Does the passport photo have to be exactly 36mm x 47mm in size?

The minimum size requirement is 36mm x 47mm, and photos which do not comply with this requirement cannot be accepted. Photographic studios have various tools for cutting out driving licence sized photos (35mm x 45mm), but unfortunately this size is too small. The photo area (i.e. the photo background) may be bigger as long as the head in the photo is of the right size.  Extra space around the head only makes it easier to scan the photo. In fact, it can often be useful to leave the edges of the photo intact.

What is the required width of the face in the photo?

There is no separate requirement for face width, only for height. If the face height fulfils the requirements, there is no need to pay attention to face width.

Is it necessary to leave extra space above the head in the photo?

There is no separate mention of this in the passport photo guidelines but this is apparent from the current standards. First of all, the head must be in the middle of the photo as stated in the passport photo guidelines.  The maximum head size in the photo is 36 mm and the minimum height of the photo 47 mm; thus, there is at least a total of 11 mm of space below and above the head (without hair).  This means that in principle there should be about 5.5 mm of space above the head. Typically, the head in the photo is, however, a little closer to the top of the photo than to the bottom of the photo, and it is acceptable that these measures vary slightly. As far as scanning is concerned, it is enough that the distance between the top of the head and the top of the photo is 3-4 mm. The same applies to the distance between the bottom of the chin and the bottom of the photo.

It is worth bearing in mind that hair is not included when estimating the space above the head.  The distance is measured between the top of the photo and the top of the head without hair. However, hair may cover the space between the top of the head and the top of the photo, so in that sense no empty space above the head is required.

A passport photo cutter rounds the corners of the photo. Is this acceptable?

If the size of the photo exceeds the minimum requirement (36mm x 47mm), rounding does not usually cause any problems. If the photo is exactly 36mm x 47mm in size, rounding must be performed moderately. Losing a few square millimetres of the photo surface does not cause any problems. However, a greater rounding may result in shadows on the photo stored on the passport chip, and thus disturb automatic face recognition.

The person to be photographed has a large volume of hair. Does the photo have to show all the hair?

No, it does not, and the same applies to long beards. What is essential is the height of the head in the photo; it must be 32mm to 36mm without hair (for children under 11 years of age, 25mm to 36mm). The height of the head is measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. If the person’s hair or beard obscures the outline of the head, the position of the chin and top of the head must be estimated.

Are there tools for measuring photos?

This template can be used for measuring passport photos. It can be printed on a transparency. There are four figures side by side in the template: 1) the minimum and maximum size of the head of an adult, 2) the minimum and maximum size of the head of an under 11-year-old, 3) the minimum size of a passport photo, and 4) the maximum size of a passport photo. A photo can be measured by putting the transparency on it. Before using the template, it is worth ensuring that it has been printed out in the right size.

Is it permissible to wear a wig in a passport photo?

A wig can be worn if the person wears it daily, for example for medical reasons. The same rules apply to a wig as to real hair. Thus, the wig must not cover the face and, most importantly, the eyes.

Can I wear heavy makeup or large pieces of jewellery in the passport photo?

It is impossible to provide comprehensive guidelines on makeup. What is important is that the person concerned can be clearly identified from the photo. This can only be judged on a case-by-case basis.

Eyeglasses cause reflections that cannot be removed. What should I do?

We advise removing your glasses when having your photo taken.

The person to be photographed is not able to hold his/her head in an upright position due to an illness or an injury. How should a passport photo of him/her be taken?

The photo requirements can be relaxed on medical grounds. In this case, we ask that as good an image as possible is captured so that the person can be identified from the photo.

Do both ears have to show in the photo?

The subject in the photo must be looking straight into the camera. Sometimes the visibility of ears can help to assure that the subject is looking straight ahead but we cannot insist that both ears are equally visible, as it may be that one ear is further back or smaller than the other.

The guidelines specify that the photo must be printed on high-quality photograph paper. What does this mean?

There are several types of high-quality paper on the market that are specifically designed for printing photographs on an inkjet printer. High-quality photograph paper is more compact (dense) and thicker than normal printer paper. If the paper is porous or uneven, the sharpness of the photo will be compromised. The paper does not have to be photograph paper; what matters is that it fulfils the specified requirements.

When the photo was scanned, damp looking patches appeared in it, although the patches are not visible in the original photo. What causes this?

Patches appear in certain photograph papers when they are subjected to mechanical pressure. This problem is easily solved. If patches appear, a thin piece of cardboard (of about the same thickness as the leaflet on passport photo requirements) or something similar should be placed between the photo and the scanner; this helps to spread the weight of the scanner’s lid over the glass and to prevent the lid from pressing the photo too hard.

Which is better, a matt or a glossy finish?

Both are equally acceptable.

What kind of background is the best?