A Schengen visa is a special document that gives a citizen the right to visit a number of countries belonging to the so-called Schengen area. Important requirements are imposed on the photograph, which must be provided when drawing up the document.
The most important criteria for accepting a photo for a Schengen visa are the size of the card, the location of the person's face, and the contrast of the image. So the size of the photo should be strictly 35x45 mm, and the height of the face from the hair to the chin should be no more than 32-36 mm. The distance from the upper border of the photograph to the human hair is at least 2 mm. The image should have normal, not excessive contrast and sharpness with uniform lighting without any shadows.
Additional requirements apply to facial expression and head position. It is important that the latter is straight, without bending or turning. The nose should be located on the center line of the photo, that is, the photo is created strictly from the front. The presence of a slightly open mouth is not allowed, as well as the demonstration of any emotions (only a neutral facial expression).
In addition, separate requirements are imposed on the direction of gaze and the position of the eyes. The latter should be open, clearly visible on the face and located at the same height. The gaze is directed straight ahead. It is forbidden to use glasses, as well as wigs and other paraphernalia that hide the eyes or any other parts of the face.
Certain requirements are imposed on the background of the photo for a Schengen visa, as well as its general quality. Only a plain background is allowed, which must be light (blue or pale gray), but not pure white, which is prohibited in a number of Schengen countries. At the same time, the skin should have a natural and unchanged tone, which means a ban on the use of cosmetics or retouching through various software. The finished photograph should not have scuffs, scratches or other noticeable damages.
It should be noted that small errors in relation to the listed requirements are allowed when creating photographs of children under the age of 10. For all other citizens, the requirements are strict and rigorous, and if they are violated, a Schengen visa may be refused. That is why, in order to avoid problems, you should make several copies of the photo in order to subsequently choose the most correct one among them.
The rules apply to obtaining a document for entry into all countries of the Schengen area, including such common among tourists as France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. At the same time, some states have special requirements for photographs for entry documents, which must be followed without fail. More information about the existing nuances of photo registration for a Schengen visa can be found on the official website of the Embassy of a particular state.
