Croatia Passport Photo Requirements
Croatia uses the continental European 35 × 45 mm passport photo, not the US 2 × 2 inch square, with a light grey background and a tightly specified head size. The rules also rule out photo booths and retouching. Verified against the official MUP and gov.hr pages and the official photo guidance PDF, September 2026.
The requirements at a glance
| Size | 35 × 45 mm (passport, diplomatic and service passport); 30 × 35 mm for a travel document (putni list) |
| Head height | About 2/3 of the frame, and no taller than 36 mm; head centred |
| Eye distance | At least 8 mm (ideally 10 mm) |
| Background | A single light colour, ideally light grey; no patterns, no shadows |
| Face and headwear | Face shown straight on (en face), forehead visible; headwear allowed for religious or medical reasons only if it does not cover the cheeks, chin and forehead |
| Produced by | A professional photographer — self-service machines and retouching are not allowed |
| DPI / pixels | Not published by the official guidance |
| Number to submit | One photo with the application |
The official guidance does not publish an inch figure either; 35 × 45 mm works out at roughly 1.38 × 1.77 inches, but that is a conversion and not an official value.
Why 35 × 45 mm will not fit a US template
A common mistake is to crop a Croatian passport photo from a US 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square. The two formats are different shapes: the Croatian photo is a portrait rectangle, so a square crop leaves the head the wrong size and shifts it off centre. Start from the 35 × 45 mm frame and place the head so it fills about two thirds of the height, staying under the 36 mm limit.
No self-service machines, no retouching
Croatia is explicit that the photo may not be produced on self-service photo machines and may not be retouched. That rules out the cheap booth strips used in some countries and any software that smooths skin or reshapes the face. If your photo has been edited, it does not meet the requirement even if the size is right.
Getting the background and exposure right
The background must be a single light colour, ideally light grey, free of patterns and shadows. A stark white sheet is not what the guidance describes, and a shadow behind the head counts against the photo. For help cleaning up a background, see the notes in our passport photo backgrounds guide, and check the frame against the official examples before you print.
Checking your photo before you submit
Use the passport photo checker to measure head height and eye position against this format, and read the rejection reasons guide to avoid the usual causes. Other countries in the region are covered under photo sizes, including Serbia and Malta.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Croatian passport photo?
A passport, diplomatic passport or service passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. A travel document (putni list) photo is 30 × 35 mm.
What colour must the background be?
A single light colour, ideally light grey. There must be no patterns and no shadows.
How big should my head be in the photo?
From the top of the head (crown) to the chin the head should take up about two thirds of the picture and must not be taller than 36 mm, and the head must be centred.
How far apart must my eyes be?
At least 8 mm, ideally 10 mm.
Can I take the photo myself or use a photo booth?
No. The official guidance states the photo may not be produced on self-service photo machines, and it may not be retouched. You should have it taken by a professional photographer.
What DPI or pixel size does Croatia require?
The official guidance does not publish a DPI or pixel figure, so none is stated here. It asks for a high-quality photo on glossy paper and treats a resolution that is too low as a reason for rejection.
Source: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia (mup.gov.hr, passport pages and the official photo guidance PDF "Upute za fotografije") and the government portal gov.hr (English page on issuing a passport), retrieved 2026-09-29. Requirements can change, so confirm them on the official pages before you apply.