EU Passport photo requirements (ICAO standard)

EU passport photo requirements, in plain English

EU member states issue passports to the ICAO Doc 9303 / ISO 19794-5 biometric photo standard, so the rules are remarkably consistent from country to country. The guidance below is drawn from official EU member-state passport authorities — Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and the Greek passport service — both of which restate the ICAO requirements. The original ICAO/EU photo-guidelines PDF is access-restricted, so we cite these working official restatements instead.

Size, head height, and position

Your photo should be 35×45 mm (portrait orientation). Your head and the top of your shoulders must be centred and squared to the camera, with the head filling roughly 70–80% of the frame measured from the chin to the top of the head. Do not tilt your head up, down, or to either side, and keep head rotation to a small margin (the Greek service specifies less than ±5 degrees from centre).

Expression — neutral, no smile

This is the biggest difference from the US passport: EU/ICAO photos do not allow a smile. Use a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes normally open (not wide open). No visible teeth, no grin, no exaggerated expression.

Glasses

EU passports are more permissive than the US here — you may keep clear prescription glasses on if you normally wear them, provided:

• the frame does not cover any part of your eyes, and
• there is no glare or reflection on the lenses.

Tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed except for documented medical reasons. If in any doubt, removing your glasses is the safest choice and many authorities recommend it.

Head coverings and hats

Hats and fashion head accessories are not allowed. Head coverings are permitted only for religious or medical reasons, and even then your full facial features must be visible — from the jaw up to the forehead and from one ear to the other.

Lighting, shadows, and red-eye

Use even lighting across the whole face — balanced and natural, neither too dark nor too light — and avoid bright hot spots or reflections. There must be no shadows on your face or behind your head, and no dark shadow cast into the eyes by the eyebrows. Red-eye is not acceptable, so use diffused light or reposition your flash.

Background

A completely plain, uniform background that is light grey, white or cream, with no patterns, objects, or shadows (no doors, plants, or furniture behind you). The Greek service names a preferred light grey of RGB (190,190,190) ±10. Snapassport standardises your background to a compliant colour automatically, so a slightly off-colour or busy wall is corrected for you.

Infants and children

For an infant or very young child who cannot support themselves, photograph the child lying down on a plain light background. No one else may appear in the photo, and soothers/pacifiers or toys must not be visible, as they obscure the face.