Ireland passport photo requirements
When applying for a new Irish passport or visa, whether online or by paper, always make sure that your photo meets the official passport or visa photo requirements. Incorrect size, format, posture, facial expression, clothing, or poor photo quality - all may cause your application to be rejected or delayed.
Below we list the detailed passport photo requirements for Ireland. Please note that the passport photo rules are the same for a vast majority of personal documents in Ireland. The same photo requirements have been specified for an Irish Passport photo, Irish ID Card photo, Irish Visa photo, Irish Travel Document photo and Age card. So, after you secure good-quality digital images, you can use them for a variety of purposes.
Table of contents
- Digital photo specifications
- Ireland: passport photo format and size
- Recency
- Ireland: passport photo pose
- Facial features
- Glasses
- Headwear
- Facial expression
- Background
- Image quality
- Uploading your digital photo
- Paper quality
- Getting Ireland passport photo online
- How do I learn that my passport or visa photo matches the requirements for Ireland?
Today, Irish passport photo rules allow taking photos at home with your own device, as well as obtaining one from a professional photo provider. If you choose to take your photo at home, it is a good idea to have it processed by a specialized online service to avoid rejection of your application. Visafoto.com makes all the necessary corrections and ensures that the photo complies with the photo requirements for an Irish visa or passport.
Here are some Irish passport photo tips to help you.
Digital photo specifications
To take a digital photograph at home, use a digital device, such as a smartphone, iPad, or laptop.
Scans of analogue photos are not allowed. Never use them if you want your photo to be accepted by the passport office.
Have someone help you. You cannot take a selfie or use the zoom function on a digital camera or smartphone for your Irish passport photo.
Take a photo against a light background. Your Irish digital passport photo must be in colour. For paper applications, printed black and white photos are recommended, as they are digitally printed onto the passport in black and white, although colour photographs are also acceptable. The size of your digital photo should be at least 715 pixels wide and 951 pixels in height, or larger, and it should be saved in JPEG format. The file should be no larger than 9 megabytes (9MB), and it cannot contain any digital distortion or enhancement.
Ireland: passport photo format and size
The standard photo for passport, visa, or other personal documents in Ireland should be within 45-50mm in height and 35-38mm in width. The photo should capture your image from head to mid-torso, showing the close-up of your face and the top of your shoulders. Your face must take up 70-80% of the frame. There should be visible space between your head and shoulders and the edge of your photo, as the picture will be cropped to the correct size during the application process. Remember that all the photos you submit must show exactly the same image.
Recency
Your photos must be taken within the last 6 months.
Ireland: passport photo pose
In Ireland, passport photo specifications include not only the size of the image, but also the position of the head. The head should be centred in the image, and only a strictly frontal pose of the face is allowed. When taking a picture, look straight into the camera, without tilting your head up or down, left or right. Don’t turn your head either. The photo should show the full face from forehead to chin, and both left and right parts of your face should be clearly visible in your Irish passport or visa photo.
Facial features
Ensure your facial features are clearly visible. Your eyes can not be covered by long hair, dark glasses or a glass frame.
Glasses
Sunglasses, tinted or coloured glasses are not allowed. If you wear prescription glasses, they should be of transparent glass, so that the eyes are clearly visible in your passport photo. The frame should not cover any part of your eyes and there should be no glare on the lenses.
Headwear
Headwear is not permitted on an Irish passport photo, so please remove your hat, cap or a head-band before you take a picture. Head or hair covering worn for religious reasons is allowed if it does not cover any part of your face.
Facial expression
Your expression should be neutral. Do not smile at your passport photo. Try to relax your face to achieve a fully emotionless facial expression. Your both eyes should be open and your mouth closed.
Background
The Irish passport photo background should be completely plain, white, light grey or cream colour. There should be no patterns or objects such as door panels or plants in the background. If you take your photo at home, it is recommended to take a picture against a completely white wall or a white sheet. However, there should be a good contrast between your face and shoulders and the background.
Image quality
Passport photos should have a sharp focus, lighting and colour should be well-balanced. The photos should not be too dark or too light. They should include natural flesh tones and no ‘red eye'. If you take a photo by yourself, make sure the source of light is right in front of your face, so both parts of your face are equally visible. There must be no shadows on the face, and no shadows or glare in the background.
Uploading your digital photo
The Irish passport application can be submitted from a smartphone or tablet. Learn more about uploading photos to electronic passport applications.
Paper quality
In the case of printed photos, these should be printed on photographic paper, at a high resolution, with no ink marks or creases. The reverse of a photograph must be white and unglazed. There should be no staple or pin marks on your photos.
Getting Ireland passport photo online
One of the fastest ways to make a compliant Irish passport or visa photo is to use specialized online tools. Visafoto.com instantly converts your photo so that it meets all the passport photo criteria for Ireland. The result will also comply with the Irish visa photo requirements.
Getting Ireland passport photo online. Guidelines
- Take a photo of yourself against any background. Look directly into the camera and keep your shoulders straight, do not tilt or turn your head;
- Do not smile;
- Make sure the photo matches clothing requirements mentioned above and there are no strong shadows or glare in the picture;
- Upload the photo to Visafoto.com and get the immediate result. The service will adjust the background, set the required size, format, and improve image quality. You will receive a digital photo for online submission and an image for printing.
- Technical support is available 24/7 to answer all your questions.
Source
Result
You will also get an image for printing:
You can follow the same instructions as a passport photo standards for Ireland as well.
How do I learn that my passport or visa photo matches the requirements for Ireland?
After you submit your passport or visa application, the officials review your photo. You are informed if the photo does not meet the passport photo guidelines for Ireland, and your application processing is postponed until you provide an acceptable photo.
