Passport photograph instructions

1 (7)Passport photograph instructions by the police
These instructions describe the technical and quality requirements on passport photographs.
The same instructions apply to all facial photographs used on the passports, identity cards
and permits granted by the police. The instructions are based on EU legislation andinternational treaties.
The photographer usually sends the passport photograph directly to the police electronically,
and it is linked to the application with a photograph retrieval code assigned to the photograph.
You can also use a paper photograph, if you submit your application at a police service point.

Contents•••••••Photograph format
Technical requirements on the photograph
Dimensions and positioning
PostureLighting
Expressions, glasses, head-wear and make-up
BackgroundPhotograph format•

The photograph can be a black-and-white or a colour photograph.

•The dimensions of photographs submitted electronically must be exactly 500 x 653
pixels. Deviations as small as one pixel are not accepted.

•Electronically submitted photographs must be saved in the JPEG format (not JPEG2000).
The file extension can be either .jpg or .jpeg.

•The maximum size of an electronically submitted photograph is 250 kilobytes.

1. Correct

2. Correct2 (7)

Technical requirements on the photograph•

The photograph must be no more than six months old.

•

The photograph must not be manipulated in any way that would change even the smallest details in the subject’s appearance or in a way that could raise suspicions about thephotograph's authenticity. Use of digital make-up is not allowed.

•

The photograph must be sharp and in focus over the entire face. The photograph may not
be blurry or grainy. The depth of field must reach from the ears to the tip of the nose (pictures 4–6).

•The photograph must not have colour defects (picture 7).

•The photograph must not have optical or other distortions that change the dimensions ofthe face and make visual or computerised recognition of the person more difficult (pictures 8 and 9).

3. Correct

4. Incorrect
Compression
issues5. Incorrect
Blurry6. Incorrect
Grainy7. Incorrect
Colour defectMore information about the image resolution

8. Correct

9. Incorrect
Opticaldistortion

Image resolution may suffer due to various reasons. If theimage file is compressed too much, it results in filecompression issues called JPG artefacts in the image (picture4). The photograph becomes blurry if the camera has notbeen focused correctly (picture 5). Poor camera resolution
causes graininess (picture 6). In addition, the contrast of thephotograph can be so sharp that some details are lost.

More information about optical distortions
Smart phones and tablets typically have a wide-angle lensand the pictures are taken at a short distance. This causes anoptical distortion that makes your nose and other facial
features appear too large in relation to other facial features ina passport photograph.

3 (7)

Dimensions and positioning
The size and position of the head are measured from the crown of the head to the chin. The
hair and beard are not included in the size of the head, and if necessary, the location of thecrown of the head and the chin is estimated. The dimensions in pixels (abbreviated as px)
only apply to photographs submitted through the photograph server, and the dimensions inmillimetres only apply to paper photographs. Otherwise, the positioning requirements are thesame for both types. The same requirements also apply to subjects of all ages.
•The distance between the crown of the head and the chin must be at least 445–500 px (32–36mm).

•There must be at least 56 px (4 mm) and no more than 84 px (6 mm) above the crown of the head.
There must be at least 96 px (7 mm) and no more than 124 px (9 mm) below the chin. The headmust be positioned in the centre of the image so that the centre line of the face differs a maximumof 21 px (1.5 mm) from the centre line of the photo.

•There are no specific measurements for the width of the face. If the length of the face complies
with the requirements, you do not need to pay attention to the width of the face.

•Hair and beard do not need to be completely visible in the photograph, although it is recommended. The most important rule to consider is making sure that the length of the face, excluding
the hair and beard, from the crown of the head to the chin falls between the approved limits.

10. Correct

11. Incorrect
Head too high

12. Incorrect
Head too far toone side

13. Incorrect
Head toolarge in thephotograph

14. Incorrect
Head toosmall in thephotograph4 (7)

Posture•Hold your head straight in the photograph. Do not tilt your head sideways, forward orbackwards. Your face and eyes must point directly at the camera. The position of thehead is considered based on the outer edges of the head when seen from the front, notfrom the position of the eyes, for instance.

•Your shoulders must be in the same line with your face, or facing straight at the camera.
Portrait style photographs where the subject looks over their shoulder are not allowed(picture 16).

•Your posture does not need to comply with these requirements if you have a medical condition. If this is the case, a photograph that can be best used to identify you will be taken.
It is more important that the face is in the right position than the shoulders. If you cannot
hold your head straight, the camera angle can be adjusted so that your head is positioned
correctly.

•Both ears do not need to be visible in the photograph, as one ear can be further back,smaller or different in shape than the other naturally.

15. Correct

16. Incorrect
Shoulders at
an angle

17. Incorrect
Head is notfacing directlyat the camera

18. Incorrect
Head tilted

19. Incorrect
Head bent
forward5 (7)

Lighting
The most challenging part of taking passport photographs is usually the lighting, which is why
it needs extra attention.
•The lighting over the entire face must be even; there must be no shadows on your face or
behind you and there must be no overexposed areas that are completely white, caused
by light that is too strong and has not been softened (pictures 21 and 22).

•The photograph must not have the red-eye effect.

•The lighting must be natural in colour, meaning that it cannot have for example blue orred hues.

•The photograph must not be over- or underexposed (pictures 24 and 25).

20. Correct

21. Incorrect
Light comingfrom only one
side,overexposed
forehead

22. Incorrect
Light comingfrom only one
side, shadowsin thebackground

23. Correct

24. Incorrect
Overexposed

25. Incorrect
Underexposed6 (7)

Expressions, glasses, head-wear and make-up
As a rule of thumb, your face and especially your eyes must be completely and clearly visible.
•Your facial expression must be neutral.

•Your mouth must be closed. These rules are flexible when it comes to very young babies,
but even their mouth can only be slightly open.

•Eyes must be open with no squinting. Even small children must keep their eyes open.

•Your face must be completely visible. Your face must not be covered by accessories or hair.
Make sure that your eyes can be seen clearly in the photograph. In picture 29, the frames of
the glasses cover the eyes partially. In picture 30, the eyes are partly covered by reflections
and in picture 31 the eyes are partly covered by frames and hair. For best results, makesure that no part of the frames of your glasses is near your eyes. The frames of yourglasses should also not be so thick that it would make it difficult to see your facial structure
clearly. You can always take your glasses off when you have your passport photographtaken.

•Tinted glasses or an eyepatch can only be worn for medical reasons.

•You may wear a wig if you wear one daily for medical reasons, for example. The same rulesthat concern hair also apply to wigs, meaning that it must not cover your face and in particular your eyes.

•You may only wear a scarf or other head covering if it is required by religious reasons or
due to an established tradition, or if it is necessary for health or medical reasons. However,
the head covering must not cover the face too much and it must not cause shadows overthe face.

•You may wear make-up in a passport photograph but only if it does not make it more difficult
to identify you. It is impossible to provide a comprehensive list of rules concerning make-up,
which is why the effects of make-up are always evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

26. Correct

27. Incorrect
Entireforeheadcovered28. Incorrect
Shadow of thescarf

29. Incorrect
Frames overthe eyes

30. Incorrect
Reflections

31. Incorrect
Frames andshadow of thehair, hair overthe eye7 (7)BackgroundThe best background colour is light grey. However, the key is to make sure that your face,hair and clothes can be clearly distinguished from the background. If the subject’s shirt or skincolour is as light or dark as the background, it makes them blur into one in the laser engraved
picture on the identity document. The laser engraved picture is always in greyscale even if
the original photograph was a colour photo. To make the subject stand out from thebackground, the photographer can adjust the lighting or change the background to a lighter or
darker colour. The background must not be lit so strongly that the reflected light reduces thecontrast in the face and makes the outline of the subject glow.
•The background must be monochromatic and flat.

•The background colour must be light and neutral.

•There must not be any shadows in the background.

•The subject’s face, hair and clothes must stand out clearly from the background.

•There must not be other people or objects in the photograph. You may support a smallchild, but there must not be any part of you visible in the photograph.

32. Correct

33. Incorrect
Backgroundtoo dark

34. Incorrect
Unevenbackground

37. Correct

38. Incorrect
Toy, a pillow inthe background

39. Incorrect
Personsupporting thesubject is visible

35. Incorrect
Shadows in the
background

36. IncorrectThebackground is
too strongly lit