Estonia Passport Photo Requirements — 1300 × 1600 px, Light Single Colour
For an Estonian passport (document) photo. Estonia is digital-first: you can have the photo taken at a free photo booth in a Police and Border Guard Board service office, at a studio, or upload one you took yourself through the self-service portal — as long as it meets the standard. The hard requirements are a colour, unedited photo at least 1300 × 1600 pixels, a file between 1 MB and 5 MB, on a light, single-colour background. Scans and screen screenshots are not allowed. Verified against the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board photo instructions, September 2026.
Official Estonia document photo specification
| Type | Colour and unedited |
| Minimum dimensions | At least 1300 × 1600 pixels |
| File size | Between 1 MB and 5 MB |
| Background | Light and of a single colour, without extraneous objects or patterns |
| Composition | Face centred; look straight into the camera, eyes level, head not tilted |
| Glasses | Eyes visible behind the frames; glasses may not reflect light |
| Headwear / headphones | Should not be worn |
| Validity (self-taken) | No older than six months |
| Booth photo reuse | Usable for 183 days |
| Head-size ratio / mm | Not published (pixels are the hard rule) |
The official instructions state verbatim:
The photograph must be a colour photograph and unedited.
The file size for the document photo must be between 1MB and 5MB. The dimensions of the photo must be at least 1,300 × 1,600 pixels.
Submitting a scanned photograph, or a screenshot of a computer screen or a mobile phone screen, is not allowed.
Background should be light and of single colour, without extraneous objects.
Pixels are the rule: at least 1300 × 1600
Estonia states the hard requirement in pixels, not millimetres: the photo must be at least 1300 wide by 1600 high, and the file must be between 1 MB and 5 MB. It must be a colour photo and unedited. A file outside the size band, or below the pixel minimum, fails the stated rule. Resize to the minimum dimensions with the image resizer and manage the file band with the image compressor. See the size chart for other formats.
No scans, no screenshots
One rule is easy to break: submitting a scanned photograph, or a screenshot of a computer or phone screen, is not allowed. So you cannot scan a printed photo and upload that, and you cannot screenshot an image on your phone. Use the original digital file. The photo must also be unedited — colour, not retouched.
Background, composition and glasses
The background must be light and of a single colour, with no extraneous objects and no patterns. The face must be in the centre, you must look straight into the camera with the eyes level and the head not tilted, and if you wear glasses your eyes must be visible behind the frames and the glasses may not reflect light. Headwear or headphones should not be worn. The general tips are on the backgrounds and expression guides.
Taking it yourself — use the rear camera
Estonia explicitly allows a photo you take yourself and upload to the self-service portal, provided it is no older than six months and follows the instructions. The official tip matters: when taking the photo with a mobile phone, use the rear camera — the front camera distorts the shape of the face. Use the help of a family member or friend to take the photo. Submitting a non-compliant photo will extend the time to receive your document. The steps for a good shot are in the how to take a passport photo guide.
Free booths and children
A document photo can be taken free of charge in the photo booth at all service offices (except Keila), and a booth photo is digital and usable for 183 days for applications at any service office or the self-service portal (except weapons permits). For a young child, the official advice is to use a photographer's studio, because a booth photo may fail if the child will not face the camera long enough; ask an official to assist. The child must look straight into the camera with the mouth closed, and big hair adornments and toys should be avoided.
What is still not published
The instructions fix the type, pixel minimum, file band, background, composition, glasses and headwear rules — but they do not publish an overall millimetre size, a head-size percentage, or a specific dpi. Work from the pixel and file-size rules above. Confirm a finished file with the passport photo checker, and see the general digital file requirements.
60-second Estonia check
- ☐ Colour, unedited photo
- ☐ At least 1300 × 1600 pixels
- ☐ File between 1 MB and 5 MB
- ☐ Not a scan and not a screen screenshot
- ☐ Background light and single-coloured, no objects or patterns
- ☐ Face centred, eyes level, head not tilted, looking straight at the camera
- ☐ Eyes visible behind glasses; no light reflection
- ☐ No headwear or headphones
Frequently asked questions
What size is an Estonian passport photo?
It must be at least 1300 × 1600 pixels and the file between 1 MB and 5 MB. Estonia states the rule in pixels, not millimetres.
Can I take the photo myself?
Yes. You can upload a photo you took yourself to the self-service portal, no older than six months. Use the rear camera of your phone — the front camera distorts the shape of the face.
Can I scan a printed photo or screenshot one?
No. Submitting a scanned photograph, or a screenshot of a computer or phone screen, is not allowed. Use the original digital file.
What background does Estonia require?
A light, single-colour background without extraneous objects or patterns.
Can I wear glasses or a head covering?
Your eyes must be visible behind the frames and the glasses may not reflect light. Headwear and headphones should not be worn.
Is there a free photo booth?
Yes — a document photo can be taken free of charge in the photo booth at all service offices (except Keila), and it can be used for 183 days.
Related: Estonia's pixel-based rule pair with Finland as digital-first formats on the size chart. Resize with the image resizer, cap the file with the image compressor, and see the digital file requirements.