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Schengen Area Visa Photo Maker

Upload any photo, the tool removes your existing background, drops in the plain light grey or white background required for Schengen Area visa, and produces a spec-exact 35×45mm image ready to submit.

Drop your photo here
or click anywhere in this box to choose a photo

JPG, PNG, HEIC or WebP · Max 25 MB · Face forward, eyes on the camera.

100% private, deleted after processing No sign-up to preview Spec-exact 35×45mm output

How to make a Schengen Area visa photo in 3 steps

Upload any photo of yourself, and the tool handles the entire Schengen Area visa spec pipeline, background removal, colour swap, spec-exact crop, file-size compression, in one pass.

1

Start from a photo you already have

A phone shot against any wall works, because the background gets replaced. Schengen Area accepts a photo taken within the last 6 months, so an older picture will not pass. Remove glasses before you shoot, they are rejected.

2

Background replaced with plain light grey or white

Your outline, including hair and clothing edges, is separated from the original photo and composited onto the plain light grey or white that Schengen Area requires for a visa.

3

Cropped to 35×45mm at 600 DPI

That is 827×1063 pixels (1.38×1.77 inches). The head is placed 32-36mm from chin to crown, 71-80% of the frame height. Drag the crop box if you want the face sitting differently in the frame.

Understanding the Schengen Area visa spec

Schengen visa applications for all 27 member countries accept a 35×45mm color photograph on a plain light background. Most consulates prefer light grey; some accept white. The head must fill 70-80% of the frame height (approximately 32-36mm). Photos must be taken within the last 6 months.

Dimensions
35×45 mm
1.38 × 1.77 in
Resolution
600 DPI
Print-ready
Background
plain light grey or white
AI-swapped
Head height
32–36 mm
Chin to crown

Requirements at a glance

  • 35x45mm, ICAO standard
  • Plain light grey or white background
  • Head takes up 70-80% of the photo
  • Neutral facial expression, mouth closed
  • Both eyes visible and open
  • No glasses (from 2020 rules across most consulates)
  • Taken within the last 6 months

Common mistakes that get photos rejected

  • Wearing glasses, most Schengen consulates now reject
  • Head too small, must fill 70-80% of frame
  • Yellow-tinted background
  • Casual smile, must be neutral

Where Schengen Area visa photos are actually used

The 35×45mm format is standard across the EU and most European countries outside it, the same photo works for UK, Swiss, Norwegian, and Icelandic applications. The main variation is background color: French and Belgian consulates strictly enforce light grey, while German and Italian consulates are more lenient about white. Light grey satisfies every consulate.

Applications that accept this photo spec

  • Schengen short-stay visa (Type C, up to 90 days)
  • Schengen long-stay visa (Type D, national visa)
  • Airport transit visa (Type A)
  • Family reunion visa for a Schengen country
  • Student visa for Schengen area universities

Schengen Area visa photo FAQ

What size is a Schengen Area visa photo?
35×45mm (1.38×1.77 inches) at 600 DPI, on a plain light grey or white background. The head must measure 32-36mm from chin to the top of the head.

What background color does Schengen Area require for visa photos?
Plain light grey or white. A background that does not match, the wrong shade, a gradient, a shadow cast behind you, or any visible texture or pattern, is one of the most common reasons a photo is sent back. This tool replaces whatever is behind you with the one the spec asks for.

Can I take a Schengen Area visa photo with my phone?
Yes. Modern phone cameras produce more than enough resolution for the 35×45mm output. What matters is even lighting (no harsh shadows on your face), a straight-on angle, and a neutral expression. This tool handles the background and sizing.

What file size does this tool produce?
The output JPEG is kept under 240 KB while preserving the 600 DPI resolution the spec requires. Upload limits vary between government portals and consulates, so check the one you are filing through, if it caps lower, use our Image Compressor to reduce further.

Is my uploaded photo saved on your servers?
No. It is processed in memory and discarded as soon as the result is produced. The background model runs on the server because it is too large to run in a browser; nothing is written to disk or logged.

Can I print the Schengen Area visa photo at home?
Yes. The output is a 600 DPI JPEG at exactly 35×45mm, so any inkjet or laser printer produces the correct physical size when you print at 100% scale (not "fit to page"). Use the 4×6 print sheet option to get multiple copies on one sheet of photo paper.

Do I need to sign up or pay?
No sign-up. Making the photo and checking it against the spec is free, guests get 5 a day and a free account 0. The finished photo without the watermark is $3, paid once, or included on Pro and Business plans.

What if the background removal is not perfect?
Hair, clothing edges and skin tones come out cleanly in most photos. If an edge looks wrong, re-shoot in indirect daylight, or skip the background swap and use the crop alone.
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