Luxembourg visa photos and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Luxembourg visa photographs follow the ISO/ICAO standard published by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes) and applied through the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office. The same 35 × 45 mm format covers every category the ministry issues, from short-stay Schengen Type C visas to long-stay Type D national visas and EU Blue Card applications.
There is no e-visa portal and no self-service digital upload for the Luxembourg visa. Applicants submit physical prints in person at a VFS Global visa application centre or directly at a Luxembourg embassy or consulate, where a live biometric photograph is also captured for the Visa Information System. The Schengen-standard expectation is two identical prints with the dossier, although some country-specific VFS checklists accept one.
Officers at the BPVL and at consular missions apply the ministry’s rules strictly. A photograph that fails on expression, framing, eyewear, or recency is grounds for the application to be returned or refused, which in practice means rebooking the appointment and resubmitting the full file.
Luxembourg visa photo requirements
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs applies the ICAO/Schengen photo standard to every Luxembourg visa category. The rules below cover how the subject must appear in the final image.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must carry a neutral expression with the mouth closed and teeth not visible. Smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows cause rejection.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking directly into the camera. Squinting and half-closed eyes are not accepted.
- Head straight to cameraThe head must face the camera squarely, neither turned to one side nor tilted up, down, or sideways. A full frontal portrait is required.
- Shoulders squareShoulders must be level and square to the camera so the pose reads as a formal portrait.
Eyewear & lenses
- Clear prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are permitted only if both eyes are fully visible, the frames do not cover any part of the eyes, and there is no glare on the lenses.
- Tinted lenses and sunglassesTinted lenses, coloured lenses, and sunglasses are prohibited in every case.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes, eyebrows, or the edges of the face. The full facial outline from chin to forehead must be visible.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other headwear are not permitted.
- Religious and medical exceptionsReligious head coverings and medically required headwear are accepted provided the face is fully visible from chin to forehead, both edges of the face are visible, and the covering casts no shadow on the face.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- JewelryJewelry is permitted only when it does not obscure facial features or produce reflections that interfere with the image.
- CosmeticsMakeup must look natural and must not alter the subject’s appearance. Heavy or theatrical cosmetics are not accepted.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear ordinary everyday clothing that contrasts with the light background. Uniforms are not permitted, with the exception of daily religious dress.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be free of shadows, including shadows cast by hair, headwear, or eyeglass frames.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted. The eyes must appear natural in colour.
- Sharp and stillThe subject must remain still during capture. Motion blur from the subject causes rejection.
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.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs relaxes a small number of requirements for the youngest applicants.
Infants (under 12 months)
Expression and gaze rules are relaxed for infants under one year, but the subject must still appear alone in the frame.
- Eyes may be closedInfants under one year are not required to have their eyes open, and the neutral expression and closed mouth rules are not strictly enforced.
- Subject must be aloneNo parents, hands, supports, pacifiers, or toys may appear in the photo. The infant must be the only person or object visible.
- Lying-down photosIf the infant is photographed lying down, the surface beneath must be a plain white or light grey sheet with no pattern or texture.
Other things to know.
A few practicalities about Luxembourg visa submission are worth knowing before you apply.
No e-visa channel
Luxembourg does not operate an online visa photo upload. Physical prints are submitted in person at a VFS Global visa application centre or at a Luxembourg embassy, and a live biometric photo is captured on site for the VIS database.
Bring two identical prints
The Schengen standard reflected on Guichet.lu calls for two identical photos with the application. Some country-specific VFS checklists accept one, but bringing two is the safe default.
Six-month recency limit
The photo must have been taken within the last six months. Some embassy do’s-and-don’ts pages recommend three months as best practice, so a fresh photo is always preferable for an application that may sit in queue.
MyGuichet.lu is not the visa
The MyGuichet.lu portal handles the long-stay Authorisation to Stay, but the Type D visa sticker itself still requires a physical photo submitted through VFS Global or the embassy.
Take your Luxembourg 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.