Ireland Passport Photo Size & Requirements
DFA publishes a size range — minimum 35×45mm, maximum 38×50mm — on a white, light grey, or cream background. This tool targets the 35×45mm floor of that range.
Same size and background rules — infant mode swaps the crop guide for a lay-flat framing box. See our infant photo guide.
Drop a photo here, or click to upload
JPEG, PNG, or HEIC · nothing is uploaded, it stays on your device
or
Center your face in the oval, with your eyes on the yellow line
Converting HEIC photo…
Sorry, we couldn't read that photo. Please try a different file.
This photo is smaller than the recommended output size, so the download may look slightly soft when printed.
Missing part of the person? Use Restore. Background still showing through? Use Erase. Just want to drag or resize the photo? Switch back to Pan / zoom.
Blue band = acceptable head-height range · yellow dashed = eye line · fit your head between the solid lines
Runs entirely in your browser — your photo is never uploaded.
Background removal didn't work on this photo/browser. You can still crop and download as usual.
Print multiple copies on one sheet
Ireland passport photo specification
- Print size
- 35×45mm (1.38×1.77 in)
- Digital output
- 630×810px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 70–80% of frame
- Background
- Plain white, light grey, or cream background, with enough contrast against your face and clothing
- ·Photo must show head to mid-torso, with visible space between your head/shoulders and the edge of the photo
- ·Print size: minimum 35x45mm, maximum 38x50mm
- ·Digital upload: JPEG, minimum 715x951px, not scanned, not compressed or digitally enhanced, maximum 9MB
- ·Plain, completely uniform background: white, light grey, or cream, with enough contrast against you
- ·Colour photo, not black and white
- ·No barrel or other lens distortion
Source: Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, consolidated onto ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/photo-guidelines/, directly confirmed this session. Note that DFA publishes a size range (35x45mm minimum, 38x50mm maximum) rather than one fixed dimension — this tool targets the 35x45mm floor of that range, which already satisfies the published minimum. DFA does not publish a numeric head-height figure; the 70-80%-of-frame guide used here is a general convention, not an Ireland-specific government figure, so use it as a helpful guide rather than an exact official requirement.
A size range, not one fixed dimension
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is one of the few passport authorities that publishes a min/max range instead of a single required size: minimum 35×45mm, maximum 38×50mm. This tool crops to 35×45mm, the floor of that range, which already satisfies the published minimum and lines up with the size used by the UK and the Schengen visa photo.
DFA's official guidance doesn't state a numeric head-height figure — only that the photo must show "head to mid torso" with visible space around your head and shoulders. The 70-80%-of-frame guide shown by this tool is a general convention, not an Ireland-specific government figure.
Applying online vs. by post
If you're applying through the Passport Online system, DFA requires a JPEG at least 715×951px, not scanned or digitally enhanced, under 9MB. A postal application instead needs a physical print between 35×45mm and 38×50mm. Crop with the tool above first either way — the exported file comfortably clears the digital minimum and prints correctly at the physical size.
Related photo requirements
Common rejection reasons
Background isn’t plain or uniform
Shadows, patterns, furniture, or other people in frame are among the most common reasons photos get bounced back. Use a plain wall and even, shadow-free lighting.
Head size or position is off
Too zoomed in, too zoomed out, or off-center. Each country specifies an exact head-height range and crown position, and that's exactly what the crop guide in this tool aligns to.
Glasses, glare, or head coverings
Most countries now disallow glasses entirely (or require them glare-free with no frame over the eyes), and disallow non-religious head coverings that hide the hairline or face.
Photo is filtered, retouched, or AI-enhanced
Beauty filters, background blur, skin smoothing, and AI-generated backgrounds are explicitly rejected by several passport authorities, including the UK’s HM Passport Office.
Photo is outdated
Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months (the UK requires within the last month). An old photo, even a good one, can be rejected on this basis alone.
Expression or eye contact issues
Closed eyes, mouth open, smiling with teeth showing, or not looking straight at the camera are all common rejection triggers. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safe default.
Want the full picture across every country? See all passport photo requirements for 2026, read how to take a passport photo at home, or check what to wear and expression rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Irish passport photo?
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) publishes a range: minimum 35x45mm, maximum 38x50mm. This tool targets 35x45mm, the floor of that range, which meets the published minimum.
Does DFA specify an exact head-height figure for an Irish passport photo?
No. The official ireland.ie photo guidelines say only that the photo must show "head to mid torso" with visible space between your head/shoulders and the edge of the photo — no mm or percentage figure is published. The 70-80%-of-frame guide this tool uses is a general convention, not an Ireland-specific official requirement.
What background does an Irish passport photo need?
A completely plain background in white, light grey, or cream, with enough contrast against your face and clothing — DFA accepts all three colours, not just one.
What are the digital upload requirements for an online Irish passport application?
JPEG format, at least 715 pixels wide by 951 pixels tall, not a scanned photo, no compression artefacts or digital enhancement, no lens distortion, and a maximum file size of 9MB.
What are the Irish passport photo requirements overall?
A recent, unedited colour photo (not scanned, not digitally enhanced) against a plain white, light grey, or cream background, showing your head to mid-torso with clear space around your head and shoulders. Print copies must be 35x45mm to 38x50mm; digital uploads must be JPEG, at least 715x951px, under 9MB.
What is the Irish passport photo size in inches and pixels?
About 1.38x1.77in, or 35x45mm at the range's minimum — the same physical size as the UK and Schengen visa photo. This tool exports it at 630x810 pixels, well above DFA's stated 715x951px digital minimum once scaled.
Does this tool upload my photo anywhere?
No. All the cropping and resizing happens locally in your browser using the canvas element, so your photo is read from your device, processed there, and never transmitted anywhere.
Are the requirements different for a baby or infant Irish passport photo?
The size and background rules stay the same, but a baby obviously can't hold a neutral, forward-facing pose unassisted. See our newborn and infant passport photo guide for how that's usually handled.