Compress Photo for Schengen Visa (Germany · France · Netherlands · Italy · Spain · All 27 Countries)
Schengen visa embassy portals require photos under 200–500KB depending on the country. Enter your target KB, compress instantly, and upload without errors. Your passport photo never leaves your device.
Schengen Visa Photo Requirements 2026 — Quick Reference
- Dimensions: 35×45mm (width × height) — standard across all 27 Schengen countries
- Germany (BVA portal): Under 300KB, JPEG, white background — enter 250 in tool
- France (France-Visas): Under 500KB, JPEG, white background — enter 400 in tool
- Netherlands (TLScontact): Under 200KB, JPEG, white background — enter 150 in tool
- Italy / Spain / Others: Under 500KB, JPEG, white background — enter 400 in tool
- Background: Plain white or very light grey — outdoor, coloured, or patterned backgrounds are rejected
- Face coverage: Face must fill 70–80% of the frame, eyes open, no glasses (since 2024)
Compress instantly: Schengen Visa Photo Compressor →
Drop your visa photo here
JPG, PNG, HEIC (iPhone) · Target: 150KB – 500KB
Quick Select Country
Target File Size
Enter the embassy portal's maximum (e.g. 250, 400, 150)
File Details
Schengen Visa Photo Requirements by Country
The Schengen Area covers 27 European countries that share a common visa policy. While the physical photo size (35×45mm) is standardised, each country's embassy portal has its own digital file size limit for online applications — ranging from 200KB to 500KB. Getting this wrong is the most common reason for a rejected Schengen visa application.
| Country | Portal / Embassy | Max File Size | Dimensions | Enter in Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 Germany | BVA / German Embassy | Under 300KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 250 |
| 🇫🇷 France | France-Visas portal | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | TLScontact / IND | Under 200KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 150 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Italian Embassy / VFS | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Spanish Embassy / VFS | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Swiss Embassy / VFS | Under 300KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 250 |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Austrian Embassy | Under 200KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 150 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Belgian Embassy / VFS | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | VFS Global / Embassy | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Greek Embassy / VFS | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden / 🇩🇰 Denmark / 🇳🇴 Norway | Embassy / VFS | Under 500KB | 35×45mm, JPEG | 400 |
Germany Schengen Visa — Full Photo Requirements
Germany is the most popular Schengen visa destination for Indian applicants, processing over 800,000 visa applications per year. The German Federal Foreign Office (BVA) portal enforces strict biometric photo standards — rejections are automated and do not always provide a clear reason code.
Germany Schengen Visa Photo Checklist
- ✓File size: Maximum 300KB — enter 250KB in PixelBatch to stay safely within the limit
- ✓Dimensions: 35×45mm — use the Passport Photo Maker to crop to this size before compressing
- ✓Format: JPEG (.jpg) only — PNG is not accepted on the BVA portal
- ✓Background: Plain white or very light grey — no outdoor photos, no coloured walls
- ✓Face: Must fill 70–80% of the frame, centred, both ears visible, no shadows on face or background
- ✓Glasses: Not permitted since 2021 — Germany's biometric system rejects photos with glasses automatically
France & Netherlands Schengen Visa Photo Requirements
France and the Netherlands are the second and third most popular Schengen destinations from India, with France processing applications via its France-Visas portal → and the Netherlands via TLScontact. Both have different file size limits despite sharing the same physical photo standard.
🇫🇷 France-Visas Portal
File size: under 500KB. Dimensions: 35×45mm. Format: JPEG. The France-Visas portal is the most straightforward — it accepts files up to 500KB and gives a clear error message if your file is too large. Enter 400 in the tool for a safe result.
🇳🇱 Netherlands / TLScontact
File size: under 200KB — one of the strictest limits in the Schengen area. Dimensions: 35×45mm. Format: JPEG. Enter 150 in the tool. The TLScontact portal often silently rejects photos that are slightly over the limit without showing an obvious error.
Compressing vs. Resizing Your Schengen Photo
Schengen visa portals check two separate things: the pixel dimensions and the file size in KB. Many applicants fail at submission because they fix one but not the other.
📦 Compressing (This Tool)
Reduces the file weight in KB while keeping the pixel dimensions the same. Use this when your photo is already 35×45mm but the file is larger than the portal's limit.
✂️ Resizing (Passport Photo Tool)
Changes the pixel dimensions to 35×45mm (413×531px). Use this first if your photo isn't already the right shape. Passport Photo Maker →
The correct two-step workflow: (1) use the Passport Photo Maker to crop and resize to 35×45mm with a white background, then (2) use this compressor to reduce the file below the embassy portal's KB limit.
Applying for a Schengen Visa from India
India is the largest source of Schengen visa applications globally, with over 1.2 million applications processed in 2024. Indian applicants most commonly apply for Germany (study and work), France (tourism), and the Netherlands (tech companies and internships).
The most common rejection reason for Indian applicants is a non-compliant photo — either the background is not white, the face doesn't fill the frame correctly, or the digital file is over the KB limit. PixelBatch addresses the last problem. For background removal and face framing, use the Passport Photo Maker first.
Need to resize to 35×45mm first?
This tool only reduces file size in KB. If your photo isn't already 35×45mm with a white background, crop it first with the free Passport Photo Maker.
Crop to 35×45mm →Related Visa & ID Photo Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the photo size for a Schengen visa application? ▼
The standard Schengen visa photo is 35×45mm (width × height) with a plain white background. For digital uploads, the file must be JPEG format and under 200–500KB depending on the country. Use the tool above and select your country's flag button to automatically set the correct target.
What is the photo size for a German Schengen visa? ▼
Germany requires a biometric photo of 35×45mm, JPEG format, maximum 300KB for online uploads via the BVA portal. Enter 250 in the PixelBatch tool to stay safely within the limit. The background must be plain white or very light grey, and glasses are not permitted.
Is the 35×45mm requirement the same for all Schengen countries? ▼
Yes — 35×45mm is the standardised ICAO biometric format used by all 27 Schengen member states. However, the digital file size limit varies by country: Germany (300KB), France (500KB), Netherlands (200KB), Austria (200KB). Always check the specific embassy portal's stated limit before uploading.
What pixel size is a 35x45mm photo at 300 DPI? ▼
A 35×45mm photo at 300 DPI is 413×531 pixels. At 600 DPI it is 827×1063 pixels. Most Schengen embassy portals accept photos within the 400–900px range as long as the aspect ratio is correct and the file size is within limits. Use the Passport Photo Maker to crop to these exact dimensions.
Can I wear glasses in a Schengen visa photo? ▼
No. Glasses are not permitted in biometric visa photos for most Schengen countries as of 2024. Germany, France, and the Netherlands all reject photos with glasses automatically through their biometric processing systems. You must remove glasses before taking the photo.
My photo was rejected even though it's under the KB limit — why? ▼
File size is only one of several checks. Embassy portals also verify: pixel dimensions (must be 35×45mm ratio), background colour (must be white/light grey), face coverage (70–80% of frame), and format (JPEG only). If your file size is correct but the photo is still rejected, check the dimensions and background using the Passport Photo Maker.
Is it safe to compress my visa photo here? ▼
Yes. PixelBatch uses WebAssembly to process images entirely inside your web browser. Your passport photo, biometric data, and any visa documents never leave your device and are never uploaded to any server. This is by technical design.
Does this work on Android and iPhone? ▼
Yes. PixelBatch works on any modern mobile browser — Chrome on Android, Safari on iPhone. iPhone HEIC photos are converted to JPEG automatically. Open the page, tap the drop zone, select your photo, choose your country's button, and tap Compress. No app download needed.