Greece visa photo requirements call for a 35 mm by 45 mm color photograph, taken within the last six months, on a plain light background, with your face centered, forward-facing, and filling 70 to 80 percent of the frame. The same specification applies to both short-stay Schengen (Type C) and national long-stay (Type D) applications, and it follows the biometric standards used across the Schengen area.
Size and Face Proportions
The print measures 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall. Your face, measured from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head (not the top of your hair), should take up 70 to 80 percent of the image height, which works out to roughly 32 to 36 mm.1ICAO. Doc 9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents The top of the shoulders should be visible, but the framing is a close-up of the head, not a portrait.
These proportions are not arbitrary. Automated facial-recognition systems at border checkpoints are calibrated to a standardized face size, so a face that sits too small in the frame or gets cropped at the hairline or chin will fail the read.
How Recent the Photo Must Be
The photo has to be taken within the last six months and reflect how you currently look right now.2VFS Global. Greece Documents Checklist A new hairstyle, a grown or shaved beard, or any other visible change since the shot was taken is grounds for rejection, even if the six-month window hasn’t closed.
Color, Print, and Digital Quality
The image must be in full color with natural skin tones. Over-exposed prints that wash out the skin and under-exposed prints that darken the features both get rejected.3Istanbul Technical University. ICAO Guidelines for Passport Photographs Digital filters, retouching, and any enhancement that alters your natural appearance are prohibited.
Physical prints have to be on proper photographic paper, sharp, and free of creases, ink marks, or streaks. Polaroid prints and standard home-printer output don’t meet the quality bar.
For online portals, the digital file should keep the same 3:4 width-to-height ratio as the 35 × 45 mm print. Minimum pixel dimensions are typically 240 wide by 320 tall, the file cap is generally 120 KB, and the format is JPEG. A file that meets the pixel minimum but exceeds the size limit, or has the wrong aspect ratio, will be rejected automatically at upload. If you are scanning a printed photo, scan at a minimum of 300 dpi and crop out any border, lid shadow, or background from the scan.
Background and Lighting
The background must be plain, uniform, and light-colored. White or off-white is the standard for Greek visa applications.4Global Visa Center World. Visa Info – Long Term, National D Visa Patterns, textures, shadows, and any other person or object behind you all disqualify the photo.
Lighting has to be even across the entire face. Shadows on one side, under the nose, or behind the head cause rejection. Glare spots and reflections from overhead lights or camera flash make the photo unusable. Even lighting is harder to produce at home than most people expect, which is why a studio shoot is the safer path.
Facial Expression and Head Position
Hold a neutral expression with your mouth closed. No smiling, no frowning, no raised eyebrows. Eyes must be open, clearly visible, and looking straight into the camera lens.5French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Schengen Visa Photograph Instructions
The head should be centered and facing squarely forward, with no tilt to either side and no turn. The full face has to be visible from chin to forehead and cheek to cheek. Hair cannot fall across the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face; pull long hair back so the edges of the face are defined. Both ears should be visible.4Global Visa Center World. Visa Info – Long Term, National D Visa
Glasses, Head Coverings, and Jewelry
Glasses cause more rejections than almost any other single issue. Removing them is the safest choice. If you cannot for documented medical reasons, the frames must not cover any part of the eyes, the lenses must be completely clear and untinted, and there can be no reflections or shadows from the lenses.3Istanbul Technical University. ICAO Guidelines for Passport Photographs Sunglasses are never permitted.
Hats and caps are not allowed. Religious or ethnic head coverings are the exception, and even then the full face must remain visible from the chin to the top of the forehead and across both cheeks, with no shadows cast by the covering.4Global Visa Center World. Visa Info – Long Term, National D Visa Heavy jewelry that covers part of the face or casts shadows should come off before the shot.
Photos of Children and Infants
Children’s photos follow the same rules: 35 × 45 mm, plain background, eyes open, mouth closed, facing the camera. The practical challenge is getting an infant to hold that pose.
Babies who cannot sit up can be photographed lying down or held upright, but no parental hands or supports can appear in the frame. No toys, pacifiers, or other objects either. Placing the infant on a white sheet and shooting from directly above is a common way to keep the background plain. A photographer who regularly does infant passport photos is usually worth the fee.
How Many Photos, and How to Attach Them
The number of photos depends on which Greek consulate or visa application center is handling your case. Some ask for one, some for two.6Hellenic Republic – Greece in the USA. Schengen Visa Requirements Check the specific instructions from your consulate before booking a photo session.
One boundary worth flagging for U.S. applicants: Greek consulates in the United States may accept 2 × 2 inch photos (the American passport standard) instead of 35 × 45 mm. Confirm which size your consulate wants before you sit for the photo.
Physical photos are typically glued to the application form. Some Greek consulates have rejected applications with stapled photographs outright, so follow the attachment instruction exactly as written. For online applications, the photo uploads with the rest of your supporting documents.
Small Mistakes That Get Photos Rejected
Red-eye from a camera flash makes a photo unusable.3Istanbul Technical University. ICAO Guidelines for Passport Photographs Software red-eye removal counts as digital alteration when it changes the iris color, so a retake is safer than an edit.
Other issues that catch applicants off guard: a slight head tilt that looks straight to the eye but reads as angled to biometric software, a shadow under the chin from overhead lighting, a cream-colored background that prints dingy instead of white, and a photo taken within six months that no longer matches your current appearance because of a new haircut. If any of these seem possible, get a fresh photo taken at a studio that handles Schengen visa work.