Poland Passport & ID Card Photo Requirements
A Polish passport or ID card (dowód osobisty) photo is 35 × 45 mm on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, with the head filling most of the frame. Crucially, Poland publishes pixel requirements as well as millimetres — and if you apply online, the pixel minimum is what gets you rejected. Verified against the official gov.pl photo guidance, September 2026.
The official specification
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm (width × height) |
| Background | White, evenly lit, free of shadows and decorative elements |
| Face size | The face should take up 70–80% of the photo |
| Framing | The whole head (from the crown) and the upper part of the shoulders |
| Recency | Taken no earlier than 6 months before you submit the application |
| Online — ID card | At least 492 × 633 px, maximum file size 2.5 MB |
| Online — passport (child under 12) | At least 768 × 1004 px |
35 × 45 mm is not the whole story
Plenty of countries use 35 × 45 mm, so it is tempting to reuse the same export. Poland is the trap: it publishes pixel floors for online applications, and they are higher than a casual phone crop produces. Apply for an ID card online and your file needs at least 492 × 633 pixels; a child’s online passport application needs at least 768 × 1004 pixels. A photo that measures 35 × 45 mm on paper can still fail the upload. Export large enough, and keep the file under 2.5 MB.
Framing: whole head, upper shoulders, face 70–80%
Two rules work together. The face should occupy 70–80% of the photo, and the image must show the entire head from the crown plus the upper part of the shoulders. That means no cropping the top of the head off, and no tight portrait that cuts your shoulders out. Frame a little wide, then let the crop put the head in the right band.
What to wear — and what you may not
- No head covering. Hats and similar items are not allowed.
- No glasses with dark lenses. Neither dark-tinted glasses nor anything else that makes you hard to recognise.
- Religious head covering — allowed with conditions. If your religion requires it, you may wear it provided your face is still visible: the whole oval of the face and the ear line must be uncovered, and you must attach a certificate confirming you belong to that religious community.
Pose and expression
- Face the lens straight on. No half-profile — the whole oval of your face must be visible.
- Eyes naturally open, clearly visible, with the pupils showing, and directed straight at the lens.
- Mouth closed, and your eyebrows visible (so no fringe covering them).
Photo rules for children
Poland relaxes the expression rules for young children, but not the rest of the photo: a child may have their eyes closed or their mouth open. The child’s face must not be covered by hair or a toy, the head must be straight, and the background must be light and uniform. For a child under 12 applying for a passport online, the higher 768 × 1004 px minimum applies.
Poland’s official page we verified covers size, background, framing, pose, children and the online pixel floors; it does not set a separate eye-line or head-height band in millimetres for this format, so none is stated here. Confirm the current wording on gov.pl before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does a Polish passport or ID card need?
35 × 45 mm (width × height), on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months. If you apply online there is also a pixel minimum: at least 492 × 633 px for an ID card, and at least 768 × 1004 px for a child under 12 applying for a passport.
Why did my Polish photo get rejected online when it is the right size on paper?
Poland publishes pixel floors as well as millimetre sizes. An ID card upload needs at least 492 × 633 px and a child’s passport upload at least 768 × 1004 px, with the file no larger than 2.5 MB — a low-resolution crop can fail even when the printed dimensions look correct.
How much of the photo should my face fill?
The face should take up 70–80% of the photo, and the image must show the entire head from the crown plus the upper part of the shoulders.
Can I wear glasses or a head covering?
No dark-lens glasses and no head covering in general. A religious head covering is allowed only if your face stays visible — the whole oval of the face and the ear line must be uncovered, and you must attach a certificate confirming you belong to that religious community.
How must I pose?
Face the lens straight on with no half-profile so the whole oval of your face is visible, your eyes naturally open and clearly visible with the pupils showing and directed at the lens, your mouth closed, and your eyebrows visible.
Can my child have their eyes closed in the photo?
Yes. A young child may have their eyes closed or their mouth open, but the face must not be covered by hair or a toy, the head must be straight, and the background must be light and uniform.
Check the frame against the full size chart, verify the file with the passport photo checker, lay out prints with the print sheet, and fix a grey backdrop with the background whitener. Taking it at home? Start with the at-home photo guide.