Irish Passport Photo

Irish passport photo requirements

The Irish passport office has specific requirements that must be met when it comes to the photo for your Irish passport. What are these requirements? We will answer all of this below.

It should be noted that when you apply for an Irish passport, the photo format and its other requirements frequently vary, e.g. the photo we use for a German passport would most likely not be useful to us if we are applying for an Irish one. Passport pictures are often commonly referred to as biometric photos, i.e. those that enable us to show our individual features that enables fast and accurate identification. Therefore, typically in photography, we should be seated frontally and looking straight ahead at the camera lens. There can be no other person in your photo, and the background criteria may differ depending on the document you are applying for. As for glasses and other accessories or headwear, they are usually the same. 

The general guidelines for passport photos are in the following categories:

• Facial expressions,
• Facing the camera directly,
• Clothing in a passport photo,
• Background colours,
• Accessories.

It is not difficult to produce a valid passport photo. What's more, you can take a picture on your own with our photo editor and online tool - with your phone at home. So it is only necessary that you follow the criteria for a passport picture. The requirements are very comprehensive, but this does not mean that they are difficult to follow whilst taking your passport photos in your own home.

The most important thing is to have the correct picture size that is compliant with the biometric photo guidelines. A biometric photo is a photo which is necessary not only for a passport, but also for a driving licence and ID card. Therefore, for certain papers, a photograph taken once can be added to multiple applications, but only if you apply for them at around the same time, as photos for official documentation must be as recent as possible. You will find more information regarding these requirements below.

Irish passport photo size and dimensions 

Pictures for passports can have different sizes depending on where you are applying. Some countries only allow a certain picture format, while others offer many choices. An Irish passport must always be 35mmx45mm in size, and is an example of a strictly specified size requirement for a picture. 

The head of the applicant must take up 70-80% of the photo, so you must take note of this.

Irish digital passport photo requirements

A digital photo also has some requirements that must be adhered to. The photo should be no less than 715 pixels in width and 951 pixels in height. The photo must be in JPG format and its size should not exceed 9MB.

Background

The background must be plain and neutral, ideally light grey or white. The background must not contain any patterns or objects of any kind, it must be clear. There will also need to be a good contrast with the face and hair, so that everything can be seen properly. Only the person being photographed, i.e. the one applying for an Irish passport, can be seen in the photo. There should be no other people present in the photo at all.

Lighting

If the photos are too bright or have shadows present they might cause you problems when applying for the passport.There needs to be a clear picture of your face and background in your photo. Note that you should not use any filters in your photo whatsoever. Editing your photos to get rid of shadows is completely unacceptable.

The light needs to be even and the two sides of your face have to be illuminated equally. This means that no shadows should appear on your face. Be sure that the lighting is not over or underexposed, and that your face is clearly visible. You must also ensure that there are no reflections caused by jewellery or accessories. The picture must be sharp, with adequate contrast and detail.

Quality and technical requirements

With a minimum print resolution of 600 dpi, the picture must be in focus and not blurred. Your picture should be of a very good quality when printed so be sure to print your picture on high-quality photo paper. You can print the photo on high-quality paper yourself if you take your passport photo with your phone at home.

You need natural contrast and for your natural skin tone to be preserved and editing your photos to change any of this is forbidden. If you edit your picture to change the contrast and skin tone it will be rejected along with your application. There must not be any folds, bruises, stains or any other impurities in the picture. Both images in colour and black and white are permitted. However, for your submission, we recommend that you submit a colour picture.

Glasses and makeup in an Irish passport photo

Under the official criteria for passport photographs, the applicant may not wear glasses or sunglasses in the photograph that is submitted. However, if you can't remove your glasses for medical purposes, you need to include a signed letter from your doctor, in your passport application, explaining that you can’t remove your glasses.

Make-up is allowed and it doesn’t come with any particular requirements. However it is better that your makeup reflects your natural look and the way you look everyday. It should not be too light either and it is advised that you don’t wear lip gloss or pearly eye shadow.

Facial expressions

If you do not have a neutral facial expression there is a high chance that your passport photo will be rejected. Keep in mind that you need to keep your eyes open and your mouth closed. Again, this is important because it makes it easy for the authorities to confirm your identity with your passport photo. Face the camera squarely and be sure that the camera has a full view of your face and that both sides of your face are illuminated equally.

Clothing

A uniform, apparel that looks like a uniform, or camouflage clothing should not be worn. It is recommended that you should wear the clothing you wear on a regular basis. We encourage you to try a smart-casual look instead of a sweatshirt or just a t-shirt, even though there is no clear passport picture dress code.

Passport photo with a phone at home

You can prepare your Irish passport photo at home with the PhotoAiD app for iPhone and Android as well as our online tool. All you need is your mobile phone. It's fast and convenient. You just need to know how to pose and use our guide in accordance with the requirements for the irish passport photo.

Lighting in the photo

It's not necessary for you to set a background or even pose against a white wall. You only need to take decent lighting into account. The best time to take your photo is during the few hours before noon, whilst standing opposite a window in the sunshine. Make sure you do not have any accessories on your face or shoulders, especially anything that can cause any glare or reflection. If the lighting is still not adequate then some carefully placed lamps will help, as long as you ensure they don’t cause any shadows to be cast on your face. If the background still isn’t perfect then you can use our app to remove the background and replace it with one that meets the requirements.

How to pose at home

Sit or stand directly facing the camera with a front-facing view. Place the phone on a tripod to avoid a blurry picture or ask someone to take a photo of you. The person you enlist to take your photo should stand approximately 1.2 metres in front of you to ensure there is a clear view of your face, neck and upper shoulders.

Your face must have a neutral expression in the photograph and your head must be perfectly straight, so no tilting your head at all. Make sure all sides of your face can be seen.

Preparing the photo with PhotoAid

All you need to do now is upload the picture you have taken and wait for our app to work its magic. The editor will crop the picture to the appropriate size after loading, and delete the background from the photo. Additionally the editor will check the accuracy of the photo to ensure it fits all requirements, and send you the finished photo by email. You can download it from there and use it as many times as you need to.

Last update: 01/06/2023