Student Visa Photo Requirements 2026 – Germany, UK, Switzerland, Austria, US

The German student visa (Studienvisum) is applied for at a German embassy or consulate in your home country before entering Germany. The photo requirement is a standard 35×45mm ICAO biometric photo with a white background, neutral expression, no glasses, and taken within the last 6 months.

Consulate requirements may specify one or two photos. Check the specific German embassy or consulate website for your country, as some consulates now accept digital photo uploads via their online appointment system while others still require a printed photo at the appointment.

Non-EU/EEA students whose home country is part of the Schengen visa-free regime may be exempt from the student visa if their programme is short enough, but for courses lasting more than 90 days a national long-stay visa (Type D) is required — which uses the same 35×45mm photo.

The UK Student Visa — available to students accepted by a UK higher education institution with a Student sponsor licence — does not require a self-supplied passport photo at any stage of the application process.

After submitting the online application, students must book and attend a mandatory biometric enrolment appointment at a UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. At this appointment, fingerprints and a facial image are captured under controlled conditions by trained staff. The resulting image is used for the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) that students collect after arriving in the UK.

Students applying from outside the UK must attend a UKVCAS appointment (or an equivalent appointment at a Visa Application Centre if applying abroad) before their visa is issued. Students already in the UK extending their stay also go through a UKVCAS appointment for the extension.

Non-EU/EEA students studying in Switzerland need a cantonal residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) for the duration of their studies. The permit is issued by the cantonal migration office (kantonales Migrationsamt) and typically requires a standard 35×45mm ICAO biometric photo.

EU/EEA students in Switzerland benefit from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons and register at their local Gemeinde (municipality). Registration for stays over 90 days also requires a photo — typically a 35×45mm biometric photo.

For the initial entry, non-EU/EEA students must first obtain a Swiss national visa (Visum D) at a Swiss consulate abroad, using the same 35×45mm ICAO photo, before travelling to Switzerland to collect their cantonal permit.

University ID card photos are generally also 35×45mm, though the internal format varies by institution. Check with your university's registration office for the exact format they require.

Non-EU/EEA students in Austria must apply for an Aufenthaltstitel Studierender (residence title for students). The application is submitted at the relevant Magistrat (in Vienna and major cities) or Bezirkshauptmannschaft (district authority in smaller locations).

The photo requirement is a standard 35×45mm ICAO biometric photo: white or off-white background, neutral expression, no glasses, full face visible from chin to crown, taken within the last 6 months.

EU/EEA students in Austria do not require a separate student residence title but must register at their local Gemeinde (municipality) for stays exceeding 3 months. This registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) does not generally require a photo.

Students applying for a US F-1 student visa complete the DS-160 non-immigrant visa application form, which requires a digital photo upload in the US standard format: 2×2 inches (51×51mm).

The photo specifications for the DS-160 are:

• Dimensions: 2×2 inches (51×51mm)
• Head height: 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of hair (50–70% of frame)
• Background: White or off-white, no patterns or shadows
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
• Glasses: Not permitted
• Taken within the last 6 months
• File format for upload: JPEG, minimum 600×600 pixels

After arriving in the US, F-1 students maintain their status through their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. If applying for other immigration benefits (such as Optional Practical Training via Form I-765), the same 2×2 inch US photo format applies.

Non-EU/EEA nationals studying at an institution in a Schengen member state (other than Germany, Switzerland, or Austria, which are covered above) typically apply for a national long-stay visa (Type D) issued by that country. The photo requirement is the standard 35×45mm ICAO biometric photo — consistent across all Schengen member states for visa applications.

Once in the country, extending the student residence permit or converting the visa to a residence title is handled by the relevant national immigration authority. Requirements vary by country; always check with the specific authority.