Irish Passport Photo

Irish Passport Photo

Get your perfect biometric photo (compliance guaranteed)

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Digital photo within a few seconds or printouts shipping to your home
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Irish passport - Digital photo size and requirements

Irish Passport Photo
Size
Width: 715 px
Height: 951 px
Resolution
1 dpi
Image definition parameters
  • Head height: 55 %
  • Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 14 %
Is it suitable for online submission?
yes
Is it printable?
yes
Background Color

How to take a photo?

Body-camera distance
1
Body-camera distance
Posture: Straight ahead
Posture: Straight ahead
2
Posture: Straight ahead
Even lighting on both sides of the face
Even lighting on both sides of the face
3
Even lighting on both sides of the face

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

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much does the Irish passport photo cost?

The cost may vary depending on the way you get the photo. An Irish passport requires 4 biometric photos which usually cost around €8.

❓ Can I take the Irish passport photo with a webcam?

No. Photos captured by webcams do not satisfy the technical requirements and are not accepted as passport pictures.

❓ Can I correct a passport photo for an Irish passport with Photoshop?

No, it is forbidden. Photoshop, filters and any alteration made by computer software is not allowed and will be detected by the artificial intelligence that verifies photos. All processed photos will be disqualified.

Yes and we invite you to download it if you want to have your photo created quickly and with a warranty of correctness.

Yes and we invite you to download it if you want to have your photo created quickly and with a guarantee that it will be accepted.

Yes, of course. Just download it from the AppStore and start preparing your passport photo now!

If you have a smartphone with Android, there is nothing easier than downloading our passport photo creator from the Google Play Store. just check it out and you’ll see how good it really is!

No, you can keep it. However if your beard is very large and bushy you may be asked to submit a new photo as your facial features must be recognisable.

The way you wear your hair is not very important in a passport photo. Just make sure that your hair does not cast any shadows on your face, brushing it to the side behind your ears should be enough to keep it out of your face.

Just use our passport photo validating app that uses artificial intelligence. Upload the photo to our tool and wait for two or three seconds. The technology will check your picture and mark it as correct or not.

Absolutely! You need a phone, tablet or digital camera to take the picture.

If the Passport Office rejects your photo, you will be obliged to provide them with a new one. This may generate extra costs but not if you order the passport photo on our website. We guarantee a refund if the Passport Office does not accept a photo ordered with our service.

If your photo is intended to be used for a passport application you cannot, the issue being that the inkjet printers that we have in our homes don’t print at a high-enough quality or use the right printing techniques that a passport photo requires. There are a few options available such as going to a photo printing store or looking for a photo booth, but the best option for you is to utilise our print and send service, where we will print your photos on high-quality paper and deliver them straight to your door, perfectly ready to attach to your Irish passport application.

No, the background colour can also be cream or light-grey.

Clothing in a passport photo does not have any specific requirements. However, it is important to not wear any uniform or camouflage clothing. You should wear something casual that you wear on a daily basis.

Glasses can only be worn if they do not block your eyes as they have to be clearly visible in the photo. If you can’t take them off for medical reasons you will need a signed document from your doctor that says so.

As long as no identifying marks are hidden, you can wear lenses in the passport photo. You will have to provide a signed medical declaration if you have tinted lenses for medical purposes.

It is recommended that Irish passport photos are in colour but black and white is also acceptable.

You can dress as you like except when it comes to uniforms (civil or military), and showing epaulets or insignia. Uniforms should not be worn.

If you wear a hijab or headscarf for religious reasons you are allowed to pose while wearing it for the Irish passport photo. Men can keep their headwear on, for example a yarmulke, if it is a part of religious attire. However, fashionable head covering such as caps, headbands or hats are not allowed.

Unfortunately not. Selfies do not meet the requirements due to the way your body contorts when taking one. Ask somebody for help or use a tripod.

An Irish passport photo must have photo dimensions of 35 mm x 45 mm.

Four. Remember that they must all be identical.

A digital photo must be smaller than 9 megabytes (9 MB), be a minimum of 715 pixels in width and 951 pixels in height, and saved in JPEG format.

If you are applying with a paper application then yes, but if you are attaching a digital photo then it can only be in colour.

It is easy enough if you use a passport photo cropping tool. You will get the correct crop in one second.

You need to stay straight and look directly at the camera lens. Don’t tilt your head and remember that it must be a front-facing view.

No, the background colour can also be cream or light-grey.

Sure you can. This is the best way to take your photo as you will save time and money, as well as it being more convenient because you can take it at your leisure, and quicker than going to a photographer or photo booth.

You can’t correct this with any form of editing software as that is forbidden, which means you are left with only one choice, a retake. Unfortunately when the red eye effect occurs in our photo there is nothing that can be done other than retaking it. You just need to take steps to avoid it happening again, using a flash on your camera or phone is the most common cause of this so by disabling the flash and taking your photo in good lighting you should have a photo with no red eye included.

Yes, but only eyeglasses with transparent lenses are allowed. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are forbidden. While you are taking the photo you must make sure that the frames of your glasses do not obscure any part of your eyes and that the lenses do not give off any glare.

Smiling is not allowed. When taking a passport photo you should have a neutral facial expression. Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Yes, it is. And for this reason your photo must be biometric also. This is why you need to know all of the Irish passport photo requirements.

We have provided you with all of the complete passport photo requirements, so read the article above to be up-to-date.

It means that it must not be cut out from a larger picture and must be a new photo taken specifically for your passport application. It can’t be altered in any way except by a professional photo tool that removes and replaces the background and resizes it.

Yes, they are. You don’t have to remove the piercing if it does not obscure your facial features and doesn’t give off any glare on your skin. Jewellery is accepted but only if the decorative items do not obscure your face.

Yes, it is possible. If you prefer to apply online, don’t forget to upload a digital passport photo to the form.

About the document

Ireland - passport

The passport issued to residents of Ireland is an Irish passport. An Irish passport helps the holder to fly abroad and acts as proof of the European Union's Irish identity and citizenship. It also enables access to consular services from both Irish embassies and embassies abroad in other member states of the European Union.

Irish passports are issued by a branch of the Foreign Affairs Department, the Passport Office. Similarly to the EEA identification card, an Irish Passport is intended for travel and identification purposes.

Who can apply for an Irish passport?

To apply for an Irish passport you must be a citizen of Ireland. Meaning that if you were born in Ireland, or have been granted Irish citizenship, you can immediately apply for an Irish passport. People eligible to apply for an Irish passport are people over 18 years old. If you are below the age of 18 then you must have the consent of your guardian or parents who will apply for you. 

Validity of an Irish passport

The validity of an Irish passport depends on the age of the applicant. For example, adult passports are valid for around 10 years while minor passports are valid for around 5 years.

How much does the Irish passport cost?

For adults, a standard passport can be around €75, while for children, who are under the age of 18, the passport costs €20. 

  • For each child's application, there is an extra €5 postal charge to cover the expense of returning documents to the claimant.
  • If you live outside Ireland, there is an extra €15 postal fee.
  • For applications for children residing outside Ireland, please note that a single payment of €15 is applicable.

Required documents

Depending on your application process and the type of application that you are applying for, the documents you need to provide for your new passport will depend on them.

Below you can find the required documents needed for your application:

  • Birth certificate,
  • Marriage certificate, if you are married and want to apply with your married name,
  • Proof of address, 
  • Proof of name,
  • Copy of Public Services Card.

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