Spanish National ID Card Photo (DNI, 32 x 26 mm): size and requirements
The Spanish National ID Card Photo size is 26 x 32 mm (1.02 x 1.26 inches). Con fondo uniforme blanco y liso; head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Last verified 2026-10-07 against Ministerio del Interior, Dirección General de la Policía.
For the single colour photo handed in with a DNI application or renewal at a Policía Nacional documentation office. Not for a Spanish driving licence renewal, where the medical centre usually takes the photo, and not for a Schengen visa.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 26 x 32 mm (1.02 x 1.26 inches)
- Head height
- Head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height (no head size is published by the Ministerio del Interior for the DNI; we apply the ICAO 9303 default of 70 to 80 percent of the height (22 to 26 mm on 32 mm).)
- Background
- con fondo uniforme blanco y liso
- 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
- Prints needed
- 1
- We deliver
- 614 x 756 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- Check32 x 26 mm, colour, uniform white background, head uncovered (con la cabeza totalmente descubierta), with one listed exception: head coverings for religious or medical reasons are admitted if the face oval is fully visible from the hairline to the chin. The forehead itself must be clear; a fringe is fine only if brows, eyes, nose, mouth and chin stay visible.
- CheckDocumentation units equipped for it photograph you on the spot (de forma automatizada), and units with a Módulo de Expedición Múltiple may take their own image even if you bring a print, so check before paying for prints.
- CheckIf you obtain or renew the DNI the same day, the passport needs no photo at all (the passport page waives it), so one 32 x 26 print at most.
- CheckNo dark lenses: ordinary glasses are allowed if the eyes stay visible, and dark lenses are admitted only for blind people or a permanent, long-term eye defect.
Good to know before you pay
Units equipped for automated capture take the photo for you (Dicha fotografía podrá ser realizada de forma automatizada en aquellas Unidades de Documentación dotadas de ese recurso técnico); ask your office when booking the cita previa.
Source and verification
Read from the official page and translated by us. Last checked 2026-10-07 at Ministerio del Interior, Dirección General de la Policía.
del rostro de la persona solicitante en color, tamaño 32 por 26 milímetros, con fondo uniforme blanco y liso, tomada de frente, con la cabeza totalmente descubierta y sin gafas de cristales oscuros
Dicha fotografía podrá ser realizada de forma automatizada en aquellas Unidades de Documentación dotadas de ese recurso técnico
En aquellas Unidades de Documentación donde se encuentre instalado un Módulo de Expedición Múltiple, se podrá tomar la imagen al ciudadano de manera directa, aunque el interesado aporte la fotografía
Se admitirán imágenes con prendas de cabeza por motivos religiosos o médicos, siempre que muestren totalmente descubierto el óvalo del rostro desde el nacimiento del pelo hasta el mentón (frente, cejas, ojos, nariz, boca).
La frente no podrá estar cubierta por prendas, si se trata de un flequillo, éste deberá permitir que se visualicen los rasgos reseñados (cejas, ojos, nariz, boca y mentón).
Se admiten gafas de cristales oscuros a personas invidentes o con grave defecto en alguno de ellos, siempre que lo sea de carácter permanente o de larga duración y se usen habitualmente.
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 are in Spanish and translated on the page. Quotes 1-6 are from the Interior Ministry's DNI 'Documentación necesaria para su tramitación' page at source.url (read via the r.jina.ai text proxy, saved as sources/es/interior-dni-documentacion-necesaria.txt); quotes 4-6 are the page's listed exceptions (head coverings for religious or medical reasons, fringe, glasses), which is why headCovering is religious-medical-only despite the 'cabeza totalmente descubierta' wording. No head size or photo age is published; the 70-80 percent fraction is the ICAO Doc 9303 default (quote 7, sources/icao/icao-9303-part3-portrait-excerpt.txt) applied to the 32 mm height and is not a Spanish rule.
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
