Article Overview：
- Listing a few things you need to know when traveling to the Schengen Area.
- Detailed Explanation of Schengen Visa Photo Official Requirements:Official Schengen Visa Photo Requirements Announcement
- How to make Schengen visa photo online for free
- Photo Taking Tips
Part1. Do I need a visa to travel to Schengen Area countries?
Are you planning to travel to Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Bulgaria, or Romania?Do you need a visa? If you are allowed to enter one of these countries, then according to the EU visa policy, you can travel to any of the other countries in this list.These countries together form the Schengen Area.
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What is the Schengen Area? The Schengen Area is a group of European countries with no internal border controls.If you are allowed to enter one country in the Schengen Area, you can use your entry document for that country to travel to other countries in the Schengen Area.However, be aware that if you are entering based on a visa, there will be a time limit on the visa.
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What is the Schengen Visa? A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. Learn more about Schengen visas from the official announcements of the European Commission (EU visa policy).
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Check if you need a Schengen visa. According to the Visa Waiver Agreements issued by the European Union, the Schengen Area has implemented a visa-free policy for 27 countries (Visa waiver agreements). If you are not a national of the countries mentioned in the exemption document, or do not meet the conditions therein, then you will need to apply for a visa if you intend to travel to the Schengen Area.
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How to get a Schengen Visa? Apply at a consulate or embassy of a Schengen country,which is your first destination country or main country of travel.Below are the 29 countries included in the Schengen Area along with the official website links for visa applications for each country.
Part2. Schengen Visa Photo Official Requirements
If you are not from one of the countries that are exempt from visa requirements for Schengen Area, then you will need a visa. It is worth noting that when you apply for a Schengen visa, you need to submit a photo for the Schengen visa. According to the official announcement requirements of EU, there are strict specifications for the visa photo.Official Schengen Visa Photo Requirements Announcement
- The Schengen government has strict requirements for visa photos. The following is a summary of the photo specifications required.
| Background color | Be one color,bright,and in a constrationg color to the face and hair.(Ideally, a neutral grey color should be used) |
| picture size | width: 35mm, height: 45mm |
| Head size | top of hair to bottom of chin should measure :32 mm - 36 mm |
| Photo Quality | printed on high-quality paper with a print resolution of at least 600dpi |
| Number | At least two photos: One must be pasted on the application form. The other photo should be submitted loose. |
Photos not only have requirements for size, format, etc., but also *strict standards for the Illumination,head position,facial expression,eyes and line of sight,persons wearing glasses and head wear. For details on this aspect, please refer to the “Photo Taking Tips” section of this article.
Part3. Tutorial for Free Online Schengen Visa Photo Creation
Three steps to create a standard visa photo.
- Step one: Take a selfie.
- Step two: select the Schengen visa photo template, and upload your selfie.
- Step three: save your standard visa photo.
The following is a schematic diagram for creating a standard Schengen visa photo using the “xpassportphoto” tool.
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Part4. Photo Taking Tips
Although there are many requirements, you only need to focus on the attire and light; the rest can be handled by “xpassport”. Here are some specific examples of qualified and unqualified attire.
1.Photo Quality Guidelines
2.Head Position
3.Glasses
4.Head Coverings and Hats
- Children
Schengen Visa Photo Guidelines for Kids For infant photographs required for a Schengen Visa, there isn’t a uniform standard across Schengen nations. Nonetheless, most countries ease the passport photo regulations for infants, acknowledging the challenge in getting very young children, especially those below one year, to face the camera properly.
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For Infants Less Than 6 Months
- Infants below 6 months can be captured in a photo either lying down or seated in a baby seat. The backdrop should be a plain, appropriate color. The guidelines specify that there should be no visible assistance, such as hands holding the baby.
- It’s acceptable if the baby’s eyes are shut, or if they are open, the child is not required to gaze at the camera. This leniency is due to the difficulty in getting a baby to focus on the camera. Additionally, it’s permissible if the baby’s mouth is open in the photograph.
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For Children Under Five Years
- The regulations are also more flexible for children below 5 years old. These children do not have to maintain a neutral expression in their Schengen visa photos, and their head does not have to be perfectly upright. Although the color of their eyes should be discernible in the photo, they are not obligated to be looking directly at the camera.
