ireland passport photo size

Ireland passport photo size — 35×45 mm DFA Passport Service dimensions

An Irish passport photo measures 35×45 millimeters (3.5×4.5 cm) in portrait orientation at 600 DPI, around 827×1063 pixels. Head height chin to crown must be 32-36 mm — 70-80% of the frame. Background must be light grey, cream, or off-white; pure white is accepted but light grey is preferred. Photo must be in colour, taken within 6 months, no glasses, neutral expression with mouth closed. Standard enforced by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Passport Service for new passports, renewals, child passports, and Foreign Births Register (FBR) citizenship-by-descent applications.

Exact dimensions and pixel size

Ireland uses the ICAO 9303 portrait standard at 35×45 mm. At 600 DPI the digital equivalent is approximately 827×1063 pixels. The DFA Passport Service operates Passport Online (PSO) — Ireland's online passport renewal portal — which accepts JPEG only at sizes between 500 KB and 7 MB.

The same 35×45 mm spec applies to the Irish passport, the FBR citizenship-by-descent application, and consular emergency passports issued through Irish embassies worldwide. Ireland's passport-by-descent volumes are among the highest in the EU thanks to the diaspora descent eligibility.

Head height and framing

Head height chin to crown must be 32-36 mm — about 70-80% of the photo height. The face is centered horizontally with shoulders visible. Eyes face the camera lens on a horizontal line; no head tilt or rotation.

The DFA Passport Service runs an automated photo check on PSO uploads. Common rejection codes include 'head too small' (below 32 mm), 'head not centred', and 'eyes not level'. The checker is more permissive than the German BVA system but stricter than the Italian Polizia di Stato.

Background — light grey or cream preferred

The DFA Passport Service accepts light grey, cream, off-white, or pure white backgrounds. Light grey around #EEEEEE is preferred by the automated PSO checker because it produces more reliable contour detection than pure white. The choice is more flexible than Germany or New Zealand but more conservative than Italy or the UK.

Background must be uniform with no shadows behind the head. Patterns and textures are rejected outright. Diffuse lighting against a clean wall produces consistent results.

Recency, glasses and expression

Photo must be taken within the last 6 months. The DFA compares against your previous Irish passport on file and against any prior FBR citizenship application. Significant divergence triggers manual review.

Glasses are not permitted. Religious head coverings are accepted only when the face is fully visible. Expression must be neutral with mouth closed; eyes open and looking directly at the lens. Natural slight smiles where the lips remain together are tolerated but not encouraged.

Passport Online (PSO) and consular requirements

Passport Online (PSO) at passportservice.ie accepts JPEG uploads sized to 35×45 mm at 600 DPI. The automated checker runs at upload; failures return a code that maps to one of the standard rejection rules. complypic targets the centre of the acceptance window for fastest approval.

For paper applications (Passport Express via the An Post network or first-time applications at Garda stations), bring two printed 35×45 mm photos signed on the reverse by an authorised witness. Irish embassies abroad use the same spec for emergency travel documents.

FAQ

Is the Irish passport photo the same as a UK passport photo?

Yes in dimensions — both are 35×45 mm portrait on a light grey or cream background. The head-height range differs slightly: Ireland 32-36 mm, UK 29-34 mm. A photo cropped for the upper end of the UK range usually passes the DFA Passport Service check too, since Irish framing requires the head higher in the frame.

Can I use the same photo for an FBR citizenship-by-descent application?

Yes. The Foreign Births Register application uses the same 35×45 mm DFA spec as the Irish passport. One generated photo works for both the FBR application and the subsequent first-Irish-passport application — useful for diaspora applicants in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.

Will pure white pass the Passport Online (PSO) check?

Usually yes — the DFA accepts pure white. But the PSO automated checker flags edge cases more often with pure white than with light grey, particularly when the subject wears light-coloured clothing. complypic defaults to light grey for the highest first-pass success rate.

Does this work at Irish embassies (US, UK, Australia)?

Yes. All Irish diplomatic missions use the DFA Passport Service spec uniformly. Embassies in DC, London, Canberra, and Buenos Aires (the latter handling significant Irish-descent applications) all accept the same 35×45 mm light-grey photo.

Ireland passport

35×45 mm, light grey background, head 32-36 mm. Built for Passport Service Online (PSO) renewal, first-time application and citizenship-by-descent — accepted at every Passport Office and Irish embassy.

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Last reviewed 2026-05-11Official complypic page →