Independent reference to official photo rules

Not affiliated with any government. Always confirm with the issuing authority before you apply.

WorldPhotoSpecsOfficial photo rules for every country

Visas and travel authorisations

Spain visa photo requirements

The 35 × 45 mm photo rules set by Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles for the Spain visa, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 15 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

Rate this page

Quick answer

What size is the Spain visa photo?

There is no single Spanish visa photo size: each embassy or consulate publishes its own. Most ask for one recent colour print, passport or carné size, on a white or light plain background, glued to the application form, facing forward with no dark or reflective glasses and nothing hiding the oval of the face. Mexico City gives 35 x 45 mm with the head filling 70 to 80%; Houston asks for 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and Chicago about 2 x 2 inches.

Spain issues visas through its embassies and consulates. Short-stay Schengen (C) visas follow the common EU rules described on the separate Schengen visa page. National (D) visas cover stays of more than 90 days, such as study, employment, non-lucrative residence, digital nomad and family reunification visas. Under Royal Decree 1155/2024, applications are lodged in person at the consular office or at the premises of an external service provider under contract with the Ministry, and may also be filed electronically. Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Washington and London route applicants to BLS International; San Francisco still receives national visa files at the consulate.

Every D visa uses the same form, the Solicitud de visado nacional, which carries a photo box and a consent clause stating that taking your photograph is mandatory for examining the application. The photo standard itself comes from each mission. The shared core is a recent colour print on a white or light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses and with no garment concealing the oval of the face.

If you apply in the United States, use a 2 x 2 inch print: Houston states 2 x 2 inches and Chicago's visa sheet about 2 x 2 inches, while Los Angeles and Washington say passport size. Elsewhere, check your mission's checklist. Mexico City gives 35 x 45 mm as the usual size, the New Delhi embassy's diplomatic visa page says 35-45 mm, and London links to the ICAO photo guidelines.

Spain visa photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles:[1]

Print size35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) where a size is given outside the US; US consulates: passport size or 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm)
Digital sizeNo digital file: missions ask for a printed photo glued (Washington: or clipped) to the visa form
Head heightFace 70 to 80% of the photo: 32 to 36 mm on a 35 x 45 mm print (Chicago sample sheet; Mexico City 70 to 80%)
BackgroundWhite or light: white at Los Angeles, Houston and New Delhi; light at Chicago and San Francisco; Mexico City: white or light grey
ColourColour
Photo ageRecent; Chicago, San Francisco and Washington set a limit of 6 months
Print qualityPhotographic paper (Los Angeles, London); matte or glossy (Washington); original prints, no photocopies (Chicago)
Pixels when printed413 × 531 px at 300 dpi · 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi (calculated)
35 mm45 mm32–36 mm
35 × 45 mm photo drawn to scale, with the 32–36 mm head height from chin to crown. Background: white or light: white at Los Angeles….

In the official words

Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:

This Consular Section does not accept digital retouching in identity photographs.

Checklist for Digital Nomad Visa[10]

Key requirements

  • Glued to the application form

    Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco want the photo glued to the national visa form, and Chicago's photo sheet says glued; Chicago and San Francisco add not stapled. Washington accepts it glued or clipped.

  • Whole face oval visible

    Spanish missions refuse dark or reflective glasses and any garment that conceals the oval of the face. Washington adds that a photo with a dark background, or with objects or people behind your head, will not be accepted.

  • Size set by the mission

    Houston asks for 2 x 2 inches and Chicago about 2 x 2 inches. Mexico City gives 35 x 45 mm with the head taking 70 to 80% of the height, and Chicago's sample sheet shows 35 x 45 mm with a face of 32 to 36 mm.

  • Extra copies at some missions

    San Francisco asks for a second, unglued copy of the same picture, with your first and last name on the back of both. The New Delhi study visa checklist asks for two photos attached to the form.

  • No digital retouching in London

    The London consulate's visa checklists state that the consular section does not accept digital retouching in identity photographs.

  • Schengen visas add a live facial image

    For Schengen applications at BLS in Los Angeles and Chicago, your facial image and fingerprints are captured at the appointment, besides the printed photo. Children under 12 and people fingerprinted in the last 59 months give no fingerprints.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Download the checklist of the mission that covers your place of residence.
  • Glue one photo to the national visa application form.
  • Use a 2 x 2 inch print for consulates in the United States.
  • Write your full name on the back where the consulate asks for it.
  • Use a photo taken within the last 6 months.
  • Print on photographic paper.

Don't

  • Do not staple the photo to the form.
  • Do not wear dark or reflective glasses.
  • Do not let hair, a hat or a scarf hide the oval of your face.
  • Do not hand in photocopies of your photo.
  • Do not retouch the photo digitally for an application in London.
  • Do not use a dark background or one with objects or people behind you.

Sample photos

How a Spain visa photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 35 × 45 mm, head height and background colour.

Correct
Open-mouth smile
Head tilted
Too close: head too big
Too far: head too small
Busy background
Shadows on face or background
Glare on glasses

Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.

Glasses

Spanish missions rule out dark or reflective glasses in the same words: Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington all list them. The sample sheet Chicago links from its Schengen page is more detailed: your eyes must be clearly visible, with no flash reflection on the lenses, no tinted lenses or sunglasses, and no frame covering any part of the eyes.

None of the mission pages read bans clear glasses outright, so you may keep them on if they meet those points.

Headwear and religious dress

Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington require that no garment conceal the oval of the face. London asks applicants to be bareheaded and allows veils or head coverings only for religious reasons; then every facial feature from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, and both edges of the face, must show. Chicago's visa sheet also bans hats and accepts religious head coverings if the face is clearly visible from chin to forehead.

Babies and children

Chicago states that children, babies and infants follow the same photo rules as adults. Its sample sheet relaxes the framing for children aged 9 and under, with the face taking 50 to 80% of the photo (22 to 36 mm); children aged 5 and under need not keep a neutral expression or look straight at the camera, and babies under one may have their eyes closed.

A parent or legal guardian signs the national visa form for a minor. For Schengen visas, children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting.

Spanish missions ask for a physical print attached to the form, not a file. Even where the regulation allows electronic filing, the mission pages read describe paper forms with a printed photo, and for Schengen visas BLS also captures your facial image live.

If your photo is digital, it can be cropped to the size your mission uses, 35 x 45 mm or 2 x 2 inches in the United States, and printed on photographic paper, for example on a 4x6 inch sheet at a photo counter. Washington accepts matte or glossy paper; Chicago's sample sheet asks for a print resolution of at least 600 dpi.

Where to submit the photo

You apply to the Spanish mission responsible for the area where you live. London asks for proof that you live or study in its consular district, and Mexico City handles applications from residents of its district. In Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Washington you attend BLS International in person by appointment, and Washington states that BLS forwards files to the consular section the next working day. London uses the BLS Spain Visa Application Centre.

San Francisco takes national visa files at the consulate itself, in person on weekday mornings without an appointment, or by mail with a tracking number. The regulation also lets a mission call you in for an interview or ask you to appear in person.

How to get your Spain visa photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Spain visa: 35 × 45 mm print, white or light: white at Los Angeles… background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: glued to the application form; whole face oval visible; size set by the mission; extra copies at some missions.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. Spanish missions ask for a physical print attached to the form, not a file. Even where the regulation allows electronic filing, the mission pages read describe paper forms with a printed photo, and for Schengen visas BLS also captures your facial image live.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. You apply to the Spanish mission responsible for the area where you live. London asks for proof that you live or study in its consular district, and Mexico City handles applications from residents of its district.

Make this photo online

Spain visa photo FAQ

It depends on the mission. Where a metric size is given, it is 35 x 45 mm: Mexico City calls this the usual size, with the head filling 70 to 80% of the photo. US consulates ask for passport size, which Houston and Chicago state as 2 x 2 inches.

Yes at Houston, which asks for 2 x 2 inches with a white background, and Chicago, whose sheet says about 2 x 2 inches. Los Angeles and Washington ask for passport size, a recent colour print on a white or light background.

At most missions, yes. Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco ask for the photo glued to the national visa application form, and Chicago's photo sheet says glued, not stapled. Washington allows it glued or clipped.

Not dark or reflective ones. Clear glasses are not banned by the mission pages, but your eyes must be clearly visible with no glare, and Chicago's sample sheet adds that frames must not cover any part of the eyes.

All missions ask for a recent photo. Chicago, San Francisco and Washington set a maximum of 6 months, and Washington adds that it should reflect your current appearance.

The mission pages read ask for a printed photo glued or clipped to the paper form. Royal Decree 1155/2024 allows electronic filing, but none of the checklists describes a photo upload. Schengen applicants also have their facial image taken at the appointment.

Usually one, glued to the form. San Francisco asks for a second, unglued copy of the same picture with your name on the back, and the New Delhi study visa checklist asks for two.

The London consulate's checklists say it does not accept digital retouching in identity photographs. Other missions read give no editing rule, but all ask for a plain white or light background and a natural, clear photo.

Related photo specifications

Other Spain documents

Visas and travel authorisations nearby

Also 35 × 45 mm

Was this page helpful?

No ratings yet. Be the first to rate this page.

Official sources

  1. Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles. Resident Visa with working permit exemption exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  2. Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles. Schengen visas exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  3. Consulate General of Spain in Chicago. Schengen visas exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  4. Consulate General of Spain in Chicago. Visa photo requirements exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  5. Consulate General of Spain in Chicago. Sample photos exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  6. Consulate General of Spain in Houston. Non-working residence visa exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  7. Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco. Employee visa exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  8. Consulate General of Spain in Washington. Visa for Highly Qualified Workers and Intra-Company Transfers exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  9. Consulado General de España en México. Visados Nacionales: visado de estudios exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  10. Consulate General of Spain in London. Checklist for Digital Nomad Visa exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  11. Consulate General of Spain in London. Digital Nomad Visa exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  12. Embassy of Spain in New Delhi. Study visa for more than 90 days: documents required exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  13. Embassy of Spain in New Delhi. Visa for diplomatic and official passport holders exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  14. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación. Solicitud de visado nacional / Application for long-term visa exteriores.gob.es. Checked 1 November 2026.
  15. Boletín Oficial del Estado. Real Decreto 1155/2024, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (artículos 26 y 27) boe.es. Checked 1 November 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"Spain visa photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/spain/visa-photo

Categories: