Sweden Visa Photo Size (35 × 45 mm) & Requirements
A Sweden visa photo must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high on a plain light background, with the head measuring 32–36 mm from chin to crown and the photograph taken within the last 6 months.
Sweden is a Schengen member state, so the photograph itself follows the shared European biometric standard whether you are applying for a short-stay Schengen visa through a Swedish embassy or visa application centre, or a long-stay residence permit for study, work or family through the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). What changes between those two routes is not the photo — it is how you submit it. An incorrect crop, an uneven background or a photograph older than six months can delay or refuse an application, costing non-refundable fees and a missed travel or enrolment date.
Sweden Visa Photo Requirements (Quick Answer)
The Sweden visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), equal to 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI with a 7:9 portrait ratio. The head must fill 32–36 mm chin to crown — roughly 70–80% of the frame height — on a plain, evenly lit light background, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 826 × 1062 px |
| Aspect ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 32 – 36 mm |
| Face coverage | 70 – 80% of frame height |
| Background | Plain light grey or white, uniform, no shadow |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Format | Colour JPEG (sRGB) for upload; photo paper for print |
| Applies to | Schengen short-stay visas and Migration Agency residence permits alike |
Sweden Visa Photo Visual Reference
Sweden applies the Schengen photo standard. The two references below show the biometric framing rules and the exact 35 × 45 mm geometry.
Why Use This Visa Photo Maker
- Biometric framing: the head is placed inside the 32–36 mm chin-to-crown band and centred to fill 70–80% of the frame — see the face size requirements.
- Background replacement: a cluttered wall becomes a uniform light background with no shadow — see the background colour rules.
- Dual output: a print-ready sheet for an in-person appointment and a web-optimised JPEG for an online application.
- No editing skill needed: the 7:9 crop ratio and head-height maths are applied for you — see the crop guide.
Full Sweden Visa Photo Requirements
Every row below must pass. Each links to the underlying standard in our passport photo rules library, which explains the tolerance and how it is measured.
| Photo size | 35 mm wide × 45 mm high (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Head size | 32–36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown — see head size rules |
| Face coverage | 70–80% of the frame height — see face size requirements |
| Head position | Square to the camera, no tilt or rotation — see face position rules |
| Eyes | Both open, clearly visible, looking at the lens — see eyes requirements |
| Background | Plain, uniform light grey or white. No pattern, gradient or object — see background colour rules |
| Lighting | Even and diffuse, no shadow on the face or the wall — see shadow rules |
| Resolution | 300 DPI minimum for print and upload; 600 DPI accepted — see resolution rules |
| File format | Colour JPEG in sRGB for digital submission. Greyscale is not accepted |
| Glasses | Only if both eyes stay fully visible with no glare and frames clear of the eyes. Tinted lenses prohibited — see glasses rules |
| Head coverings | Not permitted except for religious or documented medical reasons, with the full face visible — see head covering rules |
| Hair | Must not cover the eyes or obscure the outline of the face — see hair rules |
| Ears | Not mandatory under the Schengen standard, but the face outline must be unobstructed — see ears visibility rules |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed — see smile rules |
| Retouching | Not permitted. No filters, skin smoothing, slimming or tone adjustment |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months and reflecting current appearance |
| Applies to | Schengen short-stay visas and long-stay residence permits use the same photograph |
Sweden Visa Photo in Pixels & Other Units
Physical millimetres mean nothing to an upload form — online systems validate pixels. These are the conversions for the 35 × 45 mm format.
Do not upscale a small photo. Enlarging a 207 × 266 pixel image to 413 × 531 interpolates rather than adding detail, and the result is soft around the eyes and hairline. Shoot wide and crop down instead — any phone camera from the last five years clears the requirement comfortably.
File size limits are imposed by the receiving portal, not by the photo standard. If your export is too heavy, see the reduce file size guide; for iPhone HEIC files, convert first with the HEIC to JPEG guide. Broader upload rules are covered in the digital passport photo requirements guide.
For pixel values across every national standard see passport photo size in pixels, or the worldwide reference in passport size photo dimensions.
Appointment or upload deadline coming up? Generate a compliant 35×45 mm file now.
Create Sweden Visa Photo →Schengen Visa vs Residence Permit: Same Photo, Different Submission
The photograph specification is identical for both routes. Sweden uses the shared Schengen 35 × 45 mm biometric standard whether you are applying for a short-stay visa or a long-stay permit. What differs is the channel and the physical format you hand over.
| Schengen short-stay visa | Residence permit (study, work, family) | |
|---|---|---|
| Photo specification | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height | 32–36 mm | 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain light | Plain light |
| Handled by | Swedish embassy, consulate or appointed visa application centre | Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) |
| Usual format | Printed photograph brought to the appointment | Digital file uploaded to the online application |
| Also required | Fingerprints captured at the appointment | Biometrics captured later when collecting the permit card |
Confirm the exact number of printed copies and any digital file limit with the specific embassy, centre or portal handling your case — these vary by location and are not fixed by the photo standard. Our tool exports both a print sheet and a digital file from one upload, so you are covered either way.
Biometric Data at Your Appointment
Sweden participates in the Schengen Visa Information System. Alongside your compliant 35 × 45 mm photograph, short-stay visa applicants are normally required to give a ten-fingerprint scan at the appointment. Fingerprints previously supplied for a Schengen visa can generally be reused for up to 59 months, in which case a new scan may not be needed.
Because a printed photograph may be scanned as part of this process, print quality matters as much as framing. A smudged, creased or low-contrast print can fail to digitise cleanly and force a rescheduled appointment. Print on photo paper, handle the photograph by its edges, and never attach it with staples or paper clips.
Sweden Visa Photo for a Baby, Infant or Child
The same 35 × 45 mm size, light background and 32–36 mm head-height band apply to children. There is no smaller format for infants. Schengen practice relaxes two rules for babies under one year old — the eyes do not have to be fully open and a neutral expression is not required — but every other requirement stands.
Same size, same framing
35 × 45 mm with the head filling 70–80% of the height. No age exemption applies to size, crop or head proportion.
Child alone in frame
No supporting hands, arms, car seat, toy or dummy may be visible, and no other person may appear. Support the child from behind a plain light sheet.
Eyes and expression
Relaxed under one year, enforced for older children. See the eyes requirements.
No shadow behind the head
Lay the child on a plain light sheet in soft indirect daylight and shoot from directly above. See the shadow rules.
Step-by-step technique for newborns and toddlers, including positioning and timing, is in our baby passport photo at home guide.
Printing a 35 × 45 mm Sweden Visa Photo
If you are attending an appointment in person, printing is part of the specification rather than an afterthought.
| Print resolution | 300 DPI minimum — export at 413 × 531 pixels or larger |
|---|---|
| Paper | Photo-quality paper, matte or glossy. Plain copier paper is refused |
| Copies per 4 × 6 inch sheet | Six 35 × 45 mm photographs with cutting margins |
| Cutting | Guillotine or steel rule for square edges. Do not cut inside the printed border |
| Colour management | sRGB. Disable printer auto-enhance, skin smoothing and colour correction |
| Handling | Let ink dry fully. No creases, staples, paper clips or glue on the photo face |
Printer settings, paper choice and cutting technique are covered in full in the print passport photo at home guide, and multi-copy sheet layout in the print sheet guide.
Why Sweden Visa Photos Get Rejected
These are the failures that recur most often. Each links to the detailed rule so you can confirm the tolerance before submitting. The full cross-country breakdown is in passport photo rejection reasons.
Head outside 32–36 mm
Zoomed in too far or cropped too wide. The band is measured, not estimated — see head size rules.
Wrong crop ratio
Phone crop tools snap to 4:5 or 3:4, not the 7:9 ratio the 35 × 45 mm format requires — see the crop guide.
Shadow on the background
Standing too close to the wall casts shadow behind the head and ears — see shadow rules.
Non-uniform background
Patterned wallpaper, gradients or a background too dark to contrast with hair — see background colour rules.
Glare on eyewear
Reflections or frames crossing the eyes. Tinted lenses are never accepted — see glasses rules.
Smile or open mouth
A neutral, closed-mouth expression is required — see smile rules.
Digital retouching
Airbrushing, filters, removing permanent features or slimming alters biometric geometry and can be treated as misrepresentation.
Hair across the face
A fringe over the eyes or hair obscuring the face outline fails landmark detection — see hair rules.
Low resolution
Below 413 × 531 pixels the print looks pixelated at 35 × 45 mm — see resolution rules.
Photo over 6 months old
Must reflect current appearance, including changes to facial hair, hair colour or weight.
Printed on plain paper
Copier paper is refused at appointments. Use photo paper — see the print at home guide.
Wrong submission format
Bringing a digital file to an in-person appointment, or posting prints for an online-only application.
Sweden Visa Photo vs Sweden Passport Photo
Applicants often ask whether the two are interchangeable. The photographic specification is the same; the difference is who the document is for and how the image is captured.
| Feature | Sweden visa photo (foreign nationals) | Sweden passport photo (Swedish citizens) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm | 35 × 45 mm |
| Head height | 32–36 mm | 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain light grey or white | Plain light grey or white |
| Who it is for | Non-EU nationals travelling to or moving to Sweden | Swedish citizens applying for a passport or national ID |
| How it is captured | Supplied by the applicant — printed or uploaded | Normally captured live at the issuing authority |
| Verification | Consular review and portal validation | Live biometric capture hardware |
Because both follow the same European biometric rules, a correctly made 35 × 45 mm photograph satisfies either specification. If you are a Swedish citizen rather than a visa applicant, see the Sweden passport photo guide. The shared European standard is documented on the EU passport photo page.
Can I Take My Sweden Visa Photo at Home?
Yes, with a modern phone camera and attention to four things:
- Light: face a window with soft, indirect daylight. No direct flash, no overhead-only lighting — both create shadow under the chin. See the lighting requirements.
- Distance: have someone stand 1.5–2 metres away and use the rear camera. Do not take a selfie — front lenses at arm's length enlarge the nose and fail biometric checks. See camera distance.
- Wall clearance: stand at least 50 cm clear of a plain light wall so no shadow falls behind you.
- Camera settings: switch off portrait mode, background blur and skin smoothing. These alter facial geometry and are detected. See the selfie guide.
How to Create a Sweden Visa Photo
- Take the photo — front-facing, neutral expression, plain light wall, even daylight, at least 50 cm clear of the wall.
- Upload it — drop the JPG, PNG or WebP into the uploader above, or open the Passport Photo Maker directly.
- Set the 35 × 45 mm format — this locks the 7:9 crop ratio and the 32–36 mm chin-to-crown band.
- Check the crop and background — confirm both eyes are open and level, and that no shadow appears on the wall behind you.
- Export both files — a 413 × 531 pixel JPEG for an online application, plus a 4 × 6 inch print sheet holding six copies for an in-person appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size & Specification
What is the official size for a Swedish visa photo?
A Swedish visa photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm high, the shared Schengen standard. The head must measure between 32 mm and 36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the crown, which fills roughly 70 to 80 percent of the frame height. At 300 DPI this equals 413 × 531 pixels with a 7:9 portrait ratio.
What is the Sweden visa photo size in pixels?
A 35 × 45 mm photo equals 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI, and 826 × 1062 pixels at 600 DPI. 300 DPI is the working minimum for both printing and digital upload. Below that the printed photo appears pixelated at 35 × 45 mm and can fail a quality check.
What background is required for a Sweden visa photo?
A plain, uniform light-coloured background. Light grey is the safest choice across Schengen states, and plain white is also accepted. There must be no pattern, gradient, texture, object or shadow behind the head. Shadow falling on the background is one of the most common causes of refusal.
What file size and format should a digital photo be?
Submit a colour JPEG in the sRGB colour space at 413 × 531 pixels or larger. File size limits are set by the receiving portal rather than by the photo standard, and they differ between the Migration Agency system and individual visa application centres. Check the limit displayed by the form you are completing before you upload, and never compress so heavily that blocking appears around the eyes and hairline.
Appearance & Compliance
Can I wear glasses in my Sweden Schengen visa photo?
Glasses are permitted only if both eyes remain fully and clearly visible. There must be no glare or reflection on the lenses, and the frames must not cross or obscure the eyes. Tinted lenses, photochromic lenses that have darkened, and sunglasses are not accepted. Many applicants remove their glasses to eliminate the risk.
Can I smile in my Swedish visa photo?
No. A neutral expression with the mouth closed is required, with both eyes open and looking directly at the camera. Exaggerated expressions distort the facial geometry that automated verification measures.
How recent must a Sweden visa photo be?
The photograph must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect your current appearance. If your appearance has changed significantly through weight change, facial surgery, a new beard or substantial hair loss, submit a new photograph even inside the six-month window.
Why do Swedish visa photos get rejected?
The most frequent causes are a head outside the 32 to 36 mm band, shadow on the face or on the background, glare on eyewear, a non-uniform or dark background, a smile or open mouth, a photograph older than six months, digital retouching or filters, and printing on plain paper instead of photo paper.
Routes, Children & Printing
Do Swedish study and work permits need a different photo than a tourist visa?
The photograph itself is identical: 35 × 45 mm, light background, head 32 to 36 mm. What differs is submission. Short-stay Schengen visas are normally handled at a Swedish embassy, consulate or an appointed visa application centre and usually require printed photographs. Long-stay residence permits for study, work or family are normally applied for online through the Swedish Migration Agency, which requires a digital upload.
What are the rules for a baby or child?
The same 35 × 45 mm size, light background and head-height band apply to children. Schengen practice relaxes the open-eyes and neutral-expression requirements for infants under one year old. At any age the child must be alone in the frame with no supporting hands, arms, car seat, toy or dummy visible, and no other person may appear.
How do I print a 35 × 45 mm Swedish visa photo?
Print at 300 DPI or higher on photo-quality paper, matte or glossy. Plain copier paper is refused. A standard 4 × 6 inch sheet holds six 35 × 45 mm copies with cutting margins. Cut with a guillotine or steel rule for square edges, let the ink dry fully, and do not staple, fold or crease the photograph.
Can I take my Sweden visa photo at home?
Yes. Stand about 1.5 to 2 metres from the camera in front of a plain light wall, in soft indirect daylight, and stay at least 50 cm clear of the wall so no shadow falls behind you. Have someone else take the photograph rather than a selfie, because front-camera lenses distort facial proportions. Switch off portrait blur and skin smoothing, then apply the 35 × 45 mm crop with the Passport Photo Maker.
Compliance Basis & Official Sources
The specifications on this page are compiled from publicly available guidance issued by the Swedish authorities and from the shared Schengen and international biometric standards. Where a Swedish or consular instruction differs from a general standard, the official instruction for your application route takes precedence.
- Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — residence permits and applications: migrationsverket.se
- Sweden Abroad — Swedish embassies and consulates, visa guidance: swedenabroad.se
- European Commission — Schengen borders and visa policy: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents, biometric photograph standard: icao.int
Create Your Sweden Visa Photo Now
Don't let a photo error delay a trip to Stockholm or a university enrolment. Generate a compliant 35 × 45 mm photograph — print sheet and digital file — in under a minute.
Open the Passport Photo Maker →
Free, no signup. Verify the output against the current guidance from the Swedish Migration Agency or your visa application centre before submitting — ClonyPDF does not guarantee visa approval.