Serbia Passport Photo Requirements
Serbia issues its biometric passport from a live capture taken at the counter. The official MUP page adds that an applicant may also attach, voluntarily, a reference paper photograph of 50 × 50 mm, en face, on a single-colour grey background. Verified against the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (mup.gov.rs), September 2026.
The official specification
| Primary photo | Captured live at the counter for the biometric passport |
| Optional paper photo | 50 × 50 mm, en face, single-colour grey background — voluntary |
| Background | Single-colour grey (jednobojnoj sivoj pozadini) |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | Not published officially |
| DPI | Not published officially |
| Head height | Not published officially |
| Number of copies | Not published officially (the paper photo is described as optional, not as a mandatory count) |
Because the official page publishes neither a pixel size, a DPI figure nor a head-height rule, none of those is stated here. Where the Serbian page is silent, do not infer a value from the 50 × 50 mm frame.
Why 50 × 50 mm surprises people
Most European photo sizes sit at 35 × 45 mm. Serbia's optional reference photograph is a square 50 × 50 mm, so a photo cropped to the usual 35 × 45 mm frame will not fit — the proportions are different. If you prepare the optional file, start from the square frame and crop with the image cropper, then check it against the photo size chart.
Voluntary photograph vs the live capture
The official text is explicit: the 50 × 50 mm photograph is not mandatory and is attached "по жељи подносиоца захтева" — at the applicant's wish. The biometric passport photograph itself is taken at the counter. Do not present the optional paper photo as the specification for the biometric capture, and do not treat the two as interchangeable.
Preparing the file
- A square 50 × 50 mm frame, en face, on a plain single-colour grey background.
- Even lighting with no shadow across the face, eyes open and visible.
- Review the face and framing on your own device with the passport photo checker before printing.
To resize to exact millimetres, the image resizer works in the browser, and the print sheet lays the photo out for printing at the right physical size.
Frequently asked questions
Does Serbia require a paper photo for a biometric passport?
No. The biometric passport is issued from a live capture taken at the counter. The Serbian MUP page adds that, if the applicant wants, an additional paper photograph may be attached voluntarily — it is not a mandatory requirement.
What size is the optional Serbian photo?
The official MUP page states the optional photograph should be 50 × 50 mm, en face. It is described as a voluntary addition, not as the format used for the biometric capture.
What background does it need?
The official wording specifies a single-colour grey background (jednobojnoj sivoj pozadini). No other background colour is published.
Does the official page give a pixel size or DPI?
No. The MUP page publishes no pixel size, no DPI, no head-height rule and no mandatory number of copies, so none of those is stated here.
Can I use this photo instead of attending the counter?
No. The paper photograph is an optional extra; the biometric photograph is captured in person. Do not treat the optional paper photo as a substitute for the live capture.
Should I assume 35 × 45 mm instead?
No. The only size the official Serbian page publishes for the optional photo is 50 × 50 mm. The common 35 × 45 mm format is used by other countries and must not be applied here.
Source: Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (mup.gov.rs), biometric passport page ("биометријски пасош") — retrieved 2026-09-29. Requirements change, so confirm the current rule on the official page before you apply.