The Schengen photo specification
Harmonised across all 27 Schengen member states by the European Commission decision 2019/256 and downstream regulations:
- Size: 35 × 45 mm
- Quantity: 1 photo for the visa packet (some embassies request 2 as backup)
- Background: light single-colour, preferably bright white or very light grey, no patterns
- Face area: 70 to 80 percent of frame height, from top of head to chin
- Head position: straight to camera, head centred, both ears either visible or symmetrically obscured by hair
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible
- Glasses: allowed if you wear them daily, but lenses must not reflect light and the frame must not cover the eyes
- Headwear: allowed for religious reasons only, face must remain fully visible from forehead to chin
- Print finish: matte preferred, glossy is tolerated by most embassies but matte never gets rejected
- Recency: taken within the last 6 months
- Digital upload: some VFS Global online systems also request a JPEG of the photo, typically 600 × 800 pixels at 300 DPI, under 1 MB
Where Russian residents apply for Schengen visas in 2026
As of mid-2026 the embassies and visa centres operating for Russian-resident applicants:
- Italy. One of the most accessible. Italian consulate in Moscow and St Petersburg, plus VFS Global centres. Tourist visa appointments typically within 2 to 4 weeks.
- France. French consulate in Moscow processes via the official partner Capago Global. Family and business visas straightforward, tourist visas selective.
- Spain. Spanish consulate in Moscow operates through BLS International. Tourist visa requires confirmed hotel and ticket bookings before applying.
- Hungary. Hungarian consulate has been one of the more open routes for Russian-resident applicants throughout 2024 to 2026. Often the fastest if you have any flexibility on entry country.
- Greece. Greek consulate in Moscow still issues short-stay tourist visas. Often slower than Hungary but more lenient on first-time travellers.
- Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany. Limited capacity but processing some categories (study, work, family reunion).
You can use the same photo file for any of these,Schengen specification is identical across consulates.
Why most photo-booth photos fail
Schengen photo booths at metro stations and shopping malls in Moscow typically deliver:
- Face too small (50 to 65 percent of frame, below the 70 percent minimum)
- Background not quite white (cream, pale yellow, beige,fails the white standard)
- Compression artefacts on the digital file when you scan the print for VFS online upload (digital appearance of the file matters as much as the print)
- No ability to deliver a digital JPEG, just the print, which complicates online application flows
We have re-shot dozens of photos for applicants who were turned away at the VFS Global counter for one of these reasons.
How we prepare your Schengen visa photo
Session takes 15 to 25 minutes in studio or 30 to 45 minutes in-home including setup. You leave with:
- 2 to 4 matte prints in 35 × 45 mm (most embassies want 1, we deliver extras for the visa packet duplicate, biometrics backup, or your records)
- One JPEG digital file optimised for VFS / TLS / BLS online upload,typically 600 × 800 pixels, 300 DPI, under 500 KB
- One high-resolution archive JPEG
If the visa centre flags the photo for any reason, we re-shoot or re-export at no charge within 60 days of the session.
Pricing
Studio session, prints plus digital file: from 1 500 ₽ (about 18 USD or 16 EUR).
In-home or in-hotel session in Moscow: from 3 500 ₽ (about 42 USD or 38 EUR).
Same-day urgent: add 500 ₽.
Multi-country pack: if you are applying to two Schengen embassies the same week (some applicants do this for redundancy), we deliver matched prints and adjusted JPEG dimensions for each at no extra fee.
Try our free online photo tool first
Our free in-browser tool has a preset for Schengen 35 × 45. Upload a recent selfie, the tool crops, removes background, replaces with white, exports JPEG under VFS file-size limits. If your selfie passes, print at any Moscow photo lab and submit the same day.
FAQ
Can I use a UK visa photo for Schengen?
The UK photo is also 35 × 45 mm, so yes,provided it is under 6 months old, white background, no glasses reflection.
What is the difference between a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa photo and a long-stay (Type D) photo?
None. Photo specification is identical.
Do children need their own photo for Schengen?
Yes. Every applicant submits their own photo, including infants. Infant photos are difficult,we recommend in-home sessions for children under 2.
My passport scan was rejected because the photo background was off-white. Do I need to retake the passport photo too?
Only if the consulate explicitly asked. The visa photo is separate from the passport biometric data.
How recent does my photo need to be?
6 months maximum. Most embassies accept up to 12 months in practice, but we recommend redoing if you crossed a 6-month threshold.
Can I wear contact lenses?
Yes, contact lenses are not detectable in the photo and not regulated.
Related services
For US visa specifications see US visa photos in Moscow 2026. For Russian residency documentation see Russian residency photos guide. For general visa and document photo services see visa photos for foreigners in Moscow.
Book a session
Message +7 927 624-99-67 on WhatsApp or use the chat at the bottom of the page. Tell us which consulate (Italian, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Greek) and the appointment date. Same-day delivery in most cases.