Israeli Passport Photo (2 prints for a temporary passport; biometric passports are photographed at the bureau): size and requirements
The Israeli Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). הרקע צריך להיות אחיד ובהיר (אפור או לבן ) - the background must be uniform and light (grey or white); head 71 to 80 percent of the photo height. Last verified 2026-10-10 against Population and Immigration Authority (State of Israel), 'Passport photo guide' and the leaflet 'דרישות לצילום תמונת תווי פנים ביומטרית עבור התיעוד הביומטרי החכם'.
For the two identical printed photos handed in with an Israeli temporary passport application at a Population and Immigration Authority bureau, and the optional prints parents may bring for children up to 6. Regular biometric passports and ID cards are photographed at the bureau ('Live Enrollment'), so no photo is brought. Not for non-biometric travel documents issued at Israeli missions abroad (own photo rule, not read) or a visa.
Only print this for a temporary passport (or optionally a child up to 6) and have it printed on photo paper; for a regular biometric passport bring nothing, the bureau photographs you. See all Israel documents.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 71 to 80 percent of the photo height (גובה הפנים בתמונה (מהסנטר עד לקו תחילת השיער )יהיה 32 עד 36 מ"מ (face height, chin to hairline, 32 to 36 mm; 32/45 to 36/45 of our 45 mm reference frame))
- Background
- הרקע צריך להיות אחיד ובהיר (אפור או לבן ) - the background must be uniform and light (grey or white)
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Prints needed
- 2
- We deliver
- 413 x 531 px (300 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckMost applicants need NO photo: the biometric passport is photographed at the bureau ('Submit the application at the office – including a facial photo and fingerprint scan.'). Bring prints only for a temporary passport ('You need 2 identical printed photos if you are applying for a temporary passport.') or, optionally, for a child up to 6.
- CheckFace, not head: the leaflet measures from the chin to the hairline, 32 to 36 mm ('גובה הפנים בתמונה (מהסנטר עד לקו תחילת השיער )יהיה 32 עד 36 מ"מ'), centred on the nose line. We apply that band to the 35 x 45 mm reference frame; the frame itself did not render from the English page (see note).
- CheckNo glasses at all: 'הצילום יבוצע ללא משקפיים' (the photo is taken without glasses); no red eyes.
- CheckGrey or white, uniform: 'הרקע צריך להיות אחיד ובהיר (אפור או לבן )'; a patchy or too-dark background 'יגרום לפסילת התצלום' (causes rejection).
- CheckBoth ears visible, head straight, no portrait-style over-the-shoulder pose: 'יש לראות את שתי האוזניים בתצלום'.
- CheckMouth closed, neutral, no smile: 'הפה יהיה סגור וההבעה תהיה ניטרלית ,ללא חיוך'.
- CheckNo hat ('התצלום יבוצע ללא כובע'); religious head covering is handled under a separate rule the leaflet footnotes.
- CheckPhoto paper only, cut exactly: 'התצלום המודפס יודפס על נייר צילום' - prints on office or coloured paper are refused. 'Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.'
- CheckRecent: the English guide's 'Guidelines' accordion (which did not render to our reader) is understood to set a one-month limit and the 3.5 x 4.5 cm cut; neither is quoted here, so check the live page before printing an older photo.
- CheckAbroad: 'Israeli biometric travel documents cannot be issued outside Israel.' Non-biometric travel documents issued at missions follow the mission's own photo instructions, not this spec.
Source and verification
Read from the official page and translated by us. Last checked 2026-10-10 (archived copy dated 2024-09-12) at Population and Immigration Authority (State of Israel), 'Passport photo guide' and the leaflet 'דרישות לצילום תמונת תווי פנים ביומטרית עבור התיעוד הביומטרי החכם'.
You need 2 identical printed photos if you are applying for a temporary passport.
If you are applying for a small child (up to 6 years old) you may want to bring passport photos to the application, as sometimes it is difficult to photo them at the passport office. This is optional.
Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.
Submit the application at the office – including a facial photo and fingerprint scan.
Israeli biometric travel documents cannot be issued outside Israel.
הרקע צריך להיות אחיד ובהיר (אפור או לבן )
הצילום יבוצע ללא משקפיים
גובה הפנים בתמונה (מהסנטר עד לקו תחילת השיער )יהיה 32 עד 36 מ"מ
יש לראות את שתי האוזניים בתצלום
הפה יהיה סגור וההבעה תהיה ניטרלית ,ללא חיוך
התצלום יבוצע ללא כובע
התצלום המודפס יודפס על נייר צילום
Submitted portraits should be 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) in dimension.
Quotes 1-3 are from the 'Passport photo guide' at source.url (sources/il/govil-biometric-photo-guide.txt and -pages.txt, read via r.jina.ai on 2026-10-10; the page's 'Guidelines' accordion, which names 3.5 x 4.5 cm and 'taken in the last month', did not render to the reader and is therefore NOT quoted). Quote 4 is from https://www.gov.il/en/pages/passports-and-id-info (sources/il/govil-passports-and-id-info.txt); quote 5 from https://www.gov.il/en/service/issuing_and_extending_travel_documents (sources/il/govil-travel-documents-abroad.txt). Quotes 6-12 are from the leaflet PDF https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/guide/biometric_photo_guide/en/guide-biometric-photo.pdf (Hebrew text, sources/il/govil-guide-biometric-photo-pdf.txt, read via r.jina.ai; our translations in the gotchas; the leaflet's spacing before punctuation is kept verbatim). Quote 13 is ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/, Wayback 2024-09-12) and supplies the 35 x 45 mm frame because the English bullet did not render; archiveSnapshot is that excerpt's date, every gov.il page was read live. head 0.71-0.8 = 32/45 and 36/45 from quote 8 (a chin-to-hairline face height, applied to the ICAO frame). background 'light-grey' from quote 6 (grey or white). glasses from quote 7; headCovering: quote 11 bans hats and the leaflet footnotes a separate religious rule. printsRequired 2 from quote 1. maxPhotoAgeMonths undefined: the one-month limit sits in the unrendered English accordion and is not quoted.
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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