Austrian Consular Visa Submissions (BMEIA / VFS) vs. Domestic Passbehörde
Austria strictly enforces European Schengen biometric standards (ICAO Doc 9303 / BMEIA criteria):
Austrian Passport & Personalausweis (Inside Austria)
Renewing a domestic Austrian passport or ID card? Municipal passport authorities (Passbehörde / Magistrat) require 1 physical print (35×45 mm, 32–36 mm face height) with strict prohibitions against beauty filters.
- •Standard 35 × 45 mm format with 32–36 mm (70–80%) head height (1 physical print)
- •Children under 8 years: relaxed head height range of 27–36 mm
- •Uniform light grey or plain white background without patterns or shadows
Schengen & National D Visas (BMEIA & VFS Global)
Applying for an Austrian Schengen (Type C) or National (Type D) visa through BMEIA embassies or VFS Global visa application centers worldwide.
AUSTRIA VISA PHOTO REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Follow these key rules to make sure your photo is accepted by Austrian consulates and VFS Global.
DIMENSIONS
Photo size: 35 × 45 mm
Head size: 31 – 36 mm
FACE POSITION & SIZE
Keep your head centered facing the lens directly. Head height from chin to crown must measure 32–36 mm (70–80%).
BACKGROUND
Important Note
Austrian embassies and VFS Global application centers strictly enforce the 35×45 mm dimensions and 32–36 mm face height standard. A uniform light grey background is strongly recommended to prevent contrast washout on biometric scanning systems.
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Austria Official Photo Specifications
Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95, Visa Code (Regulation EC No 810/2009) & ICAO Doc 9303
Official government rule for application approvalBundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA) — Visa- und Konsularabteilung
Application context: Austria Visa Applications
Quick reference: Austria visa photo specifications
Review all official photo specifications required by Austria embassies, consulates, and visa application centres worldwide.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size (Paper) | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
| Digital resolution | 413 × 531 px @ 300 DPI |
| Face height | 31 – 36 mm (70–80% of total height) |
| File format & size | JPEG, 10 KB – 2 MB |
| Background colour | Light Gray or White |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses policy | Not permitted (Medical exception only) |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Official Austria visa photo dimensions (35×45 mm)
Austria follows the standard European Schengen photo guidelines (ICAO Doc 9303). Photos must measure exactly 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height (3.5 × 4.5 cm / 1.38 × 1.77 in). Face height from the bottom of the chin to the crown must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (70%–80% of total height).
The background must be uniform light grey or plain white without shadows, patterns, or gradients. If you are an Austrian citizen seeking domestic passport renewal, see our dedicated Austrian Passport Photo Requirements guide.
Austria visa photo size vs. Austrian passport photo comparison
| Unit | Width | Height | Face height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 35 mm | 45 mm | 31 – 36 mm |
| Centimetres (cm) | 3.5 cm | 4.5 cm | 3.1–3.6 cm |
| Inches (in) | 1.38 in | 1.77 in | 1.24–1.42 in |
| Pixels (px @ 300 DPI) | 413 px | 531 px | 372–425 px |
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Need a Austria Passport Photo instead?
View official biometric specs, size rules, and digital upload requirements for Austria passport applications.
Print vs. digital application requirements
Whether applying in-person at a VFS Global center or uploading digitally to an Austrian consular service portal, ensure your files meet official standards.
| Aspect | Print (Paper form) | Digital (Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px |
| Format | Colour print on photo paper | JPEG (10 KB – 2 MB) |
| Background | Light Gray or White | Light Gray or White |
| Resolution | Min 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px (300 DPI) |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
Background requirements for Austria visa photos
The background must be uniform light grey or plain white. Avoid dark backgrounds, wall patterns, textures, or shadows behind your head. Austrian consulates strongly prefer light grey to prevent scanning overexposure.
Face position and expression rules
Maintain a completely neutral facial expression with your mouth closed. Eyes must look directly into the camera lens with no head tilting or rotation.
Glasses policy for Austria visa photos
Glasses are allowed only for medical necessity if lenses are non-tinted, clear, and free from glare or reflections. Eyes must be completely visible. Thick frames are strictly prohibited.
Austria visa photo checklist: do's and don'ts
Double check these common pitfalls to ensure your photo isn't delayed or rejected.
DO
- Use a plain, uniform background — light grey or plain white are acceptable (light grey recommended)
- Ensure your face is centred, forward-facing, and fully visible from chin to crown (32–36 mm head height)
- Keep your eyes fully open and looking directly at the camera lens
- Maintain a neutral, relaxed expression with your mouth closed
- Use even, diffused lighting with no harsh shadows on your face or background
- Include the tops of both shoulders and the base of the neck in the frame
- Ensure hair does not obscure your eyes, eyebrows, or the edges of your face
- Submit 2 identical physical prints for VFS Austrian visa counter submission
- Have the photo taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- Wear everyday clothing that contrasts well with the light background
DON'T
- Smile, frown, tilt or turn your head, or allow your eyes to be partially closed
- Use a dark, coloured, patterned, textured, or heavily shadowed background
- Retouch, filter, adjust brightness/contrast, or digitally alter the photo in any way
- Submit a scanned photo or a picture of a printed photo
- Upload a JPEG file above 2 MB or below 20 KB to the online portal
- Wear hats, caps, or fashion headwear (religious/medical head coverings permitted under conditions)
- Allow hair, large jewellery, or accessories to cover your eyes or face
- Use a photo older than 6 months
- Use a black-and-white, sepia, or heavily compressed image
- Wear glasses with thick frames or that cause glare/reflections on the lenses
How to take an Austria visa photo at home
Follow these simple steps to capture and format a compliant 35×45 mm Austrian visa photo from home.
Set up a light grey or white background
Stand or sit in front of a plain, uniformly coloured wall or surface that is light grey or plain white. The background must be shadow-free with no patterns, textures, folds, or objects. A light grey background is the standard Schengen recommendation and helps prevent overexposure.
Set up balanced, diffused lighting
Use natural daylight from a large window, or two balanced artificial lights at equal height and distance on either side of your face. Avoid direct flash, which creates harsh highlights, red-eye, and shadows. Soft, even lighting is crucial for a uniform background and a well-lit face without shadows.
Position your head and body correctly
Face the camera directly with your head level and upright — not tilted, not turned. Your chin should be neither raised nor lowered. Both sides of your face should be equally visible. Your shoulders and the base of your neck should appear at the bottom of the frame.
Take the photo
Open your eyes fully and look directly into the lens. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed — no smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows. If you wear glasses, consider removing them to avoid glare, or ensure they have thin frames and tilt them slightly to prevent reflections.
Crop and size the image
For paper submissions, crop to exactly 35 × 45 mm at 300 DPI minimum, ensuring the face occupies 70–80% of the height (32–36 mm). For online submissions, export as a JPEG file between 20 KB and 2 MB (min 600×800 px).
Check before submitting
Verify the background is plain light grey or white and shadow-free, your expression is neutral, eyes are fully open, the face occupies 70–80% of the frame (32–36 mm), hair does not obscure the face, there is no glare on glasses, and the JPEG file is between 20 KB and 2 MB before submitting.
Common Austria visa photo rejection reasons
Understand why Austrian visa photos get rejected and how to avoid costly visa application delays.
Incorrect background colour or shadows
Austria requires a plain light grey or white background for Schengen visa photos. Dark, coloured, patterned backgrounds or the presence of any shadows on the background or face will lead to rejection.
Non-neutral expression or head position
Smiling, open mouth, tilted head, head turned to the side, raised eyebrows, or partially closed eyes are detected by biometric checks. Your head must be level and upright, facing the camera directly with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
Face proportion out of range (chin-to-crown not 32–36 mm)
Your face from chin to crown must occupy 70–80% of the 45 mm photo height (strictly 32–36 mm). If your face is too small or too large, it will fail the automated proportion check.
File size or format incorrect for online submission
The online submission portal requires a JPEG file between 20 KB and 2 MB. Files under 20 KB or exceeding 2 MB will be rejected automatically.
Glasses causing glare or with thick frames
While glasses are permitted for medical necessity, they frequently cause rejection if the frames are too thick or if there is glare, reflections, or shadows from the lenses on the face or eyes. It is recommended to remove glasses.
Scan of a printed photo
Uploading a scanned version of a printed photo, or a mobile phone photo taken of another photo, will fail quality checks. The digital file must be the original camera capture, not a reproduction.
Photo older than 6 months
The photo must be recent (taken within the last 6 months) and reflect your current appearance. Older photos will be rejected during processing.
Hair or accessories obscuring the face
Hair covering the forehead, eyebrows, or eyes, and large earrings or accessories casting shadows on the face, are common causes of rejection. Pull hair back fully so the entire face is clearly visible.
Austria visa photo rules for children and infants
Children and babies of all ages must have their own individual 35×45 mm photo with no visible toys, hands, or parent support in the frame.
Head coverings and religious attire
Religious head coverings are permitted provided the full face from chin to forehead and both edges of the face remain completely visible without shadow.
Official sources
These official Austrian government and consular portals are authoritative references.
Frequently asked questions: Austria visa photo requirements 2026
What are the official Austria visa photo requirements in 2026?
Austria Schengen visa applications require 2 identical biometric photos measuring exactly 35 × 45 mm (width × height). The face from chin to crown must measure between 32 mm and 36 mm (70%–80% of the photo height). The background must be uniform light grey or plain white, with a neutral facial expression, mouth closed, and eyes looking directly into the camera lens.
What is the difference between Austrian visa and Austrian passport photo requirements?
Both documents require 35 × 45 mm dimensions and a 32–36 mm chin-to-crown head height. However, Austrian visa applications submitted via VFS Global or BMEIA consulates require 2 physical prints or a digital JPEG upload (20 KB – 2 MB, min 600×800 px) with a light grey background strongly recommended. Domestic Austrian passport applications (BMI Passbehörde) require 1 physical print on photo paper and allow a wider 27–36 mm face height tolerance for children under 8.
What is the Austria visa photo size in mm, cm, and inches?
The official dimensions are 35 mm × 45 mm (width × height). In centimetres, this equals 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm. In inches, it is approximately 1.38 inches × 1.77 inches. These dimensions match the standard European Schengen ICAO Doc 9303 specification.
What is the recommended Austria visa photo size in pixels?
For digital uploads or online visa portals, the recommended digital resolution is at least 600 × 800 pixels, with 900 × 1200 pixels at 300 DPI being optimal. The image file must be in JPEG (.jpg / .jpeg) format and weigh between 20 KB and 2 MB.
What background colour is required for an Austria visa photo?
The background must be plain, uniform, and free of shadows or patterns. Acceptable colours are light grey or plain white. Austrian consulates and VFS Global strongly recommend a light grey background because it provides optimal contrast for digital biometric scanning.
What are the face height and positioning rules for Austrian visa photos?
The applicant's face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (excluding voluminous hair) must occupy 32 to 36 mm (70%–80% of the 45 mm total height). The head must be centered horizontally and vertically, facing forward with both ears/cheeks equally visible and no head tilt.
Can I wear glasses in an Austria visa photo?
Glasses are allowed only for medical necessity and under strict conditions: lenses must be clear with zero glare, tint, or reflections, and frames must be thin and not obscure any part of your eyes or eyebrows. Thick frames and tinted lenses lead to immediate rejection. Removing glasses is strongly recommended.
Are Austria tourist visa and student/work visa photo requirements the same?
Yes. All Austrian visa categories — including Schengen Type C (tourist, business, visitor) and National Type D (student, employment, family reunification) — follow the same 35 × 45 mm biometric photo standard mandated by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA).
Can I take an Austria visa photo with my smartphone at home?
Yes, you can take a photo at home using a smartphone camera in good, even daylight against a plain light wall. Our online Austria Visa Photo Maker automatically formats and verifies your image to 100% Austrian consular standards.
What are the Austria visa photo rules for babies and young children?
Every child, including newborns, must have their own individual 35 × 45 mm photo. No parents, hands, toys, or supporting chairs may appear in the picture. Infants can be laid on a plain light grey sheet and photographed from directly above with a neutral expression.
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