Visa essentials

Visa photo specifications

The photo is one of the easiest parts of a visa file to get wrong — a few millimetres off, a shadow on the background, or wearing glasses can all get it rejected. Here are the specs and shooting rules for the main visas in one place.

Specs by visa

Visa	Size (W×H)	Background	Head height
Schengen (short-stay C)	35 × 45 mm	White, even, no shadows	32–36 mm (crown to chin)
UK (Standard Visitor)	35 × 45 mm	Light grey or white	29–34 mm
US (B1/B2 etc.)	51 × 51 mm (2×2 in)	White	50–69% of photo (~25–35 mm)
Canada (incl. eTA-linked)	50 × 70 mm	White, even	31–36 mm (face height)
China (L tourist etc.)	33 × 48 mm	White	28–33 mm (crown to chin)
Japan (short-stay tourist)	35 × 45 mm	White, no pattern	34 ± 2 mm (crown to chin)
Vietnam (e-visa upload)	Digital, recommend ≥ 400×600 px	White	60–80% of frame

Schengen (short-stay C): Taken within the last 6 months; most states now ban glasses.
UK (Standard Visitor): Can be taken at the VAC on the day — avoids self-supplied non-compliance.
US (B1/B2 etc.): Same photo uploaded to DS-160; glasses only if medically needed and glare-free.
Canada (incl. eTA-linked): Digital upload needs 100 KB+; scanned/re-photographed copies are often rejected.
China (L tourist etc.): Head width 21–24 mm; 3–5 mm clearance above the head.
Japan (short-stay tourist): Within 6 months; full face, no headwear, both ears visible.
Vietnam (e-visa upload): Full face, no glasses, JPG; passport-page scan must also be sharp.

Universal shooting rules

6-month rule

Nearly all states require a photo taken within the last 6 months that still resembles you now. Reusing an old photo is a common rejection cause.

Glasses

Schengen, US, UK and most others now ban glasses; even where allowed (medical), lenses must be glare-free and eyes unobstructed.

Expression & head pose

Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and looking straight at the lens, face not tilted; a turned head often fails.

Lighting & background

Even lighting, no side shadows; background plain white, no pattern, no other people, no border. Re-photographing a print adds texture shadows and is often rejected.

Headwear & religion

Religious headwear is generally allowed but must not obscure the face; everyday hats or bands hiding brows/ears are not accepted.

Digital & scanned copies

E-visas need a digital file — mind pixels and compression; for paper applications use pro printing, not a home printer.

Most common rejection reasons

!Wrong size — using a US 2×2 in for Schengen 35×45 mm, or vice versa, gets rejected outright.
!Off-colour background — a home wall with shadows or texture is read as "not plain white".
!Glasses with glare — even where allowed, glare over the pupils means rejection.
!Photo older than 6 months — or your appearance has changed (hair, weight).
!Head too small/large — too little clearance above the crown, or too much below the chin.
!Re-photographing an old print — texture and perspective distortion are common rejection causes.
!Over-expressive — smiling with teeth or frowning is refused by some states.
!Over-compressed digital file — too small or blurry, the e-visa upload is rejected.

Official sources

Specifications follow the latest official and visa-centre notices of each country; this page is general reference, not legal advice.

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