Finland Visa Photo Requirements (Free Tool)

A high-quality visa photograph is crucial for a successful Finland (Schengen) visa application. A photograph that does not comply with the official specifications may result in delays or a rejection of your application.

To streamline the application process, VisaFast offers the VisaFast Finland Visa Photo Service. This service automatically modifies your photograph to ensure it meets all official Finland (Schengen) visa requirements concerning size, background, and format – minimizing time, stress, and effort for you.

The following outlines the official Finland visa photograph specifications.

Finland Visa Passport Photo Specifications

The following specifications govern passport photos submitted for a Finnish visa application. Strict adherence is required to ensure successful processing.

• Dimensions: The photograph must be 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm (equivalent to 1.38 inches x 1.77 inches).

• File Size Limitation: The image file size should generally be kept below 120 KB.

• Color: Photographs must be in full color.

• Background: Only a plain white or light-colored background is acceptable.

• Facial Presentation: Candidates must present with a full frontal view of their face, with eyes fully open and clearly visible.

• Head Coverage: Approximately 70–80% of the photograph’s area must encompass the head and shoulders.

• Photographic Date: Photos must be recently taken, within the last 6 months

• Image Quality: Pictures require substantial resolution ensuring image acuity, clarity, sharpness, and adequate lighting.

• Head Coverings: Head coverings are generally prohibited, unless due to recognized religious or medically mandated reasons.

• Expression: A neutral facial expression is mandated; smiling, frowning or display of dental components are unacceptable.

Important Information: The VisaFast visa photo tool offers automatic compliance with these necessary standards. Utilizing this tool streamlines the application workflow ensuring photos satisfy the specified protocols correctly—inclusive of considerations for applicants representing minors.

Finland Visa Photo Size:

The Finland visa photo size must measure 35mm in width and 45mm in height (1.38 x 1.77 inches, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm in cms).  Width of face shall be between 16 mm and 20 mm from ear to ear.

To ensure accurate facial recognition and verification, the face, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the crown (not top of the hair), as well as left and right sides of the face should occupy 70% to 80% of the total photograph.

Note: Photos will be rejected if face measures less than 27 mm or more than 40 mm.

Finland Visa Photo Sample

Resolution

Photo resolution should be 400 dpi, so, when the image is scanned or uploaded, check this parameter carefully. However, the higher the resolution, the bigger the picture. The photo must be in sharp focus, clear, undamaged and of high quality with no ink marks or creases

File Format Requirements

For applications submitted through online channels to Finland, visa applications require digital photographs to be saved in either JPG or JPEG format. These files must be limited to a maximum file size of 120 KB.

Applications where files are submitted using formats other than JPG or JPEG – including BMP, TIFF, GIF, or PDF – will likely result in the rejection of the visa application. Black and white and color photographs are acceptable.

Photograph quality

The photo must be printed on high quality paper with a resolution of atleast 600 dpi [if clicked on digital camera]. The color photograph must have proper color balance (approriate brightness and contrast) and show natural skin tone. The photograph must show only the applicant [no other persons or objects in the photograph].

Note: Digital camera photographs must be high-quality, in color, and printed on photo-quality paper preferably not glossy

Photograph Requirements

The photograph’s background should be a solid, light colour to ensure clear visibility of facial features and sufficient contrast.

For applicants with light hair, a medium grey background is recommended, while individuals with dark hair should utilize a light grey background. The background should be devoid of any patterns, and reflections or shadows are not permitted.

The Finland visa photograph must be borderless and without extraneous margins to align with official formatting specifications, as this is essential for biometric processing.

Recent Photo:

A photograph must have been taken within the preceding six months to ensure it accurately represents your present appearance. Any significant modifications impacting identification – including, but not limited to, substantial changes to hairstyle or facial hair – may necessitate a new photograph to prevent processing delays or potential identification concerns.

Photograph Specifications

Images submitted with applications must be captured utilizing uniformly distributed illumination. Shadows, reflections, and instances of red-eye are considered non-compliant. The photograph requires clear visibility of the subject’s eyes, with no obstructions from hair or other objects. Specifically, the eyes must be positioned within the upper portion of the image, ensuring a minimum distance of 8 millimeters between the center points of the two eyes.

Expressions and Frame

You should show your face square on to the camera, no portrait style (not looking over ones shoulder) or tilted and showing both edges of face clearly. The facial expression must be neutral, mouth closed and looking directly at the camera.

Eyewear Requirements:

Applicants wearing glasses due to a diagnosed medical condition must present with clear, unobstructed vision, free of reflections or tinted lenses. The eyewear should not produce glare or impair the clarity of the eyes, as reflections may compromise biometric capture accuracy. Furthermore, the edges of eyeglasses or lenses must not obscure any portion of the eye.

Head Cover Requirements

Head coverings are permitted solely for demonstrably valid religious beliefs or documented medical needs. Such coverings must be consistently plain, lack any patterns, and not impede the clarity of the applicant’s facial features. The entirety of the face, encompassing the area from the base of the chin through the top of the forehead, must remain fully visible and unobstructed. Face coverings introducing shadows are explicitly not compliant.

Finland Visa Photo Specifications for Minors

To satisfy Finland’s visa photo requirements for children, including infants and toddlers, the following specifications must be adhered to:

• For individuals under the age of nine (9), the subject’s face should occupy approximately 50% to 80% of the total photograph area.

• The distance between the lower portion of the chin and the topmost point of the head (excluding any hair) should measure between 22 millimeters (mm) and 36mm.

• For children under five (5) years of age, a neutral facial expression, direct eye contact, or centering of the head within the frame is not mandatory. Additionally, the photographs do not require the child’s eyes to be open if the subject is under one (1) year of age.

• The photograph’s framing should consist solely of the individual child, without the inclusion of hands, toys, chairs, or any other persons.

• The child’s facial visibility should be clear with a forward-facing orientation.

Important Notice: If any support is needed by the child, this support should be concealed so that it isn’t present in the submitted photo. This supports placement must ideally beneath the subject’s clothing.

How to use the Finland visa photo maker tool?

Applying for a Finnish visa? Make sure your photo meets all the official requirements with this simple and reliable tool:

1. Upload Your Photo
   Select a photo from your device (JPEG, JPG, or PNG format). You can also snap a new selfie right then and there if needed.

2. Adjust & Resize
   Click ‘Transform’ and let the tool automatically crop, resize, and adjust your photo to meet the official Finland visa photo guidelines.

3. Download & Use
   Once your photo is ready, download the Finland visa-compliant version and attach it to your visa application. It’s quick, easy, and accurate.

Note: You can also apply for your Finland visa through VisaFast in just a few simple steps.

Do’s & Don’ts of Finland Visa Photo

To avoid delays or rejection of your Finland (Schengen) visa application, it’s important that your photo strictly follows the official guidelines. Here’s a clear checklist of what to do, and what to avoid:

Do’s:

• Use even, natural lighting without any shadows, glare, or reflections.

• Ensure the photo is recent, taken within the last 6 months.

• Maintain a neutral facial expression with eyes open and mouth closed.

• Make sure the image is sharp, clear, and in focus for accurate identification.

• Keep hair away from your face so all features, including the edges, are visible.

• Use a plain, white, or light-coloured background that contrasts well with your skin tone.

• Head coverings for religious or medical reasons are allowed, but they must be plain and must not cover any facial features.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use blurry, low-resolution, damaged, or folded photos.

• Don’t let hair cover your eyes, forehead, or cheeks.

• Avoid photos with red-eye or those that have been digitally altered or filtered.

• Don’t allow shadows to appear on your face or in the background.

• Avoid smiling, frowning, or showing teeth—keep a calm, neutral expression.