Polish passport photo requirements

What size is a Polish passport photo?

The printed photograph measures 35 mm wide × 45 mm high. It should show the head and upper shoulders, with the face filling 70–80% of the image, straight towards the camera. The Łódź passport office specifies an evenly lit, plain light background and natural skin colour. Official photograph specifications.

Tell the photographer which country issues your passport before the session. A shop’s default “passport photo” setting may be for another country. Check the finished print with a ruler; the dimensions of the surrounding sheet are not the dimensions of the individual photograph.

What should you tell a photographer abroad?

Show the studio the official Polish instructions, rather than describing the result as an “EU photo”. Ask the photographer to confirm the finished dimensions before paying for prints. Keep a copy of the instructions on your phone so the person taking the picture can check the framing.

I need a photograph for a Polish passport, printed 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. Please use the Polish official photo requirements and check the finished print size.

This is suggested wording for the studio, not a statement from a consulate. If your appointment confirmation gives specific photo instructions, take that message with you too.

The Polish consular guidance for China describes a recent colour photograph on photographic paper, with the eyes level, looking straight ahead and the mouth closed. It requires a photo taken within the preceding six months. Consular photo guidance.

Background, glasses and facial expression

The official English photo sheet specifies a white background, a forward-facing pose and a closed mouth. Eyes should be visible, without hair covering them. Ordinary prescription glasses are permitted when the eyes remain visible through the frames and there are no reflections. Official English photo instructions. Dark glasses and religious head coverings have separate conditions and supporting-document requirements in the national photo guide.

Before leaving the studio, inspect the image at full size. Look for glare across either eye, a shadow behind the head, blur and an uneven crop. If something is unclear, ask the photographer to correct it while you are still there. Keep the prints flat and protected on the way to your appointment.

Do you need a printed photo or a digital file?

For an application at an office, the national guide says to bring a printed colour photo. Its online passport route for a child under 12 uses different file requirements: at least 768 × 1004 pixels and no more than 2.5 MB. Do not confuse these with the online identity-card specifications on the same page. Official paper and digital formats.

Choose the application route first, then ask for the corresponding output. A file on your phone and a correctly sized paper print solve different tasks. If you want both, ask the studio to supply both and label the digital file clearly. Do not assume that emailing a photograph replaces taking the required print to an appointment.

What changes for babies and young children?

The national guidance gives children under five exceptions for closed eyes, an open mouth and facial expression. The face must remain uncovered and the background light and uniform, with no other person in the image. Official young-child photograph guidance.

Tell the photographer the child’s age when booking. Allow enough time to try again without rushing. Ask the consulate about any particular needs before the appointment, especially if a health condition affects the photograph. Follow the procedure for the child’s age as well as the photo instructions.

Check these points before your consular appointment

1. Compare the print size with the Polish requirements.
2. Check when the photograph was taken.
3. Inspect the eyes, background, lighting and crop.
4. Confirm whether your route needs paper, a digital file or both.
5. Keep the consulate’s appointment message with your document checklist.

The Polish consular service in the USA warns that a missing or non-compliant photograph prevents acceptance of the application. Adult applications are submitted personally; the consular employee prepares the electronic application during the appointment. US consular adult-passport procedure.

For the rest of your file, see our UK passport-renewal checklist or first-passport guide for applicants in the USA. A compliant photo is one item in the preparation; review missing civil records and name differences separately.

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