Free โ€ข No signup Open Editor

AI Schengen Passport Photo Maker

Skip the photo booth. Create EU-compliant visa photos from any headshot.

Selfie with kitchen background and improper framing
Before
โ†’
Professional Schengen visa photo with white background and 70-80% face coverage
After
FreeNo signupNo watermark

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free โ€ข No signup

Advertisement
Quick Answer Updated
Upload any headshot and type 'replace background with plain white or off-white, face takes 70-80% of frame, remove all shadows.' EditThisPic creates Schengen-compliant visa photos in 20 seconds. Works for all 27 EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. No appointment, no photo booth fees. Free to try, no account required.
"French visa approved on first try. Turned my iPhone selfie into a perfect 35x45mm photo. Saved me a trip to the consulate photo service." @EuroTrip_Sarah

Built for Schengen Visa Applicants

Photo booths charge โ‚ฌ10-15 for photos that might not meet requirements
Consulate photo services are expensive and require appointments
Strict 35x45mm dimensions and face proportion requirements are confusing
Photos get rejected for wrong background shade or shadow issues
Requirements vary slightly between Schengen countries
Need photos within 6 months of application - old photos won't work

Schengen visa photos have precise requirements: 35mm x 45mm, white or light background, face covering 70-80% of the frame, neutral expression, no shadows. One rejection delays your entire application. EditThisPic lets you take photos at home and fix background, lighting, and framing until perfect. Try as many times as needed - for free.

22% of Schengen visa applications require photo resubmission - European Commission 2024

Tools for Schengen Visa Photos

How to AI Schengen Passport Photo Maker

  1. Take a front-facing headshot

    Stand in front of a plain wall with natural light on your face. Use your phone camera. Face directly forward with neutral expression, mouth closed. Ensure your face takes up most of the frame - the AI will adjust proportions.

    Best results with clear, well-lit face photos. Simple edits: 15-20 seconds. Complex fixes: may need 2-3 refinements.
  2. Describe Schengen requirements

    Type 'replace background with plain white or off-white, face takes 70-80% of frame, remove all shadows, neutral expression, Schengen visa photo compliant.' Be specific about the background shade - some consulates prefer off-white.

    Mention your specific country (French visa, German visa) as requirements vary slightly. Most accept white or light grey backgrounds.
  3. Verify compliance

    Check: face covers 70-80% of photo height (from chin to crown), background is uniformly white/off-white with no shadows or gradients, lighting is even on both sides of face, expression is neutral with closed mouth.

  4. Refine if needed

    If background has uneven patches or face proportions need adjustment, describe the specific fix: 'make background more uniform' or 'crop tighter on face.' Tap markers on problem areas for targeted corrections.

    The 35x45mm dimension is handled when you print. Focus on face proportion (70-80%) and clean background.

Copy-Paste Prompts for Schengen Visa Photos

Standard Schengen visa photo
replace background with plain white or off-white, face takes 70-80% of frame, remove all shadows from face and background, neutral expression, Schengen visa photo compliant

'Schengen visa photo compliant' signals the AI to follow EU biometric photo standards

Photo with harsh shadows on face
replace background with plain white, remove all harsh shadows especially under nose and chin, add soft even lighting across entire face, Schengen visa compliant

Specifying shadow locations (nose, chin) helps the AI target problem areas that cause rejection

Face too small in photo
crop photo so face takes 70-80% of frame height from chin to top of head, replace background with plain white, remove shadows, Schengen format

The 70-80% face coverage rule is strictly enforced - too small or too large will be rejected

Uneven lighting on face
balance lighting on face to be even on both sides, replace background with uniform off-white, remove all shadows, Schengen visa photo

Side-lit selfies often have one dark side - 'balance lighting' corrects this for biometric compliance

Show 4 more prompts
German visa specific requirements
replace background with plain light grey or off-white, face 70-80% of frame, remove all shadows, even lighting, German Schengen visa compliant

Germany often prefers light grey over pure white - check your consulate's guidelines

French visa specific requirements
replace background with plain white, face covers 70-80% of frame, neutral expression, remove shadows, French Schengen visa photo compliant

France typically accepts pure white backgrounds for their Schengen visa applications

Photo taken more than 6 months ago
keep the current photo composition, replace background with plain white, remove all shadows, ensure lighting is even and modern, Schengen visa compliant

Photos must be recent (within 6 months). If your appearance has changed, you need a new photo

Glasses causing glare issues
replace background with plain white, remove glare from glasses while keeping glasses visible, remove shadows, even lighting, Schengen visa photo

Some Schengen countries require glasses removal - check your specific consulate requirements first

Edit Type Prompt Time
Standard Schengen replace background with white, face 70-80% of frame, remove shadows 20s Try This โ†’
German Visa replace background with light grey, face 70-80%, even lighting 20s Try This โ†’
French Visa plain white background, face 70-80% of frame, neutral expression 20s Try This โ†’
Fix Shadows remove shadows from face, add soft even lighting, Schengen compliant 20s Try This โ†’

Real Schengen Visa Photo Transformations

Selfie with kitchen background and improper framing
Before
->
Professional Schengen visa photo with white background and 70-80% face coverage
After

Home selfie to EU visa photo

Casual selfie with kitchen background transformed to Schengen-compliant visa photo with proper proportions.

Prompt: replace background with plain white or off-white, face takes 70-80% of frame, remove all shadows from face and background, neutral expression, Schengen visa photo compliant
Outdoor headshot with harsh shadows from direct sunlight
Before
->
Even-lit Schengen visa photo with light grey background
After

Outdoor photo with harsh sunlight

Photo taken outside with harsh shadows and busy background fixed for German visa application.

Prompt: replace background with plain light grey or off-white, face 70-80% of frame, remove all shadows, even lighting, German Schengen visa compliant
Advertisement

When Things Go Wrong

Face proportion doesn't meet 70-80% requirement

Why: The AI may not have cropped tightly enough or the original photo had too much space around the face.

Try: crop tighter so face takes exactly 70-80% of frame height from chin to crown, maintain white background

Measure from chin to top of head (not top of hair) - this should be 70-80% of the total photo height.

Background has uneven white patches or gradients

Why: The original background had variations the AI didn't fully correct, especially in corners.

Try: make background uniformly plain white, no gradients, no shadows, completely even from edge to edge

'Edge to edge' helps the AI understand you want complete uniformity including corners.

Shadows still visible on face after editing

Why: The original shadows were too harsh or the AI focused on background rather than facial shadows.

Try: remove all shadows from face, add soft fill light under nose, eyes, and chin, even lighting on both sides

Tap markers directly on stubborn shadow areas for targeted fixes.

AI changed the wrong area

Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone.

Try: Tap a marker on the specific area you want to change, then regenerate with the same prompt

Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS one specifically.' Use them when description alone is ambiguous.

Hair edges look jagged against white background

Why: The AI had difficulty with fine hair details when replacing the background.

Try: replace background with plain white, preserve natural hair edges with no white fringing or halos

Tap markers along your hairline where you see problems for targeted edge refinement.

Photo was rejected by consulate

Why: Schengen requirements are strict. Subtle issues like background shade or face size can cause rejection.

Try: remove absolutely all shadows, face exactly 70-80% of frame, pure uniform background, biometric photo compliant

Check rejection reason from consulate and address that specific issue. View photo at 100% zoom to spot subtle problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to mark the background before describing what I want?

No! Just describe what you want: 'replace background with plain white' or 'remove shadows from face.' The AI understands these concepts. Only use markers when you need precision - like specifying which shadow to fix or refining specific edge areas.

What are the exact Schengen visa photo requirements?

Schengen visa photos must be 35mm x 45mm, with face taking 70-80% of the frame (from chin to crown). Background must be white or light-colored (off-white, light grey). Photo must be recent (within 6 months), show neutral expression with mouth closed, and have no shadows on face or background. Eyes must be clearly visible.

Is there a free Schengen visa photo tool that doesn't require signup?

Yes. EditThisPic is completely free to try with no account required. Upload your photo, describe what you need, and download the result. No watermarks on your visa photos.

What's the best background color for Schengen visa photos?

Most Schengen countries accept white or off-white (light grey). Germany often prefers light grey. France typically uses pure white. When in doubt, use 'plain white or off-white' - both are generally accepted across all Schengen countries.

How do I ensure my face is 70-80% of the frame?

Measure from your chin to the top of your head (crown, not hair). This distance should be 70-80% of the total photo height. In a 45mm photo, your face should measure 31.5-36mm. Ask the AI to 'crop so face takes 70-80% of frame height' if adjustment is needed.

Can I wear glasses in my Schengen visa photo?

Requirements vary by country. Many Schengen countries now prefer photos without glasses. If you must wear glasses, ensure there's no glare and your eyes are clearly visible. Check your specific consulate's requirements before taking the photo.

Is EditThisPic's AI photo editor for schengen visa photos really free?

Yes โ€” you get 1 free edit per week, no account needed. For unlimited edits, plans start at $3.99/month.

Can I schengen passport on my phone?

Yes. EditThisPic works in any mobile browser โ€” iPhone, Android, tablet. No app download needed.

Ready to create your Schengen visa photo?

Free to try. No signup required. Unlimited retakes until perfect.

Upload Your Photo