# Portugal Visa Photo Maker, 35x45 mm

Country: Portugal

Document: Visa

Page language: en

Page: [Portugal Visa Photo Maker, 35x45 mm](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/pt/visa/)

Requirements last verified: 2026-04-03

## Photo specifications

These are document-specific values from the page data. Printed and digital requirements may apply to different application routes; consult the guide and sources below.

| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo dimensions | 35 × 45 mm |
| Photo paper | Glossy or matte |
| Digital pixel dimensions | 413 × 531 px (see guide/source for applicability and minimum vs exact sizing) |
| Digital file format | JPEG |
| Maximum digital file size | 120 KB |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months |

## Appearance and composition

- Background: Plain light-coloured background, uniform with no patterns or shadows. White and light grey both qualify under the EU standard.
- Head size: Head height 32-36mm from chin to crown (70-80% of frame)
- Glasses: Permitted; check the source for restrictions.
- Even lighting; no harsh shadows.
- Filters, beauty modes and retouching are forbidden.
- Color photo.
- Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons; check the source for conditions.
- Uniforms are restricted; check the source for exceptions.
- Accessories are permitted; check the source for conditions.

## Common rejection reasons

- Wrong background — Light grey preferred; pure white may be questioned at some VFS centers

- Glasses glare or tinted lenses — Glasses are allowed, but the eyes must be clearly visible with no reflection and no tint

- Wrong size — Must be 35×45mm, not US 2×2 inch or any other format

- Photo too old — Must be taken within the last 6 months

- Only 1 photo provided — Portugal visa applications require 2 identical photos

- Shadows on face or background — Lighting must be even and uniform

## Source for the document requirements

[Source linked by the document page](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/temporary-stay)

The complete guide below includes additional sources and application-specific qualifications when available.

## Create a photo with One Dollar Passport Photo

The service sizes, crops and checks a photo for the selected document. Its output settings are service choices, not additional government requirements.

- Digital photo download: $1 USD.
- Print-ready sheet download: $5 USD. Printing is separate.
- Optional human expert review: +$4.99 USD.

[Open the photo tool](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/pt/visa/)

Complete Guide

## Portugal visa photo: the spec for D7, D8, Golden Visa & Schengen

A Portugal visa photo is the standard 35x45mm Schengen biometric photo, the same for a Schengen tourist visa and for the D7, D8, and Golden Visa long-stay routes. Here is the spec in brief and how it is filed.

Written by

Jake

Community & Writing, One Dollar Passport Photo

Reviewed by

Lisa

Expert Reviewer, One Dollar Passport Photo

Fact-checked & verified

June 17, 2026

## The photo, in brief

A Portugal visa photo is the standard EU Schengen biometric photo: **35x45 mm, face filling 70 to 80% of the frame, a plain light background, neutral expression, taken within the last 6 months.** The same photo covers a short-stay Schengen (type C) tourist visa and every popular long-stay (type D) route: the **D7** (passive income), the **D8** (digital nomad), the Golden Visa, work, and student visas.

Portugal is a top destination for long-stay applicants, so the visa names vary, but the photo does not. A plain light background is correct (white or light grey both pass); there is no grey-only rule. For the full requirements and how to shoot it, see the **[Schengen visa photo guide](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/schengen-visa-photo/)**. For a digital upload, the file is a JPEG up to 120 KB at 413x531 px.

You can make a compliant Portugal visa photo from a phone picture in about two minutes. [Create yours for $1 →](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/select/)

## How Portugal handles it

Most Portugal visa applicants apply from abroad at a **Portuguese consulate** or its **VFS Global** partner, not inside Portugal. Inside the country, residence-permit issuance and the conversion of a D7 or D8 into a residence card are handled by **AIMA** (the successor to SEF), which captures biometrics on site.

1.  Stand 1.5–2 metres in front of a plain light grey wall, with the same distance between you and the wall so you don’t cast a shadow.
2.  Light yourself evenly from the front, face a window. Avoid overhead light, which throws shadows under the eyes and nose.
3.  Have someone else take the shot. Selfies distort proportions and almost always frame the head wrong for the 35×45 mm crop.
4.  Look straight at the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes visible. Hair clear of the eyes and ears.
5.  Crop to 35×45 mm with the head filling 70–80% of the frame, then export as a JPEG at 413×531 pixels under 120 KB. A tool that crops to the Schengen spec and validates the head ratio does this in one pass.

If you can’t find a light grey wall, shoot against plain white in even light and swap the background to light grey when cropping.

## Why photos get rejected

Portuguese consulates and VFS Global centres bounce a predictable set of problems. Each one, and the fix:

-   **Pure white background**, the Schengen spec calls for light grey. Some centres accept off-white, others don’t. Use light grey and remove the risk.
-   **Glasses left on**, prescription or otherwise. Take them off.
-   **Wrong size**, must be 35×45 mm. A US 2×2 inch or UK 45×35 mm crop fails; so does any re-crop of a passport photo at a different aspect ratio.
-   **Head too small or too large**, must be 32–36 mm chin to crown, roughly 70–80% of the frame height. Re-shoot from the right distance or re-crop.
-   **Only one photo provided**, Portugal requires **two identical** photos. Bring both to the appointment.
-   **Shadows on face or background**, usually from overhead light or standing too close to the wall. Move forward and light from the front.
-   **Photo older than 6 months**, must reflect your current appearance. An old passport photo will not pass.

## What to wear (and not wear)

Glasses are the trap here: Portugal visa photos fall under the Schengen biometric rule that disallows them, so a habit carried over from a US passport shoot or a years-old Portuguese ID will be rejected.

**Avoid:** glasses of any kind, hats or caps, headphones or earbuds, uniforms, and anything that obscures the face or hairline. A pale grey or white top can also blend into a light grey background, wear a darker, solid colour for clear contrast.

**Fine:** ordinary everyday clothing in a solid darker colour, light makeup that doesn’t change your everyday look, religious head coverings worn daily (the face must be fully visible from forehead to chin and both edges of the face), and medical devices like hearing aids worn every day.

## Where to get your photo

Most Portugal visa applicants, D7, D8, D2, Golden Visa, Schengen tourist, apply at a Portuguese consulate or VFS Global centre abroad, not inside Portugal. The provider list is therefore global. Prices and trade-offs:

| Where | Price | Two prints | Digital file | Speed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VFS Global photo booth (on-site) | ~€8–15 / $10–18 | Yes | Sometimes | Same day |
| Photo studio (Portugal: ~€8; US: ~$15–25) | Varies | Yes | Yes, ask | Same day |
| Pharmacy / chemist | Varies locally | Yes | Rarely | Same day |
| Walgreens / CVS (US applicants) | ~$15–17 | Yes, ask for 35×45mm | No | Same day |
| Boots / Snappy Snaps (UK applicants) | ~£10–15 | Yes | Sometimes | Same day |
| Online tool (this site) | $1.00 | Print-ready sheet | Yes, JPEG to spec | ~2 minutes |

VFS centres often run their own photo booth, convenient if you forgot, but priced for a captive audience. US and UK chains will produce a 35×45 mm print if you ask explicitly; the default order hands you the local 2×2 inch or 45×35 mm size, which won’t pass. A tool that exports both a digital JPEG and a print-ready sheet covers both submission paths in one go.

## Submitting your photo

Bring **two identical 35x45 mm prints** to your consulate or VFS Global appointment; they are attached to the application form. Some consulates also ask you to upload the JPEG through an online pre-application portal beforehand, but bring the prints even if you uploaded, the in-person file still requires them.

Confirm the exact requirements with your consulate, and check the shot against the [photo guide](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/schengen-visa-photo/) so it clears the spec before your appointment.

### Sources & References

This guide is fact-checked against official government publications and updated regularly to reflect the latest requirements.

1.  \[1\]
    
    [Portugal MNE — National visas: necessary documentation](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/temporary-stay)
    
    vistos.mne.gov.pt
    
2.  \[2\]
    
    [AIMA — Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum](https://aima.gov.pt/en)
    
    aima.gov.pt