Schengen Area (EU generic)
Schengen / EU Passport Photo
Check the exact schengen/eu passport photo (generic) requirements and create a correctly sized photo online. This guide covers the photo dimensions, face position, background, expression, and file rules shown below. Always compare the final result with the latest guidance from National authorities of Schengen/EU member states, per the biometric photo standard incorporated by Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 (as amended by (EC) No 444/2009), based on ICAO Document 9303 before submitting.
Issued by
National authorities of Schengen/EU member states, per the biometric photo standard incorporated by Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 (as amended by (EC) No 444/2009), based on ICAO Document 9303
- Photo size
- 35 × 45 mm
- Head height (crown to chin)
- 70–80% of photo height
- Eye line (from bottom of photo)
- 50–70% of photo height
- Background
- Light grey
Plain, uniform background with clear contrast against face and hair; white, light grey, and light blue are all explicitly acceptable per ICAO guidance, provided there is sufficient contrast.
- Glasses
- Allowed, if lenses are clear and glare-free
- Headwear
- Allowed for religious purposes only
- Expression
- Neutral expression, no smiling (even with a closed jaw), mouth closed with teeth not visible, eyebrows not raised, no squinting or frowning; full frontal pose with shoulders square to the camera, eyes open and looking directly at the camera.
- File format
- JPEG or PNG
- Resolution
- 300 DPI
- File size
- No published limit
Good to know
- ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3's own text contains an apparent internal inconsistency around photo recency (a 'within six months' rule alongside a softer 'should not be older than three months' recommendation in the same paragraph) — noted as-is rather than arbitrarily resolved.
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