Schengen countries ask for the same ICAO-style photo: 35 mm wide, 45 mm high, with your face filling 70 to 80% of it. That is a head of 32 to 36 mm from chin to the top of your hair. The tool measures your face and frames it to the middle of that range.
Most visa centres want a printed photo glued to the form. Download the 4×6 inch print sheet and print it at any pharmacy or photo kiosk: you get 8 photos for the price of one print.
The official requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm |
|---|---|
| File we make | 413×531 px |
| Head (chin to crown) | 32–36 mm (71%–80%) |
| Background | white |
| Format | JPEG |
“The face must take up 70 to 80% of the photo. This corresponds to a height of 32 to 36mm.”
Visa FAQ, German Embassy London (diplo.de)
“printed on photo quality paper sized 35 x 45 mm”
Visa FAQ, German Embassy London (diplo.de)
Last checked 3 November 2026. Rules change: open the official page before you apply.
Things the tool can't check for you
- Taken in the last 3 months.
- Glasses only if the frames don't cover your eyes.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed.
How to do it
- Pick "Schengen visa" (it is already selected on this page).
- Take a photo against a plain light wall, or upload one. Stand back so your shoulders are in it.
- Check the framing. Drag to move, zoom with the buttons; the dashed lines show where the top of your head must fall.
- Download the 4×6 print sheet and print it at true size (no "fit to page").
Private by design
Face detection and background removal run on your device with Google's open MediaPipe models. Your photo is never uploaded, stored or used for anything else. The download is free, full size and has no watermark.
Only need a file under a KB limit, with no face framing? Try Resize image to KB, which sets the KB, pixels and DPI for any photo, scan or signature.
Does the application want a certificate, ID proof or the signed form as a PDF too? Compress the PDF to a set KB, without uploading it.
Questions people ask
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 mm wide by 45 mm high. The face (chin to top of head) must be 32 to 36 mm tall, which is 70 to 80% of the photo.
Does the background have to be white?
The German missions accept white or off-white; a few Schengen embassies prefer light grey. Check the page of the embassy you apply to. You can keep your original background if it is already plain and light.
Can I wear glasses?
Only if the frames do not cover your eyes and there is no glare. The safest choice is to take them off.
How old can the photo be?
No older than 3 months for German missions. Others vary between 3 and 6 months.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The face detection and background model run in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.