A Schengen visa photo for an application in the UAE is normally 35 × 45 mm, in colour, on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, with your full face clearly visible. It must meet the ICAO passport-photo standard.
Most consulates ask for one photo. A few in the UAE add their own rules: Estonia wants two, Luxembourg wants it pasted, not stapled, and Lithuania and Slovakia list a 35 × 40 mm size.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the UAE checklists of Estonia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Belgium. Photo rules come from the consulate you apply to; neither your passport nor your residence changes them.
The standard photo
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), unless your consulate says otherwise |
| Colour | Full colour, not black and white |
| Background | Plain white or very light, with no patterns or shadows |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Face | Looking straight at the camera, eyes open, mouth closed, the whole face visible |
| Head covering | Only for religious reasons, and it must not cover any part of the face |
| Glasses | Best removed; no tinted lenses or glare |
| Standard | ICAO (the international passport-photo standard) |
Extra rules by consulate in the UAE
| Country | What its UAE checklist says |
|---|---|
| Estonia | Two biometric photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, taken within 6 months |
| Luxembourg | One colour photo, 35 × 45 mm, white background, pasted (not stapled) on the application form |
| Lithuania | One colour photo, 3.5 × 4 cm, white background, taken within 6 months, with no head or face covering that hides facial features |
| Slovakia | One colour photo, 3.5 × 4 cm, white background, taken within 6 months |
| Slovenia | A recent ICAO-compliant photo |
| Belgium | One photo taken within the last 6 months |
If your checklist gives a size, use that size. If it only says “passport photo”, use 35 × 45 mm. Most countries take a digital photo when you give fingerprints, but you still bring the printed photo if the checklist asks for one.
Common reasons a photo is rejected
- An old photo, or the same one as in your passport
- An off-white, grey or patterned background
- Shadows on the face or behind the head
- A filtered or edited phone photo
- Hair, a scarf or glasses covering the eyebrows, eyes or the edges of the face
- The wrong size for the consulate, or a photo stapled where the checklist says paste
Getting it right: step by step
- Open your destination’s UAE checklist and note the size and number of photos.
- Go to a photo studio and ask for a “Schengen visa photo” in that size, on white.
- Check it against the table above before you leave the studio.
- Write your name on the back in pencil, in case it comes loose.
- Attach it as the checklist says: pasted or clipped, on the form or loose.
Questions people ask
What size is a Schengen visa photo?
Usually 35 × 45 mm. Lithuania and Slovakia list 35 × 40 mm in their UAE checklists, so follow your consulate’s checklist.
Can I wear a hijab in my Schengen visa photo?
Yes, for religious reasons, as long as your whole face is visible from the chin to the forehead, including both edges of the face.
Can I use the photo from my Emirates ID?
Only if it was taken in the last 6 months and you have a print in the right size. It is safer to take a new one.
Do children need photos too?
Yes. Every applicant, including babies, needs their own photo and form.
Related guides
- Schengen visa checklist for UAE residents
- The correct order for your Schengen documents
- How to book a Schengen appointment in the UAE
Sources
- VFS Global: Estonia visa information, UAE
- VFS Global: Luxembourg tourist checklist (Abu Dhabi)
- VFS Global: Lithuania short-stay checklist and Slovakia checklist
- Embassy of Slovenia, Abu Dhabi: Visa information
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.