What size is a Schengen visa photo?

35mm wide by 45mm tall — the standard European passport-photo size. Your face should fill roughly 70–80% of the frame (about 32–36mm from chin to crown), centred, with a light, plain, neutral background. It must be a recent colour photo taken within the last 6 months.

Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo?

Increasingly no — many consulates now prefer no glasses to avoid glare and reflections that obscure the eyes. If you do wear them, the frames must not cover your eyes and there must be no glare or tint. Removing glasses is the safest choice.

Can I smile in a Schengen visa photo?

No. You need a neutral expression with your mouth closed, looking straight at the camera with both eyes open and clearly visible. No smiling, no raised eyebrows, and no head tilt — the face must be square to the camera.

Where can I get a Schengen visa photo in the UK?

Photo booths (in supermarkets and stations) that offer a 'European/Schengen' setting, pharmacies and photo shops such as larger Boots branches, and the visa application centre itself, which usually offers an on-site photo service for an extra fee. A specialist shop is most reliable for meeting the exact spec.

Why was my Schengen visa photo rejected?

Common reasons: wrong size, a shadowed or coloured background, glasses glare, a smile or open mouth, hair across the eyes, the head too large or small in the frame, an old photo (over 6 months), red-eye, or low print quality. Two identical recent photos meeting the exact spec avoid this.

Schengen Visa Photo Requirements from the UK (2026 Spec)

TL;DR

A Schengen visa photo must be 35x45mm, colour, recent (within 6 months), on a light, plain, neutral background, with your face centred and filling most of the frame, a neutral expression, eyes open and visible, and no glasses glare or face-covering head coverings. Bring two identical prints. In the UK you can use a booth set to "European/Schengen", a photo shop, or the visa centre's on-site service.

The photo spec at a glance

Requirement	Specification
Size	35mm wide × 45mm tall
Quantity	Usually 2 identical prints
Age	Taken within the last 6 months
Colour	Full colour (not black and white)
Background	Light grey/cream/white, plain, no pattern or shadow
Face size	Face fills ~70–80% of frame (≈32–36mm chin to crown)
Position	Centred, square to camera, head not tilted
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and visible
Eyes	Looking straight at the camera, no red-eye
Glasses	Best avoided; if worn, no glare, no tint, eyes fully visible
Head coverings	Only for religious reasons, and the full face must be visible
Quality	Sharp, well-lit, even exposure, no shadows, high print quality

How big should my face be?

This is what trips most people up. Your head must be centred and large enough that the distance from chin to crown is roughly 32–36mm, filling about 70–80% of the frame. Too small (lots of background) or too large (cropped forehead/chin) gets rejected.

Background and lighting

A plain, light, neutral background — light grey, cream or white — with no patterns, objects or shadows behind your head. Lighting should be even, with no glare on your face and no shadow across the background. This is why a home photo against a wall often fails.

Expression, eyes and glasses

Neutral expression, mouth closed, no smiling.
Both eyes open, looking straight at the lens, hair not covering them.
Glasses: many consulates now prefer none; if worn, there must be no glare or reflection, no tinted lenses, and your eyes must be clearly visible. Removing them is safest.

Head coverings

Hats and caps are not allowed. Religious head coverings are permitted, but your full face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with nothing casting a shadow.

Where to get a Schengen photo in the UK

Option	Notes
Photo booth	Pick the "European / passport / Schengen" setting; available in many supermarkets and stations
Pharmacy / photo shop	Larger Boots and specialist photo shops take and print to spec — most reliable
Visa application centre	VFS/TLScontact/BLS/GVC usually offer an on-site photo service for an extra fee
Online photo + home print	Cheapest, but risky — only if you can match the spec and print quality exactly

Common rejection reasons

Tips to get it right first time

Get the photo taken professionally to the European spec, and bring two identical prints.
Keep a digital copy too — some applications need an upload, and your biometrics appointment also captures a live digital photo.
If in doubt, use the visa centre's photo service on the day so it's guaranteed compliant.

Assemble the rest of your application

Checklist generator — your full tailored document list
Bundler — merge documents into one ordered PDF
Compressor — fit the visa centre's upload limit

Once your photo and documents are ready, you'll need an appointment and to give your biometrics. Want a human check first? See the done-for-you Schengen service, or start at the Schengen visa from the UK hub.