Albanian Passport Photo (biometrics taken at the mission; photo only on the Model 2 self-declaration form; ICAO 35 x 45 mm reference): size and requirements
The Albanian Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Not stated; white is our rendering choice for the reference frame; head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-10 against Republika e Shqipërisë, e-Albania (Agjencia Kombëtare e Shoqërisë së Informacionit) for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior, 'Aplikim për pasaportë dhe kartë identiteti', with the ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 reference frame.
For an Albanian biometric passport applied for by a citizen living abroad through the e-Albania service 'Aplikim për pasaportë dhe kartë identiteti' and completed in person at an Albanian embassy or consulate, for adults and children. The service lists no photograph among the documents and captures fingerprints and signature at the mission; a photo appears only on the Model 2 identity self-declaration form for first-time applicants, with no size, so this page is a reference frame. Not for the identity card, an Albanian e-visa or a driving licence, nor for the in-country civil-status office route, which was not read.
Only a first-time applicant abroad needs a passport photo, for the Model 2 identity form; everyone else is photographed and fingerprinted at the mission. Ask the consulate before printing. See all Albania documents.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height (no geometry published (the service lists no photograph; the Model 2 form only says 'me fotografi'); ICAO Doc 9303 crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent of the 45 mm height applied as a reference)
- Background
- not stated; white is our rendering choice for the reference frame
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- We deliver
- 413 x 531 px (300 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckNothing to print for most applicants: the e-Albania document table lists an old passport, electronic driving licence or another valid photo document from the host country, a court decision for guardians, loss reports and the expired or damaged documents; no passport photo is named.
- CheckBiometrics at the counter: 'Qytetari është i detyruar të paraqitet më pas në përfaqësi për të lënë shenjat e gishtërinjve.' (the citizen must then appear at the mission to leave fingerprints) and 'Paraqituni në përfaqësi për të lënë shenjat e gishtërinjve dhe firmosur ( e detyrueshme)' (appear at the mission to give fingerprints and sign, mandatory).
- CheckThe one photo mentioned is on a form: a citizen abroad applying for a first biometric passport, or whose previous passport was produced before 31.12.2011, must fill in 'formularin e vetëdeklarimit me fotografi të përcaktuar në Model 2' (the self-declaration form with photograph, Model 2) in front of the consul, which goes to the State Police for identity confirmation 'brenda 7 ditë kalendarike' (within 7 calendar days). No size or background for that photo is published.
- CheckAppointments: you pick the date and time at the mission when applying online; a missed appointment is cancelled and you may re-apply after 5 days. Processing: '4-6 javë.' (4-6 weeks).
- CheckFees by mission (passport / ID card): Athens and Thessaloniki, Rome, Milan and Bari 130 / 12 euro; Brussels, Munich, Berlin, Istanbul, Vienna, Stockholm, Paris 170 / 16 euro; London 144 / 13 pounds; New York and Ottawa 240 / 18 dollars.
- CheckRenewal window: a passport can be renewed when it has expired or '6 muaj përpara mbarimit të afatit të vlefshmërisë' (6 months before expiry) for travel to states that demand six months' validity.
- CheckEverything geometric here (35 x 45 mm, 70-80 % head, white background, six months) is the ICAO Doc 9303 reference, flagged as such; neither e-Albania nor the ministry publishes a passport-photo rule we could read.
Source and verification
No national rule published; ICAO 9303 standard applies. Last checked 2026-10-10 at Republika e Shqipërisë, e-Albania (Agjencia Kombëtare e Shoqërisë së Informacionit) for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior, 'Aplikim për pasaportë dhe kartë identiteti', with the ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 reference frame.
Qytetari është i detyruar të paraqitet më pas në përfaqësi për të lënë shenjat e gishtërinjve.
Paraqituni në përfaqësi për të lënë shenjat e gishtërinjve dhe firmosur ( e detyrueshme)
Shtetasi shqiptar që jeton jashtë vendit dhe dëshiron të pajiset me pasaportë biometrike, duhet të plotësojë formularin e vetëdeklarimit me fotografi të përcaktuar në Model 2
1. Kur aplikon për herë të parë për pasaportë biometrike;
Komisariatet e Policisë së Shtetit duhet të kryejnë verifikimin e identitetit brenda 7 ditë kalendarike.
4-6 javë.
Submitted portraits should be 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) in dimension.
The crown-to-chin portion of the facial image shall be 70 to 80 per cent of the longest dimension defined for Zone V, maintaining the aspect ratio between the crown-to-chin and ear-to-ear details of the face of the holder.
Quotes 1-6 are from source.url (sources/al/ealbania-service-9765.txt, read live via r.jina.ai on 2026-10-10; quote 3 stops before the page's '(SHKARKO FORMULARIN)' link; the page's list dashes are dropped). The MFA page https://punetejashtme.gov.al/en/regjimi-i-vizave-per-te-huajt/ (sources/al/mfa-visa-regime-foreigners-en.txt) names no visa photo and is not quoted. Quotes 7-8 are ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/icao-9303-part3-portrait-excerpt.txt, Wayback capture 2024-09-12). No Albanian photo geometry was read; physical 35 x 45 mm, head 0.7-0.8, maxPhotoAgeMonths 6, background 'white', dpi 300, glasses and headCovering are ICAO-style defaults for the reference frame. Translations in parentheses are ours.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
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