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When applying for the Irish Passport, you have two ways of submitting your application and photos. You can choose between a traditional, paper form or online service. The important information is that besides technical specifications for printed and digital photos, the rest of requirements are exactly the same. If you decide to send a paper application form, remember to attach four identical photos. Of course when you apply online you upload a passport photo only once.
You do not need to go anywhere to get your passport photo as it was back in the day. Professional photography studios or photo booths are still an option but why to waste time and money when a convenient solution is close at hand? All you need to get a perfect passport-style photo are:
Before submitting a photo to an Irish passport, make sure that it meets our requirements on pose and visuals. Reading our article will take you not more than 10 minutes and in that time you will know:
You do not need to make any special preparations to take a photo to your Ireland passport. Of course, there is the requirement of a plain, light grey, cream or white background but it doesn’t mean that you need to hang up sheets or look for an ideal wall. You can take the picture on any background and then use our Intelligent Photo App to adjust your image to requirements. Neither you do not have to calcule how far from the camera you must stand to obtain a required crop. If you use our passport photo editor - it will automatically crop a picture. So if you want to prepare yourself for the photography session, just do your hair, choose a nice outfit, maybe put on some make up and relax. We will assist you during the process.
Ireland passports are biometric like all the travel documents in the world nowadays. This means that the photos inside must be biometric too to facilitate an international identification system to read them with scanners. A possport’s holder's physical characteristics, such as the distance between the eyes, nose, ears and mouth are unique and thanks to machine-reading carried out by immigration officers on countries’ borders this is possible to check a person’s identity in a fast and effective way.
As is easy to guess, there are rigorous rules about the biometric photos and a passport application with an attached photo not-meeting those requirements will be rejected. That is why this is so important to know everything about passport photo size and requirements.
Anyway, photos aren't required to be professionally taken which is really good news. You can take it anywhere and everywhere and save your money and time!
Today we do almost everything on the Internet with a little help from diverse apps. We can control the temperature in our appartement from our office, track our children or calcule how long we must jog to burn calories from a donut. Apps help us to work more effectively, live healthier, and more pleasantly. They do a huge part of the job instead of us and we can enjoy our free time. This is exactly how our passport photo editor works.
You take a photo and our app will:
There are some sections we will talk over in a nutshell. Focus especially on the composition and posing in the picture. Do not forget that smiling is not allowed, same as frowning or making grimaces. Instead you may not concern yourself with details like size, correct crop or background as with our smart passport photo app you will have them done! Anyway we will provide you with all needed information. Just read our guidelines below.
If you want to obtain your travelling document quickly and without any problems, you need to check twice if your application form is filled in properly. We cannot help you here… But when it comes to the pictures, we are for you! We will assist you with creating a passport photo and check if you satisfied all the demandings. When you are uploading a photo to our passport photo creator, please remember that your photo must be:
And one very important rule at the end: you cannot take a selfie or use a webcam. They are not accepted as biometric photos.
If you submit paper photos, remember to attach four identical prints. Irish passport photo dimensions are minimum 35 mm x 45 mm and maximum 38 mm x 50 mm.
If you decided to upload your digital passport photo, here you have the digital specification for it. The photo must be:
As the first, your passport photo must be original - not scanned, not cut out from the larger image. If you use your camera or phone, do not use the zoom in function. Any compression, loss or compression artefacts are not allowed. Neither any alteration is acceptable. You cannot use filters, Photoshop, filters or other graphic software. If you have a problem with an unsuitable background, you can use the Passport Photo Removing Tool to help yourself - it is not forbidden.
There are some big musts and mustn'ts here. If you pose in a wrong way you will need to repeat all the action.
You MUST:
You MUST NOT:
The passport photo must obligatorily reflect your natural skin tones so it is obvious that it must be in color, not black and white. But this is not everything about tones and colors yet. “Natural colors” applies also to the eye’s color. It is not visible in such a small piece as in a document but during the machine-reading while the photo and application are being processed, the photos with so called “red eyes effects” are rejected. If you want to avoid this unnatural effect, do not use a flesh lamp as it is the main culprit in the case.
Background in the Irish passport photo must be white, cream (off-white) or light-grey. No objects such as pictures, door panels or plants should be visible in your passport photo, neither other persons. Background must be plain, clear, free of designs or patterns. People often complain that it is a very unhandy rule because obtaining such a perfect, spotless background in home environnement is a real challenge. But we are here if you need a helping hand! Our online photo background remover is able to exchange the bad background into a homogenouslywhite, cream or light-grey one just in one second. Use the tool and forget about preparing a background to your picture!
Your passport photo cannot be overexposed or underexposed so when you prepare a spot to take a photograph, make sure that the light source is in front of your face, not behind you and that the light is not too strong and not to faint.
The best idea is to stay facing the window, approximately 1,5-2 m from the camera. Light must be evenly distributed on both sides of your face. Control if your skin does not shine. It looks unattractively but there is also one reason to check it: any glare disqualifies a picture.
In the image all your head with hair, neck and mid torso must be seen. Your head must be centred. Please leave the visible space between your head and shoulders and the edge of your photo. You don’t have to cut your picture if you apply online, it will be done to the correct crop during the online application process.
If you want to print your picture, use a passport photo cropping tool and have it done automatically.
Ok, this one was tricky because there is not such a thing as a dress-code for Irish passport photos. Only uniforms, civil or military (e.g. showing epaulets, insignia) should not be worn.
Besides uniforms you may wear what you like and choose an outfit bringing out your strong sides off the look. Our tip is pick up a color and pattern you feel attractive in. If people often give you compliments when you are wearing your casual, navy-blue dress, that will be also a perfect choice for the passport-style photo. If you feel good in white collar shirt and elegant suit, it will be a great option for this occasion!
We recommend you not to wear any clothes in the color of background. It is allowed but will not look good. And tank tops - don’t wear any if you don’t want to look like naked in your passport photo.
Never Photoshop! If the Artificial Intelligence validating your photo detects any digital enhancements, your picture will be rejected. So: no graphic programs, no filters, no retouching at all. But it does not mean that you must expose all imperfections you would prefer to hide. Putting on some makeup is absolutely allowed. Especially face powder is recommended - it helps the skin to stop shining and covers imperfections.
If a hijab, headscarf, yarmulke or other head covering is a part of your religious attire, you can keep it while capturing a photo for an Irish passport. You are not obliged to prove your religious belongingness.
You may pose in a head covering also for medical reasons - for example after a recent surgery when it is necessary to protect your skin.
In both situations your full facial features must be visible. Headscarve or other headgear must not obscure your cafe or cast a shadow on it.
When it comes to fashion head covering like hats, caps, bands etc. - they are all forbidden in the official document photo. All massive hair accessories must be taken off.
Generally speaking, jewellery in passport photos is allowed as long as it does not obscure face features. For this reason huge earrings which “touch” the facial oval cannot be worn but small pieces of jewelry is accepted. The same rule applies to facial piercing - you do not need to remove it if you wear it permanently and if it does not cover your features. There are no rules about necklaces or chains - if you like massive ones, there will not be a problem.
You may wear them as long as their frames don’t cover any part of your eyes. There must be no glare on the lenses. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are not permitted in any case.
Today more people decide to capture a photograph by themselves at home than in a professional photography studio. And a dominant part of those pictures are impossible to distinguish from those taken professionally. But there is still a significant amount of photos which are rejected during the passport application process. Why? Because the AI (Artificial Intelligence) verifying them finds errors. With our passport photo requirements guide and Passport Photo Maker you are able to create a photo which satisfies in 100% all formal demandings. Check out which are most commonly made mistakes to avoid them. The are:
Remember also that your photo must be taken within the last 6 months. The AI cannot check it when you apply but if you attach an older photo, you may have troubles later on borders.
Once you order a picture on our website, you receive it on your email address. Now you may upload it on a dedicated site if you apply online or print it on a high quality photographic paper and send 4 prints with the appropriate form. Of course you may use your template more than once. Most institutions now require biometric passport-style photos. You may also use it as an identifier photo or for an identity card.
Maybe you have read the article above and you are thinking now: why should I use this online passport photo tool when I can prepare my photo on my own with no help?
The quickest answer is: to save your time. With us all you need to do is to take a proper pose and facial expression, look straight at the camera and take a shot. We will do the rest which is:
We base on artificial intelligence and offer you entirely automated service - that is why we are so cost competitive. We offer you to help with creating a perfect Irish passport photo for the small part of the price you would pay in a photobooth or in a photography studio. Check out our price list!
So if you want to have it done quickly and not be worried whether your picture will be accepted or not, we are your best partner in this undertaking. You can have your photo ready in a couple of seconds without going anywhere from your living room. Start your passport application process right now and get it quickly!
If you don’t believe us, check out our opinions. We have satisfied clients in every country in the world! Not only because we are so efficient, fast and offer good prices. It is above all because with us you pay only for what you want to pay. You can take one million shots and pick up only one which makes you pleased. We will charge only for this one shot. But this is not the end of good news! As we guarantee you that our technology verifies your photo in terms of matching requirements, we will return you the money if it doesn’t for any reason.
So, if your photo ordered on our website is not accepted by the passport office, write to us and we will send you your money back.
❓ Can I take a photo dedicated to an Irish Passport at home?
Sure you do. This is the most convenient, money saving and the quickest way to get your passport photo.
❓ Can I take a selfie as an Irish passport photo?
Unfortunately not. Selfies do not meet the requirements. Ask somebody for help or use a tripod.
❓ Passport size photo Ireland - how it must be?
If you want to use paper photos, they must be minimum 35 mm weight and 45 mm height. The maximum size should be 38 mm x 50 mm.
❓ How many prints should I attach to my Irish passport application?
Four. Remember that they all must be identical.
❓ What is the technical specification for digital Irish passport photos?
The digital photo must be smaller than 9 megabytes (9MB), minimum 715 pixels wide and 951 pixels in height and saved in JPEG format.
❓ Can I attach for my Irish passport application a black and white photo?
No, you cannot. Your photo must reflect your natural skin tones, so it must be in color.
❓ How to get a correct Irisch passport photo crop?
It is enough if you use a passport photo cropping tool. You will get your correct crop in one second.
❓ How to pose in the Irish passport photo?
You need to stay straight and look straightly at the camera lens. Don’t tilt your head and remember that it must be an en-face view.
❓ Must the Irish passport photo background color be white?
Not only white. The background can also be cream (off-white) or light-grey.
❓ Are head coverings allowed in the picture for an Irish passport?
If you wear a hijab or headscarf for religious reasons you are allowed to pose in it for the Irish passport photo. Also men can keep for example yarmulke if it is a part of a religious attire. However, fashion head covering such as caps, headbands or hats are not allowed.
❓ Help! What to do with a “red eye” effect in my Irish passport photo?
Noto to correct this effect with a retouching program - that’s for sure! Unfortunately, photos with an unnatural eye color will be automatically rejected and at the same time you must not alter the photo. So the best idea is to take another shot, without a flash lamp which is “responsible” for the red color of eyes in the picture.
❓ Are glasses allowed in the Irish passport photo?
Yes, but only eyeglasses with transparent lenses are allowed. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are forbidden. Capturing the photo, make sure that the glasses’ frames do not obscure any part of your eyes. They must not give a glare either.
❓ Can I smile in my Ireland passport Photo?
No. Don’t smile or frown. Just relax your facial muscles and look straightly at the camera. A neutral face expression is the requirement in this case.
❓ Is the Irish passport biometric?
Yes, it is. And for this reason your photo must be biometric also. This is why you need to know all Irish passport photo requirements.
❓ Where to find Irish passport photo guidelines?
We provide you with a complete passport photo guidelines. Read our article to keep abreast!
❓ What does it mean that “the Irish passport photo must be original”?
It means that it must not be cut out from the larger picture. It can’t be altered in any way except by a professional photo tool exchanging the background and resizing it.
❓ Is piercing and jewellery allowed in the Irish passport photo?
Yes, it is. You don’t have to remove the piercing if it does not obscure your facial features and don’t give a glare on your skin. Also jewellery is accepted but only if decorative items do not obscure your face.
❓ Can I apply for my Irish passport online?
Yes, it is possible. If you prefer to apply online, don’t forget to upload a digital passport photo to the form.
❓ Can I capture my Irish passport photo by phone?
Absolutely! You need a phone, tablet or digital camera to take the picture.
❓ Can I take the Ireland passport photo with a webcam?
No. Photos captured by webcams do not satisfy technical requirements and are not accepted as passport pictures.
❓ Can I correct my passport photo to Irish passport with Photoshop?
No, don’t do it. Photoshop, filters and any alteration done by computer software is not allowed and will be detected by artificial intelligence validating photos. All processed photos will be disqualified.
❓ Is there any Irish passport photo maker available?
Yes and we invite you to download it if you want to have your photo created quickly and with a warranty of correctness.
❓ Is the passport photo app available for the iPhone?
Yes, of course. Just download it from the AppStore and start preparing your passport photo now!
❓ Is the passport photo creator good for Android?
If you have a smartphone with Android, there is nothing easier than downloading our passport photo creator from Google Play Store. just check it out!
❓ How to dress for an official passport photo in Ireland?
You can dress as you like except uniforms (civil or military) showing epaulets or insignia. Uniforms should not be worn.
❓ Do I need to shave my beard for an Irish passport photo?
No, you can keep it. However if your beard is very large and voluminous you may be asked about submitting a new photo as your facial features must be recognizable.
❓ Can I have my hair down in my Irish passport photo?
Yes you can but keep in mind that in the photo it must be a little space between your head (with hair) and the picture’s edge left. So, if you have voluminous hair, the good idea is to wear the hair up.
❓ How to verify my Irish passport photo is correct?
Just use our passport photo validating app based on artificial intelligence. Upload the photo to our tool and wait for two or three seconds. The high technology will check your picture and mark it as correct or not.
❓ How much does the Irish passport photo cost?
If you take it in a photography studio, it may be expensive. But with our digital passport photo maker you pay only a part of this price and only for the shot (or shots) you want. This is the best way to have a professionally done photograph and save money.
❓ What if my passport photo will be rejected?
If the Passport Office rejects your photo, you will be obliged to provide them with a new one. It may generate extra costs but not if you order the passport photo on our website. We guarantee the money return if the Passport Office does not accept a photo ordered on our service.
❓ Can I use the photo template and print it at home?
Home ink printer is not a suitable device to print a passport photo. You can print your photos in some stores or pharmacies. Look for a photo printing kiosk or order already printed pictures ready to attach to the application - we will deliver it right on your physical address!
An Irish passport (Pas Éireannach) is the travelling document issued by the Passport Office to citizens of the Republic of Ireland. This document is an evidence of Irish nationality and citizenship serving its holder to travel internationally. It also helps Irish citizens staying abroad with an access to consular assistance and serves as an identification document.
Since 2006 all Irish passports are biometric with a machine-readable identity page and 32 or 66 pages for visas.The words on the cover are in both of Ireland's official languages: Irish and English whereas the data page is printed in Irish, English and French.
Getting a passport is the constitutional right of every Irish citizen. This right can be suspended only by an Irish court which is able to confiscate passports of defendants. Passports for adults are valid for 10 years and children’s passports - for 5 years. The validity of a passport can be limited by the Passport Office in special circumstances (for example for those who have lost two or more passports).
You can choose if you would like to apply for your passport online or in a traditional way. Doing it online is a faster and cheaper way. If you already have your photo, it takes less than ten minutes! You can apply online for your first Irish passport or for renewing your passport.
If you don’t wish or cannot apply online, you can do it by post, through Passport Express or in person, through the Passport Office’s counter service or at an Irish embassy or consulate if you are living abroad.
Before applying gather the following documents:
You may be required to send additional documents depending on your particular situation. F. ex. if you were born abroad to a parent born in Ireland or Northern Ireland, you were adopted or naturalised.
Remember that all your documents must be in English. If not, you must also supply a certified English version, translated by a registered translator.
Passport Tracking Service lets you check the status of your passport application made online. To use this service, you need to put the application number from your form. This number is in the top left-hand corner of the application form.
Once you receive your passport, don’t forget to sign it. If it is a child’s passport, its signature is required. If a child is not able to sign their name, it should be left blank. Never sign a passport of another person, even your child.
Because of a coronavirus pandemie the Passport Service is not currently processing applications so may not come in person and send paper documentation. You can still apply for a new passport via the Internet, but be aware that it will not be processed while “Level 5” restrictions are in place.
At the moment the Passport Express is not currently available, also passport phone lines. Follow the official communications to be up to date.
If you urgently need a passport to travel, contact the Passport Service through the webchat. As “urgent need” are considered only following situations:
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