Schengen Area Visa Photo: check yours against the official spec

A Schengen visa photo must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, with your face taking up 70-80% of the frame (about 32 to 36 mm from chin to the top of your head), against a plain white or light grey background. Use a neutral expression with your mouth closed. White is accepted by all 29 Schengen countries; some also accept light grey. Photos must be recent (within 6 months) and unedited.

Upload a photo

Click anywhere here, or drag and drop your photo. Use a clear, front-facing photo against a plain white wall in even light. We measure and crop it. We never edit the pixels you submit.

🛡️ Accepted or your money back🔒 Your photo is deleted within 24 hours✓ We never edit your photo

21 documents checked against official specifications

Schengen Area visa photo requirements

Photo size	1 3/8 × 1 3/4 inches (35 × 45 mm)
Head height (chin to top of hair)	1 1/4 to 1 3/8 in (32 to 36 mm)
Eye height from bottom	3/4 to 1 1/8 in (19 to 30 mm)
Background	plain white or light grey
Digital file	JPEG, at least 750 × 750 px

Common reasons a Schengen Area visa photo is rejected

Wrong size (must be 35 x 45 mm) or the face is not 70-80% of the photo height.
Background is not a plain light colour, or has shadows or a strong colour.
Smiling or a non-neutral expression, or the mouth is open.
Glasses with glare, red eye, or the photo has been digitally edited.
The photo is more than 6 months old or does not reflect your current appearance.

“Photos must not be changed using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.”
U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements

Photo rejections are common, and you pay twice

A rejected photo means a delayed application and paying again for a retake. It's one of the most common problems people hit when applying, and it's exactly what this tool is built to catch before you submit:

We measure your photo against the official spec, never AI-edit it (itself a rejection reason as of 2026), and back it accepted-or-your-money-back.

What your result screen shows

Every photo is measured against these checks, the same list you see after uploading:

Head size
Eye position
Framing room
Resolution
Background colour
Plain background
Even lighting
Pose & expression

When every required check passes, the verdict reads “Passed” and you can download the exact photo you uploaded, cropped to spec, never edited. If a check fails, you get the reason and how to retake, and you pay nothing.

What real users said

“Photo accepted at the post office on the first try, which honestly surprised me. The instant spec check feels like it should be the default everywhere.”
Derya
“The webcam check instantly flagged my background was too cluttered even though I thought it looked fine, which was a nice surprise. Glad I didn't waste money printing a bad photo.”
Irmak
“Took a quick selfie with my webcam and it actually flagged the right issues with my framing. Kind of cool that they don't just slap a filter on it.”
Zafer
“love the pay-only-if-it-passes model, such a smart way to build trust before asking anyone to hand over money. the no AI editing promise is a really thoughtful touch too.”
Azra

From our Product Hunt launch, quoted verbatim. We never invent testimonials.

What a passport photo really costs

The photo is the cheap part. The expensive part is a rejection: redo fees, another queue, and a delayed application or trip. Here is the honest comparison:

Pharmacy or retail (CVS, Walgreens)$16 to $17 per attempt	No compliance guarantee. A rejection means paying and queueing again.
USPS photo serviceabout $15	Same deal: rejected means a second visit and a second fee.
Cheap online photo editors$1 to $3	Most replace your background with software. Edited photos are a documented rejection reason for the US, UK and Canada since 2026, and refunds usually cover technical failures only.
Compliant Passport PhotoFree check. $9 only if it passes	We measure and crop your original, never edit it. Accepted or your money back.

Retail prices are typical 2026 US prices and vary by location. Our guarantee: accepted or your money back.

Built by a real person

Nic built this after his own passport photo was rejected over a sizing issue he could not even see. The tool measures your photo against the official spec and never edits it, because since 2026 the US, UK and Canada reject AI-altered photos.

Read the launch story

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

35 mm wide by 45 mm high, with the face occupying 70-80% of the frame.

What background colour is accepted for a Schengen visa photo?

A plain white background is the safest and is accepted by all 29 Schengen countries; some (such as Germany and the Netherlands) also accept light grey. Check your destination country's consulate if unsure.

Can I smile in a Schengen visa photo?

No. You must have a neutral expression with your mouth closed and look directly at the camera.

Common problems with this photo

Schengen visa photo rejected: size, background and expression →

Common questions & guides

Schengen visa photo rejected: size, background and expression