Visa application photos: Schengen, US and China specs (2026)
Visa photo specs differ from passport specs. Schengen 35×45, US 51×51 square, China 33×48 with ears. Table and how to take any visa photo at home.
The trap: visa specs are not passport specs
A common visa-photo mistake is using your own passport photo for a foreign visa. They are not the same. A Dutch 35 × 45 mm passport photo does not fit a US visa (which wants a 51 × 51 mm square). A US passport photo does not fit a China visa (which wants 33 × 48 mm with visible ears).
Always use the destination country's spec, not your own country's.
Visa specs we make
| Visa | Photo (mm) | Face (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen visa * | 35 × 45 | 32-36 | Light grey, no glasses |
| US visa | 51 × 51 | 25-35 | White, no glasses |
| China visa | 33 × 48 | 28-33 | White, clear glasses allowed, ears visible |
| India visa | 51 × 51 | 25-35 | White, no glasses |
| Australia visa | 35 × 45 | 32-36 | White, no glasses |
| UAE visa * | 43 × 55 | 32-36 | White, no glasses |
| Mexico visa * | 35 × 45 | 32-36 | White, no glasses |
| Thailand visa * | 35 × 45 | 32-36 | White, no glasses |
* Not yet checked by us against the official source; these are the values we use.
Schengen visa
For a Schengen visa we use the usual European format: 35 × 45 mm with a 32-36 mm face on a light grey background, without glasses. The consulate you apply at has the final say, so check its page.
US visa
A US visa photo is 2 × 2 inches square (51 × 51 mm) on a white background, without glasses. The online application asks for a digital photo; check the State Department's page for the file requirements and whether you also need a printed one.
China visa: the ears requirement
Chinese visa photos are 33 × 48 mm: neither the European 35 × 45 nor the US square. Your ears must be visible, so pin your hair back. The background must be white.
How to take any visa photo at home
Daylight, plain wall, phone at eye level. Software measures the face height and crops to the visa format: 51 × 51 for the US, 33 × 48 for China, 35 × 45 for Schengen. The background is replaced with the required colour.
Take your visa photo with Foto2Pass. Pick the destination and we apply its spec automatically.
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