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Schengen Visa Photo — 35×45 mm EU Visa Code

For a tourist, business, student or family-visit visa application to the 29 Schengen states (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania + 21 more), prepare the 35×45 mm biometric photo you submit via VFS Global / TLScontact / iDATA / BLS with AI in 30 seconds — EU Visa Code Annex VI + ICAO 9303 compliant, 32-36 mm head height, light grey background, optimised for the VIS biometric quality score.

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ICAO 9303 compliant 35×45 mm Schengen visa photo example, light grey background

Key takeaways

  • 29 Schengen countries in 2026 (Croatia 2023, Bulgaria + Romania 2024/2025)
  • 35×45 mm, head 32-36 mm, light grey background (white may fail for Germany)
  • €90 adult / €45 child (6-12) / free 0-6 — 2025 fee increase
  • VFS Global / TLScontact / iDATA (Germany) / BLS — digital upload differences

Prepare the 35×45 mm biometric photo you submit via VFS Global / TLScontact / iDATA / BLS for short-stay (Type C, 90/180 rule) Schengen visa applications — tourism, business, student, family visit or cultural/sports events — to any of the 29 Schengen states including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.

How it works

Schengen Visa Photo — 35×45 mm EU Visa Code — get it right in 4 steps.

  1. Pick the VAC: VFS, TLS, iDATA or BLS

    For Germany [[ext:https://www.idata.com.tr|iDATA]], for France/Switzerland TLScontact, for most of Italy/Netherlands/Greece/Spain VFS Global, for some regions of Spain BLS International. Each VAC has different digital-upload size/limit rules.

  2. Shoot in front of a plain wall with a neutral expression

    Phone at eye level; removing glasses is safest (Germany bans glasses entirely). Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, direct look — the VIS automated biometric quality score has been active since 2025.

  3. Upload the photo and get the Schengen check

    The AI scores the 32-36 mm head-height band, 70-80% face ratio, light grey background and eye line against EU Visa Code Annex VI. A Germany-strict mode (fixed 32-36 mm, no glasses) can be auto-selected.

  4. Ship / upload two formats: 2 prints + digital JPEG

    For the VAC appointment 2 identical 35×45 mm prints (8-up with cut marks on a 10×15 sheet). The digital JPEG is auto-optimised per portal (VFS: 400×514–1054×1350 px max 5 MB; TLS: 60-300 KB 600×800–1200×1600 px).

How much does an ID photo cost? (2026)

Photo analysis and the biometric compliance check are completely free. Digital file and print prices are below — identical to the live prices in the order wizard.

Service Price
Photo analysis & biometric check Free · No sign-up · Results in seconds Free
Digital File Print-ready high-resolution file, instant download. 50.00 TRY
EU Passport & Schengen Visa print package 8 photos (3.5 × 4.5 cm) · Your photos are printed in your chosen size and quantity and delivered to your address. 250.00 TRY
Cargo 100.00 TRY
Prices include VAT.

Technical specifications

Standard
EU Visa Code Annex VI (Reg. 810/2009) / ICAO 9303
Authority
EU consular network — 29 member states / VFS / TLS / iDATA / BLS
Size
35×45 mm (portrait)
Head height
32–36 mm (face 70-80% of the frame)
Background
Light grey (preferred); white may fail in Germany/France/Switzerland
Colour
RGB colour, natural skin tone
Quantity
2 identical prints + 1 digital JPEG (VAC portal)
VFS digital
JPEG 400×514–1054×1350 px, max 5 MB
TLS digital
JPEG 60-300 KB, 600×800–1200×1600 px
Glasses
Glare-free allowed in EU baseline; BANNED for Germany
Fee 2026
€90 adult / €45 (6-12) / 0-6 free
Processing
Standard 15 days / express 5 working days / high season up to 45
VIS scoring
Automated biometric quality since 2025 (≥0.6 required)
Fingerprints
5-year validity (extended from 4.5 in 2026)
Freshness
Photo last 6 months; visa 90/180 rule

Requirements checklist

  • Size 35×45 mm; head 32-36 mm (face 70-80%).
  • Light grey background (white risky for Germany).
  • 2 identical prints + digital JPEG (per VAC portal size).
  • Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera.
  • Germany: glasses fully BANNED; others allow glare-free.
  • Photo within the last 6 months, colour (RGB), no retouching.
  • Fee €90 + VAC service fee payment ready.
  • Optimised for VIS biometric score ≥0.6.
  • 90/180 rule: max 90 days travel within a rolling 180-day window.
  • EES 2026: fingerprints + face image biometric border check.

Related document sizes

Official photo sizes for documents related to this page, with pixel equivalents.

Document Physical size Pixels (300 DPI) Background Note
EU Passport & Schengen Visa 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px White or light grey ICAO compliant
Bar Association ID 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px White ICAO biometric
United Kingdom Passport 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px Cream / Light grey ICAO compliant
Australia Visa 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px White ICAO compliant
US Passport & Visa 5.1 × 5.1 cm (2×2 in) 600 × 600 px White Square format required
Passport (TR) 5 × 6 cm 591 × 709 px White ICAO biometric
Russia Visa 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px White Compatible with most countries
Canada Visa 5 × 7 cm 591 × 827 px White IRCC, back-of-print note

Schengen Visa Photo Rules (2026): One Standard for 29 Countries

As of 2026 the Schengen Area comprises **29 member states**: Croatia joined in 2023, Bulgaria and Romania in 2024/2025 (air/sea in March 2024, land borders in January 2025), replacing the classic 27. A Schengen Type C visa is valid across **all 29 states** and grants 90 days of travel within a rolling 180-day window. The photo standard is unified across all 29 countries by the EU Visa Code (Regulation EC 810/2009, Annex VI): 35×45 mm portrait, ICAO 9303 compliant, light grey background, 32-36 mm head height.

The same standard is shared with UK visa (BRP), Australia visa and 35×45 mm passports; see the 35×45 mm photo page for size details. **Since 2026 the photo also goes through the automated VIS biometric quality score**: a score below 0.6 on the 0-1 scale flags the photo as "retake required" and adds 2-4 weeks to processing. vesikalik.com.tr checks exactly the criteria VIS measures — head angle, face ratio, background uniformity and eye alignment.

VFS Global, TLScontact, iDATA, BLS: Which One Applies to You?

Schengen VAC (Visa Application Centre) — digital upload rules per country (2026)
VACFor which countryDigital JPEG specStrictness note
iDATAGermany (official intermediary in Turkey)Portal-specific: 300 KB – 2 MB, min 400×514STRICTEST: light-grey background, glasses fully banned, 32-36 mm fixed
VFS GlobalItaly, Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Austria, etc.JPEG 400×514 – 1054×1350 px, max 5 MBEU baseline (flexible): glare-free glasses allowed
TLScontactFrance, Switzerland, Belgium (some regions)JPEG 60-300 KB, 600×800 – 1200×1600 pxMedium strictness: cream-to-grey background range, glare-free glasses allowed
BLS InternationalSpain (some regions), PortugalJPEG varies per portalHead-position ±2 mm centring strictness
Direct consulateSpecial cases (family reunification, etc.)Varies per consulateFull literal ICAO 9303 enforcement

For applicants **living in Turkey**, the critical distinction is Germany vs the rest: **Germany applications go through iDATA**, and iDATA applies the strictest criteria — light-grey background mandatory (white typically marked as "not preferred"), glasses **fully banned** (even where EU baseline allows), head height fixed at 32-36 mm (no flexibility). VFS Global, TLScontact and BLS follow the EU baseline and are more flexible.

vesikalik.com.tr's "Schengen mode" auto-adjusts rules by chosen country: for Germany the "Germany-strict mode" activates (glasses trigger a red flag, light grey background enforced); for France/Switzerland medium strictness; for Italy/Netherlands EU baseline. The same source shot can produce different optimised outputs for multiple Schengen countries on the same day.

The Most Critical Measurement: 32–36 mm Head Height and VIS Scoring

The most common technical reason for Schengen rejections is head height: 32–36 mm from chin to crown, with the face covering **70–80%** of the frame height. The eyes must also sit within a specific band above the bottom edge. Since 2025, the **VIS (Visa Information System) automated biometric quality score** has been live: a score below **~0.6** on the 0-1 scale flags the photo as "retake required" and adds 2-4 weeks of delay to processing.

vesikalik.com.tr measures this distance with sub-millimetre precision using MediaPipe FaceLandmarker's 478-point face mesh, automatically re-frames the crop, and scores every parameter VIS checks (head angle, face symmetry, eye alignment, expression neutrality) in one report. No more manual cropping, ruler measuring or template alignment. See the 35×45 mm size guide for general background.

Germany's Special Strictness: Why Photos Fail at iDATA?

Correct and incorrect Schengen visa photo examples: compliant 35×45 mm photo versus smiling, lens glare and shadowed background mistakes
Correct (✓): light grey background, neutral expression, no glasses. Wrong (✕): white background (common DE rejection), glasses, smiling.

The German consulate and iDATA photo review apply three specific rules: **(1) only light-grey background** — white is flagged as "not preferred" and often rejected; **(2) glasses ARE FULLY BANNED** — even though the EU baseline allows glare-free glasses, Germany asks for them to be removed without exception; **(3) exact head height 32-36 mm** — 31 mm or 37 mm is rejected (other countries tolerate 1-2 mm slack). These three rules can turn back an application at the iDATA appointment; a paid on-site retake is required.

French and Italian consulates are more flexible: **France (TLScontact)** accepts a cream-to-grey background range and allows glare-free prescription glasses; **Italy (VFS)** follows the EU baseline; **Spain (BLS)** applies a ±2 mm centring strictness on head position; **Switzerland** enforces ICAO 9303 literally. In an "unknown consulate" scenario (an application through a VFS centre where the decision can spread across several consulates) the safest strategy is the strictest combination: light-grey background (RGB ~210,210,210), 32-36 mm head, glasses removed, fully neutral expression.

What Changed in 2026? EES, ETIAS and the Fee Increase

Schengen saw its biggest changes in a decade during 2026: **(1) EES (Entry/Exit System)** went fully operational on 10 April 2026 — manual passport stamping ended at the 29 Schengen borders; instead **fingerprints + face image** biometric checks apply. This speeds up crossings but adds no new photo requirement on the visa application side. **(2) ETIAS** launches Q4 2026 (€20, valid 3 years); but ETIAS is **only for visa-exempt countries** — since Turkish citizens are in the visa-required group, they do not apply for ETIAS.

**(3) Fee increase**: 2025 raised €80 → €90 for adults and €40 → €45 for children (6-12) — the first increase since 2020. Under-6 remains free. **(4) Express processing dropped from 7 to 5 working days**. **(5) Fingerprint validity extended from 4.5 to 5 years**. **(6) The digital Schengen visa pilot continues** — some embassies accept fully online forms; a full physical-to-digital visa sticker rollout is targeted for 2027-28. The same 35×45 mm size can be re-optimised from a single shot for Russia visa, UK visa and US visa via vesikalik.com.tr; the same 6-month freshness applies to the general passport photo.

Do's and Don'ts

Do

  • Keep head height in the 32-36 mm band (face 70-80% of the frame)
  • Use a light grey background — white may be rejected in Germany/France/Switzerland
  • A colour (RGB) photo taken within the last 6 months
  • Take 2 identical 35×45 mm printed copies to the VAC appointment
  • Prepare the digital version to the specific pixel/file limits of the VFS/TLS/iDATA portal

Don't

  • No smiling, showing teeth, open mouth or raised eyebrows
  • Do not submit a photo with glasses for Germany (a strict ban)
  • No photo older than 6 months or retouched (AI edit / filter)
  • Do not upload the wrong size to the wrong VAC portal (VFS ≠ TLS specs)
  • No hats, bandanas or face-shading accessories

FAQ

For which countries can I generate valid photos?
The wizard offers about twenty document and country formats: Turkish ID, passport, driving licence, Schengen, US, UK, Canada, Australia, China, Russia, private security, firearms licence and ICAO 35×45 mm, among others. The AI checks ICAO 9303 plus country-specific rules (size, background, head height) and, when suitable, produces a print-ready ID photo in your chosen size. For unlisted documents use the generic 35×45 mm (international) or 50×60 mm (TR) format. Final acceptance rests with the authority.
What should I pay attention to when taking the photo?
Stand in even natural light in front of a plain light background (white or light grey) and avoid harsh side shadows. Face the camera with a neutral expression, eyes open and no smile; keep your head upright and make sure hair does not cover the face or eyebrows. Wear plain clothing and avoid glare on glasses — our analysis measures each of these criteria automatically and warns you before you commit.
What are the visa photo sizes and requirements?
The most common international visa photo is 35×45 mm biometric; US visas use a 51×51 mm (2×2 in) square. The background must be white or a very light plain colour, the photo taken within the last 6 months, and the head should fill about 70-80% of the frame. Choose the target country in the wizard — the system applies the right pixel, DPI and file-size rules automatically.
Can I wear a headscarf in a visa photo?
A headscarf may be worn for religious reasons; however the hairline, eyebrows, ears/cheeks and chin must be fully visible, and no fabric or hair may cross the face boundary. Choose a non-transparent, plain-colour scarf and avoid decorative accessories or loose strands. Our analysis automatically checks that the chin-to-forehead face frame is visible in the correct proportion.
Can I smile in a visa photo?
No — a neutral expression is required for visa, passport and official ID photos; smiling, showing teeth, an open mouth or raised eyebrows are grounds for rejection. Keep your lips gently closed in a natural pose and your eyes open and normally wide. Our analysis flags smiling, open-mouth and squinting cases as warnings automatically.
What are the Schengen visa photo requirements?
The Schengen visa photo must be 35×45 mm ICAO-compliant biometric; plain white or light grey background, head height about 32-36 mm (70-80% of the frame) and taken within the last 6 months. Neutral expression is required; smiling, lens glare and shadows are grounds for rejection, and glasses are discouraged. Pick the "Schengen" preset in the wizard — size, DPI and head-height rules apply automatically and you get a single consulate-ready JPEG.
Do I need a paper photo or a digital file for visa applications?
It depends on the country: the US (DS-160), UK and Australia primarily want a digital JPEG; Schengen, China and Russia application centres usually also require physical prints. The safest approach is to download the single JPEG for upload and order a 10×15 print sheet with multiple copies for the physical requirement — our tool produces both from the same biometric frame. That way you have the file and the prints ready on appointment day.

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