Rules for digital photos
The quality of your digital photo
Your photo must be:
- clear and in focus
- in colour
- unaltered by computer software
- at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
- at least 50KB and no more than 10MB
What your digital photo must show
The digital photo must:
- contain no other objects or people
- be taken against a plain light-coloured background
- be in clear contrast to the background
- not have ‘red eye’
If you’re using a photo taken during your application, include your head, shoulders and upper body. Do not crop your photo – it will be done for you.
In your photo you must:
- be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
- have a plain expression and your mouth closed
- have your eyes open and visible
- not have hair in front of your eyes
- not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
- not have anything covering your face
- not have any shadows on your face or behind you
Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. You can wear other glasses if you need to, but your eyes must be visible without any glare or reflection.
Photos of babies and children
Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.
Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.
Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.
Children under one should lie on a plain light-coloured sheet. Take the photo from above.
Indian Passport / OCI Photo Requirements and Size
Sample Photo Requirements
The photograph should be in colour and of the size of 2 inch x 2 inch 51 mm x 51 mm.
The photo‐print should be clear and with a continuous‐tone quality.
It should have full face, front view, eyes open.
Photo should present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
Center head within frame.
The background should be a plain white or off‐white.
There should not be any distracting shadows on the face or on the background.
Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.
The expression on the face should look natural.
Schengen Visa Photograph Requirements & Specifications
When you apply for a visa to Europe, the photos are among the vital requirements for the completion of your application. No matter what visa type you apply for, you will always be required to submit two photos, alongside with the other documents.
Photo Size Specifications
Schengen Visa Photo Requirements
The photograph specifications for any short-term Schengen visa application are:
- Two identical photos. Not older than six months.
- Photo size: 35x45mm.
- In color. No black and white
- Head should take 70-80% of the photo.
- Brightly colored background. Light grey is suggested.No patterns.
- The applicant should be looking straight at the camera.
- Neutral face expression. No smile and mouth closed
- Avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.
Spain Passport / Visa Photo Requirements and Size
What is the Spanish passport photo size requirements?
The Spanish Passport size must be 30mm x 40mm. The face must be full frontal and hair can not cover the eyes.
More Photo Specs
- Size: 40mm x 30mm (Passport Size)
- Color: Must be color
- Head size and position: Aligned in the middle, entire face should show
- Background: White
- Smile: Neutral
- Eyes: Open
- Glasses: No sunglasses, daily wearing glasses yes
- Headgear: No
- Quantity: Two (2) photographs
Polish Passport / Visa Photo Requirements and Size
- Size: 3.5cm by 4.5cm.
- Color: Color only. No black and white.
- Head size and position: Centered with photo. Head should be 30-36mm in length.
- Recency: No older than six months.
- Background: Light colored. No designs.
- Smile: Neutral expression only. Mouth closed.
- Eyes: Open and clearly visible.
- Glasses: Prescription glasses are permitted so long as eyes can be seen.
- Headgear: Religious purposes or medical with a doctor’s note.
- Dimensions and size (pixels): None specified.
- Attire, clothing, dress code: Avoid military uniforms or tops which match background color.
- Beard: Only if worn on a regular basis.
- Quantity needed in application: 3.
Romania Passport/Visa Photo Requirements and Size
Photo specs
The Romania passport photo requirements are listed below.
- Required photo size: 45 mm in height and 35 mm in width
- Colored pictures are necessary. Not black and white.
- Head position: your head straight must be straight
- Must not be older than 6 months
- Background: white
- Smile: no
- Eyes: clearly visible
- Blurry photos are rejected
- Glasses: acceptable under certain conditions
- Headwear: not allowed. Exceptions are made for religious purposes
- Resolution (pixels): at least 600 dpi
- Dress code: clothes must be in contrast with the background. Do not wear white tops
- Beard: allowed if it represents your everyday likeness
- Number of photos necessary: 4
Pakistani Passport/Visa Photo Requirements and Size
Photo Specs
- Size: 45mm x 35mm
- Color: Your photo must be in color –
- Head size and position: you should look straight into the camera
- Background: White
- Smile: – Neutral
- Eyes: Should be open
- Glasses: Wear everyday reading glasses but no dark glasses
- Headgear: No
- Quantity needed in application: Two photographs
Bangeladesh Passport/Visa Photo Requirements and Size
Photo Requirements
Bangladesh passport photo requirements
Four (4) 45 x 55mm / passport size photographs. (Two photographs on each of the application form)
Bangladesh visa picture requirements:
One (1) 37mm X 37mm photograph taken within the last six months.
• The photos must be identical and taken within the last six months. They may be either black and white or colour.
• The photos must be clear, well defined and taken against a plain white or light-coloured background.
• If the photos are digital, they must not be altered in any way.
• Your face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling, and with your mouth closed.
• You may wear non-tinted or tinted prescription glasses as long as your eyes are clearly visible. Make sure that the frame does not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses are not acceptable.
• A hairpiece or other cosmetic accessory is acceptable if it does not disguise your normal appearance.
• If you must wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure your full facial features are not obscured.
• The photos must show the full front view of the head, with the face in the middle of the photo, and include the top of the shoulders.
Canadian Passport Photo Requirements and Size
Your passport photos must be:
- clear, sharp and in focus
- taken with a neutral facial expression
- eyes open and clearly visible
- mouth closed, no smiling
- taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio with:
- uniform lighting and with no shadows, glare or flash reflections
- face and shoulders to the camera: straight-on, centered and squared
- a plain white or light-coloured background with a clear difference between your face and the background. Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tones.
- 50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide X 2- 3/4 inches long)
- the height of the face measures between 31 mm (1- 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1- 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head)
- an image of your current appearance, taken within the last six months
- professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper
- we don’t accept photos printed at home and photos printed on heavy weight paper
- original photos that are not altered in any way or taken from an existing photo
What is an altered photo?
An altered photo refers to any photo that has been edited or changed in any way, by any means, and includes:
- technical corrections or enhancements, such as:
- adjustments to colour, brightness, contrast or sharpness
- cropping around the subject’s head and shoulders, including:
- cutting and pasting the subject against a white background
- editing of the facial features, such as:
- changing size or shape of eyes, nose, mouth or ears
- editing to improve the appearance of the subject, such as:
- removing glare
- removing red-eye
- changing hair colour
- eliminating wrinkles, blemishes or birthmarks
- editing the subject’s clothing, including changing colours
- changing the background, including eliminating shadows
Back of photo details
On the back of 1 photo
- the photographer must put a stamp or written information showing the
- date the photo was taken
- name and complete address of the photo studio
- your guarantor must
- clearly write “I certify this to be a true likeness of (applicant’s or child’s name)” for an application
- sign the back of the photo
If you’re renewing an adult passport using the Simplified Renewal application form, you don’t need a guarantor.
Extra details
We accept photos with:
- glasses worn if:
- your eyes are clearly visible
- there is no glare on the lenses
- hair down or up
- hats and head coverings worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons if:
- your full face is clearly visible
- the head covering doesn’t cast shadows on your face
Photos may be in colour or in black and white
We don’t accept photos with:
- sunglasses or tinted eye glasses (even when the eyes are clearly visible)
- red-eye effect or red-eye alterations
- hats and head coverings not worn daily for religious beliefs or medical reasons
- shadows, as lighting must be uniform to avoid shadows:
- around the ears
- in the background
- across the face or shoulders
Child photos
Child photos must follow the same rules as standard passport photos. They must show your child’s head and shoulders only. Parent’s or child’s hands must not appear in the photo.
For newborn babies, the photo may be taken while your child is sitting in a car seat, as long as:
- a white blanket is placed over the seat behind their head
- there are no shadows:
- around the ears
- in the background
- on the face or shoulders
- you write “I certify this to be a true likeness of (child’s name)” and sign the back
We recognize the difficulty in getting a neutral expression from your newborn. We do allow some range for infant facial expressions
Indian Passport / OCI Photo Requirements and Size
Requirements for photos
Photos for passports, identity cards and driving licences must meet certain requirements. There are rules about size, quality, background, facial appearance, position, expression, glasses, lighting and framing.
Dimensions
- Size of photo
The size must be 35 mm x 45 mm (width x height). - Width of face
Between 16 mm and 20 mm (excluding ears). - Length of face
11 years and over: between 26 mm and 30 mm (chin to crown).
Under 11: between 19 mm and 30 mm (chin to crown).
Framing
The head must be framed as follows:
- head shown in full
- head centred.
Quality of photo
Photos must:
- be in colour
- be a true likeness
- be no more than 6 months old at the date of application
- be a natural representation
- be sharp, with sufficient contrast and detail
- be undamaged
- not be reproductions (copies)
- unaltered by computer software
- be printed on high-quality, smooth photo paper
- have a minimum resolution of 400 dpi.
Lighting
The lighting must be as follows:
- even
- not over- or underexposed
- no shadow on the face or in the background
- no reflection on the face
- no reflection caused by accessories.
Position
The position must be as follows:
- head facing forward
- eyes horizontally aligned
- head not tilted
- shoulders straight.
Background
The background must be as follows:
- light grey, light blue or white
- plain
- all one colour
- all one shade
- contrast sufficiently with the head.
Glasses
The requirements for glasses are as follows:
- eyes fully visible
- glasses fully transparent
- no distortion due to reflection from the glasses
- no shadow.
Facial appearance
The requirements for facial appearance are as follows:
- head uncovered
- face fully visible
- eyes fully visible.
Ears do not have to be visible as long as the full width of the face is shown.
Expression
The requirements for expression are as follows:
- neutral expression
- looking straight at the camera
- mouth closed.
Exception for religious reasons
If you keep your head covered because of your religion or belief, then you may keep your head covering on for your photo. The head covering must be plain, in one colour only, and must also contrast with the background.
Exception for children under the age of 6
Children under the age of 6 do not have to meet the following requirements:
- Position: ‘eyes horizontally aligned, ‘head not tilted’ and ‘shoulders straight’
- Expression: ‘neutral expression’, ‘looking straight at the camera’ and ‘mouth closed’
- If the child needs to be supported, this must not be visible on the photo.
Exception for physical or medical reasons
You may not be able to comply with all the requirements for physical or medical reasons. If it has any doubts, the organisation issuing the travel document or identity document has the right to ask you to provide a medical certificate as proof.
What is/isn’t allowed?
| Item | Is this allowed? |
|---|---|
| Beard | Yes |
| Wig | Yes |
| Different hairstyle | Yes |
| Long fringe | Yes, but not too long: eyes and face must be fully visible. |
| Child with eyes shut | No |
| Glasses | Yes, applicants may decide themselves whether or not to wear glasses in the photo. |
| Oxygen or feeding tube | Yes |
| Lipstick or other makeup | Yes |
| Lipstick or other makeup | Yes |
| Earrings | Yes |
| Cap or hat | No, applicants can only wear head coverings for reasons of religion or belief, or if they have suffered hair loss due to medical treatment and wish to cover their head on the photo. Such head coverings must be of one colour and an even shade. |
| The same photo as in the previous document | Preferably not, and the photo may not be over 6 months old |
Digital Copy
All digital copies will be sent via email or saved to your USB drive.
Our Digital Copy Price same for all different countries.
£9.00 /EA for order digital copy only
£2.50 extra for order hard copy and digital copy.