Irish Passport Photo (printed, paper application, 35 x 45 mm): size and requirements
The Irish Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Completely plain, light grey, white or cream background; head 50 to 70 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against Passport Service, Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland).
For the four identical printed photos sent with a paper Irish passport application form (Post Passport, or a paper form at an embassy). Not for Passport Online, which takes one digital photo, and not for a Passport Card: the page names only the Passport Book for the paper form and lists the Card under online applications, so we read the Card as online only.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 50 to 70 percent of the photo height (The photo must capture your image from head to mid torso; visible space between your head and shoulders and the edge of your photo (no millimetre figure is published; 50-70 percent is our framing band))
- Background
- completely plain, light grey, white or cream background
- 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
- Prints needed
- 4
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckFour identical prints, not two: the witness writes the form number on the back of two of them and signs and stamps those two. Missing that means a new form and new photos.
- CheckThe print may be anywhere from 35 x 45 mm (minimum) to 38 x 50 mm (maximum); we print the 35 x 45 minimum, which also fits standard sheets.
- CheckThe reverse of the photos must be white and unglazed, and there must be no ink marks or creases, so do not write on them yourself. Our advice: ask the lab for single-sided photo paper with a plain white back.
- CheckThe Passport Service recommends black-and-white prints because the passport reproduces the photo in black and white, but colour is accepted; both must be unedited ('Digital enhancements or changes are not acceptable').
- CheckFrame from head to mid torso with visible space around the head and shoulders; in the Service's own three-distance sample only the head-and-shoulders frame cut off at the chest is marked acceptable.
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-07 at Passport Service, Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland).
Whether you choose to have your photo taken at home, by a photo professional or at a photo booth you will need to be aware of our guidelines.
Include 4 identical photos, no more than 6 months old with your passport application
Minimum: 35mm x 45mm
Maximum: 38mm x 50mm
The photo must capture your image from head to mid torso.
Please ensure there is visible space between your head and shoulders and the edge of your photo.
Photos must be printed on photo-quality paper at a high resolution.
Digital enhancements or changes are not acceptable.
The reverse of the photos must be white and unglazed.
Black and white photos are recommended as they're digitally printed onto the passport in black and white. But we also accept colour photos.
You need to stand in front of a completely plain, light grey, white or cream background.
Make sure your expression is neutral, do not smile and close your mouth.
All quotes from the 'Printed photos' and 'pose and visuals' sections of the Passport Service page at source.url, read via the r.jina.ai text proxy (sources/ie/ireland-ie-passport-photo-guidelines.txt). No head-height or eye-line figure is published; the 0.5-0.7 band is our framing choice from 'head to mid torso' (flagged in head.statedAs). The page gives a size range (35 x 45 to 38 x 50 mm); we author the minimum. physical.dpi 600 is our rendering choice: the page says only 'printed on photo-quality paper at a high resolution' and names no dpi. 'Passport Card is online only' is our inference from 'You need a digital photo to apply for a Passport Book or Passport Card online' and 'You need a printed photo to apply for a Passport Book by paper application form'; the page does not state it directly. child.underAge 3 is the page's cropping-tool age, not a waiver (see child.note). ireland.ie is not matched by the validator host rule; see the file header.
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.
Frequently asked questions
