Iceland visa photos under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Iceland’s short-stay Schengen visa is administered by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Utanríkisráðuneytið), while long-stay and residence permits sit with the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun). Both authorities share a single photo standard, a 35 × 45 mm print against a plain white background, taken within the last six months. The supporting-documents checklist on island.is lists this print as a required item for every applicant.
There is no Icelandic e-visa. Applications are lodged in person at a VFS Global visa application centre, an Icelandic embassy, or, in roughly one hundred countries without Icelandic representation, at the visa centre of a representing Schengen state such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, or Lithuania. A live biometric facial image is captured on site in addition to the printed photo, so applicants should default to bringing a compliant print unless their specific mission directs otherwise.
Iceland’s consular posts and VFS staff apply the Schengen biometric rules strictly. A photo that does not meet the size, background, expression, or recency requirements will be refused at the counter, which means a rebooked appointment and a delayed application. Producing one print that already conforms to the published 35 × 45 mm standard is the simplest way to clear intake on the first visit.
What the Icelandic visa photo must show
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Directorate of Immigration apply Schengen biometric rules to every Icelandic visa photo. The subject must meet the following conditions.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe mouth must be closed with no smile, no raised eyebrows, and no visible teeth. The face must show a calm, neutral expression throughout the frame.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be open, clearly visible, and looking directly into the lens. Hair, glare, or shadows must not obscure either eye.
- Head squared to cameraThe head must face the camera straight on with no tilting, turning, or nodding. Both sides of the face must be equally visible.
- Photo recencyThe photograph must have been taken within the previous six months and must still reflect the applicant’s current appearance. Significant changes in appearance require a new photo.
Eyewear & lenses
- Clear prescription glassesGlasses are permitted only if the lenses are completely clear, the frames are thin and do not cover the eyes, and there is no reflection on the lenses. VFS Global staff frequently ask applicants to remove glasses at lodgement, so removing them in advance is the safer choice.
- Tinted lenses and sunglassesTinted lenses, photochromic lenses that have darkened, and sunglasses are strictly prohibited under Icelandic and Schengen rules.
Hair & facial features
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the edges of the face. Ears do not need to be visible.
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be free of shadows cast by hair, hats, or other objects. Shadows around the eyes, nose, or jawline can trigger rejection by VFS Global or the consulate.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHeadwear is prohibited except where worn daily for religious or medical reasons. When worn, it must not cast shadows and must leave the full face visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges of the face exposed.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- Discreet jewelryJewelry and piercings are allowed only if they do not obscure facial features or cause glare.
- Natural makeupCosmetics must be natural and must not materially alter facial features or skin tone. Heavy or transformative makeup is not accepted.
Clothing
- Plain everyday clothingClothing must be plain and should contrast with the white background. Uniforms are not accepted, and white or very light tops should be avoided so the shoulders remain distinct from the backdrop.
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 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 25 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.
Iceland publishes no separate paediatric checklist, but the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and VFS Global relax certain composition rules for the youngest applicants.
Infants (under 12 months)
For babies under one year old, neutral expression and perfect eye alignment are not required, but the photo must still show the child alone against a plain white field.
- Eyes and expressionClosed eyes are tolerated for infants under one year, and the neutral expression rule is relaxed. A closed, relaxed mouth is preferred.
- Posing the babyThe child may be photographed lying on a plain white sheet or seated in a baby seat draped in white, provided the face remains squared to the camera.
- Nobody else in frameNo hands, arms, supporting persons, pacifiers, bottles, or toys may appear anywhere in the frame. Only the infant may be visible.
Other things to know.
A few procedural quirks set Iceland apart from other Schengen destinations.
No e-visa channel
Iceland does not operate an electronic visa. Every Schengen visa for Iceland is lodged in person so that fingerprints and a live facial image can be captured, and a printed 35 by 45 mm photo is still expected at the appointment.
Print plus live biometric
At most posts, VFS Global or the embassy will photograph the applicant on site for the Visa Information System in addition to taking the printed photo. The print is not optional just because a live capture is performed.
Representation by other Schengen states
In around one hundred countries Iceland has no mission of its own and is represented by Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, or Lithuania. Applications are filed at the representing state’s visa application centre, but the photo specification remains 35 by 45 mm against a white background.
Washington D.C. exception
The Icelandic embassy in Washington D.C. photographs applicants on location and states that an applicant-supplied print is not required at that post. Applicants outside Washington should still bring a compliant print unless their specific post says otherwise.
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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.