Quick answer
What photo do Indians need for a Schengen visa?
Indians need a Schengen visa, not ETIAS. The EU Visa Code requires an ICAO-standard photo, and German missions in India ask for at least one biometric 35 × 45 mm photo with a white background, 70–80% face coverage, not older than six months. Fingerprints are taken when you apply.
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for short trips to Europe. The EU Visa Code asks for a photo that meets ICAO standards, and German missions in India want at least one 35 × 45 mm biometric print on a white background, with the face covering 70–80% of the photo, no older than six months. You also give 10 fingerprints when you apply, and since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System has taken a face photo at the border too.
Schengen visa photo size and requirements
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm (German missions in India); the EU's ICAO photo guidelines say 35–40 mm wide |
|---|---|
| Number of photos | At least 1 (German missions' checklist) |
| Face size | 70–80% of the photo |
| Background | White on the German checklist; the EU guidelines allow any plain light colour |
| Photo age | No more than 6 months old |
| Glasses | Allowed if the lenses are not tinted, there is no flash reflection and the frames do not cover the eyes |
| Head covering | Only for religious reasons, with the face visible from chin to forehead and both edges of the face showing |
| Paper | High-quality photo paper |
| Fingerprints | 10 fingerprints when you apply; children under 12 are exempt |
Each Schengen country publishes its own visa checklist. We checked the German missions' tourism checklist for India, dated 3 September 2024. If you apply to another Schengen country, check its checklist before you print.
A white background suits every checklist
The EU guidelines accept any plain light background, but the German checklist asks for white. White meets both, so it is the safer choice if you are not sure which rules your consulate follows. Leave a little more space around your head than in an Indian passport-size print, where the face fills 80–85% of the frame.
Fingerprints and the photo at the visa centre
Under the EU Visa Code, consulates collect a photo and 10 fingerprints from each applicant, and you must apply in person the first time. The photo may be scanned or taken when you apply, and an external service provider such as VFS Global may collect your biometrics for the consulate.
Fingerprints stored in the EU's Visa Information System less than 59 months earlier can normally be copied to a new application. The German missions' checklist says your fingerprints are taken again whenever you apply in person, even within those 59 months. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints.
EES: a face photo at the border
The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully working at all Schengen external border crossings since 10 April 2026. It covers travellers who need a short-stay visa, so it applies to Indian visa holders. The first time you cross, a border officer takes a photo of your face and/or scans your fingerprints, and your passport is no longer stamped. You do not bring anything for this: the border photo is separate from your visa photo.
ETIAS is not for Indian passport holders
ETIAS is a travel authorisation for nationals of countries that can visit the Schengen area without a visa, and India is not on that list. ETIAS is also not in operation yet. Indian passport holders apply for a Schengen visa instead.
How to prepare your Schengen visa photo in India
- Check your consulate's checklist. Find the visa checklist of the Schengen country you are applying to. German missions in India ask for at least one 35 × 45 mm biometric photo on white.
- Take a photo on a white background. Face the camera with a neutral expression and even light. Take off tinted glasses, and remove clear glasses too if they reflect light.
- Crop it to 35 × 45 mm. Make the face 70–80% of the photo and print it on high-quality photo paper. The photo must be no more than six months old.
- Give your fingerprints when you apply. Bring the printed photo and your documents to your appointment, where your 10 fingerprints are scanned. Children under 12 are exempt.
Sample photos
Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the Schengen visa size.
Schengen visa photo FAQ
No. ETIAS is for nationals of visa-exempt countries, and India is not one of them. ETIAS is also not in operation yet. Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa.
German missions in India ask for a 35 × 45 mm biometric photo on a white background, with the face covering 70–80% of the photo, no older than six months. The EU's ICAO photo guidelines give a width of 35–40 mm and allow a plain light background.
The EU guidelines allow glasses if the lenses are not tinted, there are no reflections and the frames do not cover your eyes. They advise against heavy frames.
Under the Visa Code, fingerprints taken in the last 59 months can be copied to a new application. The German missions' checklist says fingerprints are taken again whenever you apply in person.
Yes. Since 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System has been fully working, and on your first crossing a border officer takes a photo of your face and/or scans your fingerprints. Passports are no longer stamped.
Only if it meets the Schengen rules. Both are 35 × 45 mm on white, but an Indian passport-size print usually has the face filling 80–85% of the frame, while the Schengen guidelines ask for 70–80%. Crop a new copy from the original photo if it is less than six months old.
Official sources
- EUR-Lex: EU Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (consolidated text)
- European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa
- European Commission: ICAO photograph guidelines (PDF)
- German Missions in India: Schengen visa checklist for tourism
- European Union: What is the EES?
- European Union: How does the EES work?
- European Union: Who should apply for ETIAS
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.