Platform sizes
Schengen visa photo size
By Suprabhat Updated How we write these
1 min read
The short answer
A Schengen visa photo is 35 × 45 mm, with the face 32–36 mm from chin to forehead (70–80% of the picture), ICAO-compliant and no more than 6 months old. As a file that is 413 × 531 pixels at 300 dpi.
Schengen visa photo
| Printed photo | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Face size | 32–36 mm from chin to forehead (70–80% of the photo) |
| How recent | no more than 6 months old |
| Standard | ICAO-compliant |
Digital upload
| Digital upload (common portal rule) | JPEG, 413 × 531 px (35×45 mm at 300 dpi), often max 240 KB |
|---|---|
| File size limit | set by each consulate or visa center — 240 KB to 500 KB is typical |
One photo size, many portals
Every Schengen country takes the same 35 × 45 mm ICAO photo, because the rules come from the common EU visa code. What differs is the upload: each consulate or visa center runs its own portal and sets its own file limit. 240 KB is the most common cap, and a 413 × 531 pixel JPEG at normal quality is well under it.
Questions
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 × 45 mm, with the face 32–36 mm from chin to forehead. As a digital file, 413 × 531 pixels (35 × 45 mm at 300 dpi).
Is a Schengen visa photo the same as a passport photo?
For most EU countries, yes: both follow the ICAO standard at 35 × 45 mm. A photo that meets one usually meets the other, as long as it is under 6 months old.
What file size do Schengen visa portals accept?
It depends on the consulate or visa center; 240 KB to 500 KB is typical. Compress Image gets a photo under 240 KB, which clears almost all of them.
Where these numbers come from
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-28. Platforms change their rules; if one has, the upload limits page changelog says so.