Italian Passport Photo Requirements 2026 (Polizia di Stato, Questura, Visa)

Quick summary

• Size: 35x45 mm (3.5x4.5 cm)
• Background: plain white, no patterns, no shadows
• Face height: 32-36 mm from chin to crown (70-80% of frame)
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, looking straight at camera
• Glasses: not allowed
• Age: photo must be taken within the last 6 months
• Format: ICAO 9303 biometric compliant
• Issued by: Questura (police headquarters) or Italian consulate abroad

Italian passport photo standard vs other EU countries

The underlying ICAO format is shared across the EU, but each country applies it slightly differently. Italy specifies:

• Plain white background (Germany prefers light grey)
• Eyes and face must be perfectly centered, no head tilt
• Hair pulled away from forehead and ears (some other EU states allow loose hair)
• No professional retouching, no skin smoothing, no beauty filters

The Italian Polizia di Stato runs an automated biometric quality check at the Questura when you apply. Photos that pass at a French or Spanish consulate are sometimes flagged at Italian offices because of these stricter rules around hair and retouching.

Detailed specifications

Size and dimensions

Italian passport photos must be 35 millimeters wide by 45 millimeters tall. In pixels at 300 DPI, this is approximately 413 x 531 pixels. The face from chin to crown must occupy 32 to 36 millimeters of vertical frame (about 70-80% of the photo).

Background color

Plain white. Off-white, beige, or light grey are not accepted. The background must be brighter than your skin tone for the automatic biometric check to pass.

Lighting

Even, diffused light from the front. Window daylight at a 45-degree angle is the easiest setup. Avoid:

• Direct sunlight (creates harsh shadows)
• Overhead lighting (shadows under chin and eyes)
• Mixed light sources (causes color cast on skin)
• Light from behind (silhouette effect)

Expression

Neutral expression, mouth fully closed. No smile, even slight. Both eyes open and fully visible, looking directly at the camera. Eyebrows must be visible.

The glasses rule

Italy does not permit glasses in passport photos as of 2024. Even prescription glasses must be removed for the photo capture. The reasoning matches the EU-wide trend: glasses cause reflections that interfere with biometric facial recognition systems used at automated border gates.

If you have severe vision problems, you can wear glasses to your Questura appointment but must remove them for the photo step. Some Questura offices have a designated waiting area for this.

Religious head coverings

Religious head coverings (hijab, turban, kippah, etc.) are permitted as long as the face from chin to forehead is fully visible and uncovered. The covering cannot cast shadows on the face. A signed declaration of religious necessity may be requested by the Questura clerk.

Children and infant photos

Children under 6 years old: the same 35x45 mm format applies. The requirement for neutral expression is relaxed - eyes do not need to be fully open and the mouth can be slightly open. The face must still be centered.

Newborns: photos can be taken with the infant lying on a plain white surface, viewed straight from above. The face must be straight up, not tilted.

Where Italians get photos taken

In Italy, three options are common:

1. Cabine fototessere (photo booth machines): 5-7 euros for 4 photos. Found in train stations, large supermarkets, and shopping malls. Quality varies - many produce photos rejected by the Questura due to lighting issues.
2. Fotografo / studio fotografico (photo studio): 10-15 euros for 6 photos. Higher quality, manual lighting setup, but generic crop settings can still cause rejection.
3. DIY at home: with any phone from the last 5 years and a free browser-based tool, you can produce a Questura-compliant photo in 5 minutes. Print at any tabaccheria or photo lab for under 1 euro.

Common rejection reasons (top 5 reported by Italian Questure)

1. Background not pure white - off-white, cream, or grey is rejected. Solution: stand 2-3 feet from a plain white wall, not pressed against it.
2. Glasses on. Solution: remove them for the photo, even if you wore them to the appointment.
3. Slight smile or open mouth. Solution: take 8-10 photos, pick the most expressionless one.
4. Hair covering forehead or ears. Solution: pull hair back, no fringe, no loose strands across the face.
5. Photo too dark, too bright, or with retouching. Solution: even diffused window light, no flash, no beauty filters.

Italian passport vs ID card vs visa: same photo?

Yes. The Italian passaporto, carta d'identita elettronica (CIE), and Schengen visa application all use the same 35x45 mm biometric format. One photo set works for all three applications.

For Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) for non-EU residents, the same format is required.

EES and ETIAS context for Italian travelers

If you hold an Italian passport, you are an EU citizen and EES does not apply to you. EES only affects non-EU short-stay travelers entering the Schengen Area.

If you are a non-EU citizen applying for an Italian visa or permesso di soggiorno, the photo requirement is the same 35x45 mm biometric format. EES will capture biometric data at the border on your first entry, separately from your visa photo. No new photo is required for EES.

ETIAS launches in Q4 2026 and applies to visa-exempt non-EU travelers (US, UK, Canada, etc.) entering Italy. ETIAS does not require a photo upload, only passport details and a 7 euro fee. See the full EES explainer for details.

Online application portals

Italy is gradually moving passport applications online. The Polizia di Stato online booking system (poliziadistato.it/agenda) lets you book your Questura appointment without paper forms. Photos can be brought to the appointment as printed copies (most common) or, in some cities, uploaded digitally during the booking. Both formats use the same 35x45 mm specification.

For Italian consular services abroad, the Prenot@mi system handles visa and passport renewal appointments. Photos must be brought as printed copies in the standard 35x45 mm format.

Cost comparison

For DIY, our free Italian passport photo tool auto-crops to the exact 35x45 mm Polizia di Stato specification in your browser. No upload, no signup, no watermark.

FAQ