andorra visa photos and the Servei d’Immigració standard
Andorra does not issue short-stay entry visas. Travelers who need a visa to reach the Principality apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa through France or Spain, since entering Andorra technically exits the Schengen Area and a single-entry visa would leave the traveler stranded. The Schengen visa photo follows the 35×45 mm format used at TLScontact, VFS Global, and BLS International visa application centres.
For long stays, the Servei d’Immigració in Escaldes-Engordany issues the Autorització d’Immigració and the resulting Targeta de Residència. There is no e-visa portal and no mail-in route: residency applicants must appear in person twice, once to submit the dossier with the printed photo and once to collect the card. The same 35×45 mm photo format applies.
Both channels enforce the photo rules strictly. A picture that fails on expression, pose, eyewear, headwear, or recency will be refused at the counter, which means a wasted trip to a VAC or to the immigration office in Andorra and a delay to the application.
What the Andorra visa photo must show
The Schengen visa channel (France or Spain) and Andorra’s Servei d’Immigració both enforce the same ICAO-aligned subject rules. Match them or expect rejection at intake.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe mouth must be closed and teeth must not be visible. Smiling, frowning, or any exaggerated expression is grounds for rejection.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera. The iris must not be substantially covered by the eyelid.
- Head squared to cameraThe face must be presented straight on with both sides visible symmetrically. Tilting, turning, or angling the head is not accepted.
- RecencyThe photograph must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required after significant facial changes such as surgery, major weight change, or large new facial tattoos or piercings.
Eyewear & lenses
- Clear glasses onlyClear, non-reflective prescription glasses are tolerated under current Schengen rules, but frames must not cover any part of the eyes and lenses must not be tinted. Removing glasses entirely is recommended to avoid glare rejections.
- No sunglasses or tintsTinted, photochromic, or coloured lenses are not accepted. Sunglasses are prohibited.
Hair & face
- Face fully visibleHair must not fall across the eyes or eyebrows, and must not obscure the outline of the face. A fringe that sits above the eyebrows is acceptable.
- EarsEars showing is recommended for Schengen processing. Hair should be tucked back where possible.
Headwear
- No hats or capsHeadwear is prohibited. The full face from chin to forehead must be visible without shadows cast across the features.
- Religious or medical head coveringsCoverings worn for verifiable religious or medical reasons are permitted, provided the entire face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face remain unobstructed.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- Minimal jewelryJewelry should be discreet and non-reflective. Facial piercings that obscure features or catch the light should be removed.
- Natural cosmeticsMakeup must look natural and must not alter the apparent shape, contour, or colour of facial features.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingOrdinary day clothing is required. Uniforms are not accepted, with the exception of daily-worn religious dress.
- Contrast with backgroundDarker tops are recommended so the shoulders and neckline remain distinct from the light background.
Photo quality
- No red-eyeRed-eye is grounds for rejection. The subject should avoid direct flash conditions that produce it.
- No facial shadowsShadows cast across the face, under the chin, or from items such as a hat brim are not accepted.
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 71–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 20 mm and 30 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa 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.
Andorra and the Schengen consulates relax certain subject rules for the youngest applicants.
Infants (under 1 year)
Schengen consulates and the Servei d’Immigració apply softer expression and pose rules for babies, but the subject must still appear alone in the frame.
- Expression relaxedThe neutral-expression and closed-mouth requirements are waived. Eyes should be open where possible, but closed eyes are tolerated for newborns.
- Lying-down photos allowedInfants may be photographed lying on a plain white sheet or blanket. The surface must be uniform with no patterns or objects.
- No adults or supports in frameNo part of an accompanying adult, including hands, arms, or clothing, may appear in the photograph. Visible props or seat supports are not permitted.
- Head positionSlight head tilt and limited off-axis pose are tolerated, but the full face must still be visible to the camera.
Other things to know.
Andorra’s visa situation has a few wrinkles that catch travellers out.
No Andorran entry visa
Andorra does not issue short-stay visas. Travellers who need a visa to reach the country must obtain one from France or Spain and present the same 35×45 mm photo at the relevant visa application centre.
Multiple-entry Schengen required
Entering Andorra technically exits the Schengen Area, so a single-entry Schengen visa traps the traveller on the way back. A multiple-entry Schengen visa from France or Spain is the correct document to apply for.
Residency permit, in person only
Long-stay applicants submit the Autorització d’Immigració dossier in person at the Servei d’Immigració in Escaldes-Engordany, with a printed photo. There is no e-submission and no mail-in channel, and applicants must return in person a second time to collect the Targeta de Residència.
Ignore the 50×40 mm myth
Some commercial photo shops advertise a 50×40 mm Andorran size. It has no official backing. Both the Schengen entry visa and the Andorran residence card use 35×45 mm.
Take your Andorra visa photo at home in three steps.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.