Italy Passport Photo Size & Requirements
The official "formato tessera" spec is 35×40mm, face 70-80% of the frame, on a plain white background — not the 35×45mm size often quoted online.
Same size and background rules — infant mode swaps the crop guide for a lay-flat framing box. See our infant photo guide.
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Italy passport photo specification
- Print size
- 35×40mm (1.38×1.57 in)
- Digital output
- 630×720px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 28–32mm (70–80% of frame)
- Background
- Plain white background with uniform, even lighting — no shadows or patterns
- ·Face must cover 70-80% of the photo, measured from the base of the chin to the forehead
- ·Neutral expression, looking straight at the camera, both eyes open and clearly visible
- ·Bare head — no hats or head coverings, except for religious or medical reasons, and even then your full face must stay visible
- ·No glasses with tinted or dark lenses, and no glare or reflection across the lenses
- ·Plain white background with even, uniform lighting — no shadows
- ·Printed on high-quality, high-definition photo paper (Questura offices will reject an ordinary paper printout)
Source: official Questura (provincial police headquarters) passport-photo pages published across questure.poliziadistato.it, using identical text nationwide. These state the size as "35-40mm" and face coverage as 70-80% of the frame, chin to forehead, on a white background — this is the domestic "formato tessera" spec used when applying at a Questura for an Italian passport or carta d'identità. Note: the widely repeated "35x45mm" figure found on many third-party sites was not confirmed against this primary source, and may instead describe the separate spec used by Italian consulates and embassies abroad — if you're applying through a consulate rather than a Questura, confirm which size that office actually wants.
35x40mm, not 35x45mm
Official Questura (provincial police headquarters) passport-photo pages, published in identical wording across questure.poliziadistato.it, state the size simply as "35-40 mm" — not a separate width-and-height pair, and notably not 35x45mm. That larger 35x45mm figure shows up on many third-party sites, and appears to describe the size some Italian consulates abroad ask for instead, following the general Schengen visa standard.
Applying at a Questura in Italy for your passport or carta d'identità? Use 35x40mm, the spec this tool is built to. Applying through an Italian consulate or embassy abroad? Confirm with that office first — it may want the 35x45mm size instead.
Passport and carta d'identità share one spec
The same "formato tessera" requirements — 35x40mm, face covering 70-80% of the frame from chin to forehead, plain white background with even lighting — apply whether you're applying for an Italian passport or a carta d'identità (national ID card) in person at a Questura. One correctly cropped photo works for either application.
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 Italian passport photo?
The official Questura (provincial police) guidance states "35-40mm," commonly called "formato tessera," with your face covering 70-80% of the frame from chin to forehead. This tool uses 35x40mm as the confirmed domestic spec.
Is an Italian passport photo 35x45mm or 35x40mm?
The primary source, Questura passport-photo pages published nationwide, states the size as "35-40mm" — it does not separately confirm a 45mm height. The 35x45mm figure circulating on many third-party sites appears to describe the size some Italian consulates abroad use instead, following the general Schengen visa standard. If you're applying through a consulate or embassy rather than a Questura, check with that office directly.
What background does an Italian passport photo need?
Plain white, with even, uniform lighting and no shadows or patterns behind you. This is stated directly on official Questura passport-photo pages.
What are the Italian passport photo requirements?
A recent colour photo on a plain white background, neutral expression, both eyes open and clearly visible, bare head (except for religious or medical reasons), no tinted glasses or lens glare, and your face covering 70-80% of the frame from chin to forehead. It needs to be printed on high-quality, high-definition photo paper.
Can you wear glasses in an Italian passport photo?
Only clear, untinted lenses with no glare or reflection across them. Dark or tinted glasses aren't accepted.
What is the Italian passport photo size in inches and pixels?
About 1.38x1.57in, or 35x40mm. This tool exports it at 630x720 pixels, matched exactly to that ratio.
Is an Italian passport photo the same as a carta d'identità photo?
Yes, the same "formato tessera" spec (35-40mm, white background, 70-80% face coverage) applies to both the passport and the carta d'identità (national ID card) when applying in person at a Questura.
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.
Can you smile in an Italian passport photo?
No. The standard calls for a neutral expression, same as most biometric photo standards. See our guide to smiling in a passport photo for what counts as neutral.
Are the requirements different for a baby or infant Italian 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.