Luxembourg Passport Photo Requirements
Luxembourg follows the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) portrait standard rather than a US-style photo: the face must fill 70–80% of the frame, which is a face height of 32–36 mm, on a bright single-colour background, ideally neutral grey. The official guidance does not publish the finished photo size in millimetres, the pixel size, a validity period or a digital upload limit. Verified against guichet.public.lu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “ISO/ICAO photo guidelines” PDF, September 2026.
The requirements at a glance
| Face height | 70–80% of the photo, i.e. 32–36 mm; never less than 32 mm |
| Face position | Centred; features clearly shown from the tip of the chin to the crown of the head |
| Background | One colour and bright, ideally neutral grey, contrasting with the face and hair; no pattern, no shadows |
| Resolution | At least 600 dpi, especially for digital-camera photos |
| Pose | Head neither at an angle nor turned (portrait style); neutral expression, mouth closed, looking directly into the camera |
| Eyes and glasses | Eyes open and clearly visible, not obscured by hair or frames; glasses without glare or tint |
| Headwear | Generally not permitted; exceptions are possible, especially for religious reasons |
| Who takes it | A professional photographer meeting the ICAO standards, or on site at the communal administration or the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office |
| Number of photos | One |
| Photo size in mm, pixels, validity, upload limit | Not published by the official guidance |
What the official guidance says
The official requirement is written around the head, not the finished print. The face must take up 70–80% of the photo, which the guidance translates into a height of 32–36 mm, and the face height may not be less than 32 mm. The face must be centred, and the photo must clearly show the facial features from the tip of the chin to the crown of the head. Because the measurement that matters is the face, the outer dimensions of the physical photo are simply not part of the published rules.
Background and lighting
The background must be one colour and bright, ideally a neutral grey, and in a contrasting colour to the face and hair. There must be no pattern and no shadows. That rules out busy walls, patterned curtains and a hard shadow cast behind the head. If you are cleaning up a background after the shoot, see the notes on our white background tool and check the frame against the official examples before you print.
Pose, expression and headwear
The head must be neither at an angle nor turned: it is a portrait-style, straight-on photo. The expression should be neutral with the mouth closed while looking directly into the camera. Your eyes must be open and clearly visible, not obscured by hair or by the frames of glasses, and glasses must not have glare or tint. Headwear is generally not permitted, although exceptions are possible, especially for religious reasons.
Print quality and where to take it
The print resolution must be at least 600 dpi, especially for photos taken with a digital camera. The photo must be taken by a professional photographer meeting the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. It can also be taken on site at the offices of the communal administration or the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office. One photo is required, and you can measure the head with our passport photo checker before you submit.
What is not published
The official guidance does not publish the finished physical photo size in millimetres, the pixel size, the validity period of the photo, or any digital upload limit. None of those values is stated here, and the widely quoted 35 × 45 mm format should not be treated as the Luxembourg requirement. If a form or a tool asks for a millimetre size, confirm it with the issuing authority rather than assuming one.
Common mistakes
Most rejections come from a face that is too small or off centre, a coloured or patterned background, a shadow behind the head, or a photo printed at too low a resolution. Glare on glasses and hair covering the eyes are frequent too. Use the shadow checker to catch background shadows, and compare the finished frame against the published photo sizes hub for other countries before you order prints.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Luxembourg passport photo requirements?
The face must take up 70–80% of the photo, which corresponds to a height of 32–36 mm, and the face height may not be less than 32 mm. The face must be centred and the photo must clearly show the facial features from the tip of the chin to the crown of the head. The background must be one bright colour, ideally neutral grey, the print resolution at least 600 dpi, and the photo must be taken by a professional photographer meeting the ICAO standards.
What size is a Luxembourg passport photo?
The official guidance does not publish the finished photo size in millimetres. Instead it specifies the head: the face must fill 70–80% of the photo, a height of 32–36 mm, and never less than 32 mm. Because the outer size is not published, do not assume a 35 × 45 mm format.
What background should I use?
One colour and bright, ideally a neutral grey, in a contrasting colour to the face and hair. There must be no pattern and no shadows.
What print resolution is required?
At least 600 dpi, especially for photos taken with a digital camera.
Can I wear glasses or headwear in the photo?
Your eyes must be open and clearly visible, not obscured by hair or frames. Glasses must not have glare or tint. Headwear is generally not permitted, although exceptions are possible, especially for religious reasons.
Where can I get the photo taken, and how many do I need?
The photo must be taken by a professional photographer meeting the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. It can also be taken on site at the offices of the communal administration or the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office. One photo is required.
Source: guichet.public.lu — "Applying for a passport – residents" page and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official "ISO/ICAO photo guidelines" PDF (mae.gouvernement.lu), retrieved 2026-09-30. Requirements can change, so confirm them on the official pages before you apply.