Schengen visa photo checker
The Schengen photo is the strictest of the common formats: the face must fill 70–80% of a small 35×45 mm frame — noticeably larger in frame than a US 2×2. A photo framed for the US will usually fail here.
We measure, we don’t certify. IDPhotoCheck checks your photo against the published measurements — the issuing authority makes the final decision, and no tool can promise approval.
What this tool will not do to a US photo
The official US rule requires your original, unedited photo: no filters, no retouching, and no software-changed backgrounds. So this checker measures and crops — and refuses to replace the background or “beautify” a face — for US documents. If your background is not white, the honest fix is a retake against a plain white wall or sheet. Why we refuse to edit your photo →
Tap to choose a photo, or drop it here
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC — processed on your device, never uploaded
We measure, we don’t certify. IDPhotoCheck checks your photo against the published measurements — the issuing authority makes the final decision, and no tool can promise approval.
The official rules this page checks
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | Face 32–36 mm — 70–80% of the 45 mm photo height — chin to top of skull, excluding hair |
| Background | Plain, uniformly light background (member states ask for white or light grey — check your consulate) |
Source: France-Visas (Government of France) / EU Visa Code — Photo requirements FAQ — ICAO standard (official page). Values checked 2026-11-08. If the official page and this table ever disagree, the official page wins — please tell us.
The EU Visa Code requires a photo compliant with the ICAO standard; member states publish the working detail. France-Visas — the French government’s official visa portal — states it plainly: the photo is 35–40 mm wide, and the face from chin to the top of the skull (excluding hair) measures 32–36 mm, i.e. 70–80% of the picture. The standard print is 35×45 mm. Mouth closed, neutral expression, eyes open and looking at the camera, no head covering except for religious reasons, no shadows. The full Schengen requirements list collects every rule with its source.
Why the same photo fails here but passes for the US
US rules want the head at 49–69% of the frame; Schengen wants 70–80%. The bands barely touch. If you are applying for both, take the photo with plenty of space around the head and let each document’s framing do its own crop — start from the main checker and export once per document. Never stretch a photo to a new shape; it changes the face itself.
¿Aplicando desde España?
Tenemos el comprobador en español: comprobar foto carnet 35×45 y la página de requisitos de la foto carnet.
Questions
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
35 × 45 mm, with the face measuring 32–36 mm from chin to the top of the skull — 70–80% of the photo height — per the ICAO standard applied across Schengen member states.
What background does a Schengen photo need?
A plain, uniformly light background. Member states phrase it slightly differently — white in some consulates, light grey accepted in others — so check your consulate’s page if your background is grey rather than white.
Is the Schengen photo the same as a Spanish foto carnet?
The 35×45 mm frame is the same family. Spain’s DNI uses its own rules (26×32 mm) — this site’s Spanish pages cover the 35×45 carnet/pasaporte format used for visa and passport applications.
Need physical prints? The print sheet generator lays out exact 35×45 mm copies. Worried only about the backdrop? Try the background checker.