Unified 27-Nation Standards
Whether you are applying to visit France, Germany, Spain, or Greece, the Schengen Visa bloc utilizes the exact same harmonized photographic requirements designed by the ICAO.
The Core Metrics
- Size: 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters high.
- Head Coverage: Your skull (from chin to crown) must occupy exactly 70% to 80% of the entire photograph (29mm to 34mm).
- Age: The photograph must be incredibly recent—taken within exactly 6 months of your submission date.
The Background Nuance
While the ICAO standard allows 'lightly colored' backgrounds, almost all Schengen embassies specifically mandate a plain light grey or stark white backdrop. Because VFS Global handles the processing for thousands of these applications, they are notorious for rigidly denying applications with even a slight background pattern.
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