Italian Passport Photo Requirements: Size, Rules and Consulate Checklist
Prepare an Italian passport photo using your receiving consulate’s instructions. Compare 35 x 45 and 35 x 40 mm formats, infant exceptions, print quality and local appointment procedures.
Quick Answer
Italian passport photo requirements share a common core: a recent color photo (no more than 6 months old), a frontal view with a neutral expression and closed mouth, eyes open and clearly visible, an evenly lit plain background, and the face filling about 70-80% of the picture. Photos must be printed on high-quality paper and be free of creases, marks and flash reflections.
Check the receiving office before printing. Many consulates specify 35 mm wide x 45 mm high. Some offices publish 35 x 40 mm, while general guidance sometimes lists only a 35-40 mm width range, without giving a complete width-and-height specification. These are not interchangeable instructions. Confirm the exact dimensions, number of copies and whether your office captures the photo at the appointment. The standard eye and expression rules also have documented infant exceptions at some posts, discussed below.
Core Italian Passport Photo Checks
The official consular photo pages and guidance reviewed here share the following baseline checks. Infant exceptions and local submission procedures need separate confirmation:
| Requirement | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Age of the photo | Not older than 6 months |
| Color | Color photo |
| Pose | Frontal, face centered, not turned or tilted |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
| Eyes | Normally open and clearly visible, not covered by hair, looking at the camera; check infant exceptions |
| Face size | About 70-80% of the photo |
| Lighting | Even, no shadows or reflections on the face, no red-eye |
| Focus | Sharp |
| Subject | Only the applicant in the frame, no other people or objects |
| Print quality | High-quality paper and high resolution; no creases, ink marks or damage |
For any detail beyond this list, check the page of your own consulate or Questura.
Italian Passport Photo Size: Full Dimensions vs a Width Range
If you search for the Italian passport photo size, you will see several answers. That is not an error on your part. The official sources themselves differ, as shown below.
| Official source | Published instruction | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia: adult passport applications | Two photos, 4.5 x 3.5 cm, frontal, white background | The portrait is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high; do not treat the reversed order as landscape orientation. |
| Rosario: photo quality | 35 x 45 mm | A complete width-and-height format. |
| Singapore: adult applications | Lists 35 x 40 mm photos, but also describes digital capture at the appointment | Read the full procedure before ordering prints; the page says adults need not bring the listed photos. |
| Paris: general photo guidance (PDF) | Width of 35-40 mm | A width range, not a complete 35 x 40 mm format. Confirm the missing height with the receiving office. |
| Arezzo photo sheet hosted by the Chicago consulate (PDF) | 35 x 45 mm; sheet dated June 14, 2018 | Supporting photo-quality guidance; it is not a substitute for the current local appointment checklist. |
A few practical points follow from this table:
- Do not confuse a range with two dimensions. “35-40 mm wide” does not mean “35 mm wide x 40 mm high.”
- Confirm orientation. A portrait described as 4.5 x 3.5 cm may be stating height before width; ask for width and height explicitly.
- Use the current local checklist. An older official PDF may still be online even when the appointment procedure has changed. If documents conflict, ask the office to confirm the required output rather than choosing whichever size is easiest.
- Confirm whether you need prints at all. Some posts use an on-site capture procedure. Ask about exceptions, including for children, before preparing physical copies.
A US-style 2 x 2 inch photo (about 51 x 51 mm) does not match any of the sizes above.
Background and Lighting
The Rosario photo page specifies a white background with uniform lighting. The older Arezzo photo sheet says a plain light background. Use a plain white background when that is what your receiving consulate requests, and resolve any conflicting local wording before printing.
Keep the background evenly lit, without patterns, objects or shadows. The face should have natural skin tones and clear detail, without glare or red-eye. Correct the shooting setup and retake if necessary rather than trying to hide a poor background with filters.
Face, Expression and Glasses
- Face size: the consulate pages describe it as 70-80% of the photo, measured from chin to forehead. The Arezzo sheet also uses a 70-80% framing reference. Do not interpret this as a mathematical percentage of the image area or substitute another country’s head-height rule. Use the receiving office’s illustrated examples, keep the whole head visible and include the upper shoulders.
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no smile.
- Eyes: open, clearly visible, not hidden by hair, looking straight into the lens, no red-eye.
- Glasses: the Questura form notes glasses are not obligatory in the photo. If you keep them, the eyes must be clearly visible, the lenses must be clear (not tinted), the frame must not cover any part of the eyes, and there must be no flash reflections or shadows from the glasses. Removing glasses is recommended by the Rosario page. Keep your head upright and change the lighting or remove the glasses if permitted; do not tilt your head to solve glare.
- Headwear: hats and head coverings are not allowed except for religious reasons, and even then the face must be visible from the chin to the whole forehead with both sides of the face clear.
How to Prepare a Printed Italian Passport Photo
Consulate appointments are hard to rebook, so a careful print matters. Use this sequence:
- Confirm the size first. Read your consulate's current page and note both width and height. A range such as “35-40 mm wide” is incomplete as a print specification; ask for the required height.
- Confirm how many photos to bring. Check whether the appointment uses supplied prints or on-site capture. If prints are required, confirm the number rather than borrowing it from another consulate.
- Start from a compliant image. Check pose, expression, even lighting, a plain background and sharp focus before printing. Printing cannot fix a shadowed background or a blurry face.
- Print in color at exact size. Print at 100% scale with no "fit to page" or "fill" setting, then measure the finished photo.
- Choose suitable paper. The consular guidance calls for high-quality photographic paper and a sharp result. Check any local instruction about matte or glossy finish; do not infer a national finish requirement from a generic printing guide.
- Cut cleanly. Trim to the exact size and avoid folds, marks and surface damage. Ink marks and creases are listed among the reasons a photo is not usable.
- Do not retouch. The photo should preserve your natural appearance. An official page not mentioning a filter does not make it acceptable. Avoid beauty filters, face reshaping, artificial backgrounds and retouching. Prepare the crop and print layout from a suitable original; if exposure is poor, adjust the lighting and retake.
- Protect the print. Carry the photos flat in an envelope to your appointment.
The Arezzo sheet dated 2018 describes software-based checks. Do not generalize its statement about operator intervention into a current rule for every passport office or consulate. A third-party checker also cannot guarantee acceptance by the receiving authority.
Children's Passport Photos
The older Arezzo sheet gives standard framing and expression rules for children: the child must be the only person in the picture, with no backrest, toys, objects or other people visible, facing the camera, looking at the lens, with a neutral expression and closed mouth. That wording appears on the Questura form hosted on the Chicago consulate site.
Several practical notes:
- Check documented infant exceptions. The Barcelona consulate’s minors page explicitly permits closed eyes for infants under 6 months. Ask the receiving office which allowance applies to your child; do not extend one post’s wording to every age or situation.
- Keep helpers and objects out of the frame. Under the "only the child" wording, a visible hand, toy or chair back goes against the stated rule, so plan the shot so none of them show.
- Check the consulate's process for minors. Requirements beyond the photo differ by consulate. For example, Philadelphia’s minors page lists two photos and describes a mail procedure for children under 12, with one photo authenticated on its form. For children aged 12 and over, check the current in-person and fingerprint instructions. That is one consulate's process, not a general rule.
- Consent paperwork is separate. Parental consent and signature requirements depend on the office. Check them alongside the photo rules.
Consulate Checklist: Verify Before You Go
Use this checklist for the consulate or Questura that will handle your application. Write down the answer for each line from that office's own page or email reply.
| Item to verify | Why it matters | Example of how sources differ |
|---|---|---|
| Exact photo size | Both width and height must be known | 35 x 45 mm or 35 x 40 mm; a 35-40 mm width range alone is incomplete |
| Number of photos | Counts and capture procedures differ | Philadelphia lists two; some offices use on-site capture |
| Background color | Local wording may differ | White on the Rosario page; plain light background in the older Arezzo sheet |
| Paper and finish | Print type can be specified | Quality photographic paper; confirm any local finish requirement |
| Digital file or on-site capture? | A file and a print are different deliverables | Read the full local procedure, including any appointment capture service |
| Glasses policy | Rules on lenses and frames | Clear lenses, frame not covering the eyes |
| Child photo rules | Photo exceptions and application process differ | Barcelona publishes an under-6-month closed-eye exception; Philadelphia has a specific under-12 mail process |
| Appointment system | Booking is separate from the photo | Philadelphia, for example, books through Prenot@mi |
| Date of the page | Rules can change | Some documents date from 2018 or earlier |
Keep a screenshot of the instruction page you followed. If your office requires prints, bring them in the exact size and quantity it specifies.
Accepted vs Rejected Photos
| Accepted | Rejected |
|---|---|
| Taken within the last 6 months | Old photo that no longer matches your appearance |
| Plain, evenly lit background | Shadows, patterns, objects or people behind you |
| Frontal, centered, head upright | Tilted head, turned face, profile or cut-off head |
| Standard neutral expression, mouth closed | Inappropriate expression; confirm any infant exception with the office |
| Eyes open and visible, subject to documented infant exceptions | Hair over the eyes, red-eye, or closed eyes without an applicable exception |
| Clear lenses with no glare, if glasses are worn | Tinted lenses, heavy frames over the eyes, flash reflections |
| Sharp, color print on good paper | Blurry, creased, marked or low-resolution print |
| Only the applicant in the frame | Parent's hand, toy or chair back visible in a child's photo |
Prepare and Review Your Photo With PhotoOmni
PhotoOmni helps you prepare a passport photo at home and review it against a checklist before you print. For an Italian application, start from your consulate's page: note the stated size, the number of photos and the background, then use PhotoOmni to prepare and review the photo and match the final print to those figures.
Before printing, check the layout dimensions. After printing and cutting, measure the physical photo and compare it with the receiving office’s instructions.
Final Checklist
The standard Italian passport photo checks cover a recent color photo, frontal pose, neutral expression with closed mouth, visible eyes, a plain evenly lit background and a face filling about 70-80% of the frame. Confirm the exact size, print count, any infant exception and whether the office uses on-site capture. Treat every consulate's page as the authority for that consulate, and never copy one office's numbers onto another.
Official Sources
Checked October 24, 2026. Page content and appointment procedures can change; use your receiving office’s current instructions.
- Philadelphia: Passports for Adults.
- Philadelphia: Passports for Minors.
- Rosario: Photo Quality.
- Singapore: Adult Passport Applications.
- Paris: General Photo Guidance (PDF).
- Arezzo photo sheet dated June 14, 2018, hosted by the Chicago consulate (PDF).
- Barcelona: Passports for Minors.
FAQ
What size is an Italian passport photo? Many consulates specify a portrait 35 mm wide x 45 mm high; some publish 35 x 40 mm. A 35-40 mm width range is not a full format. Confirm both dimensions with your receiving office before printing.
How many photos do I need? Philadelphia lists two passport photos. Other offices may publish a different procedure, including on-site capture. Confirm the count and delivery method with your receiving office.
What background should an Italian passport photo have? Rosario specifies white with uniform lighting; the older Arezzo sheet describes a plain light background. Follow your receiving office’s current instruction and avoid shadows, patterns and objects.
Can I wear glasses? Glasses are not required. If you wear them, the eyes must be clearly visible, the lenses clear, the frame must not cover any part of the eyes, and there must be no glare or shadow from the glasses.
Can I wear a head covering? Only for religious reasons. The face must stay fully visible from the chin to the whole forehead, with both sides of the face clear.
Are the rules different for children? Keep only the child visible and use the standard frontal pose unless the office specifies an infant allowance. Barcelona explicitly allows closed eyes for babies under 6 months. Photo exceptions and application procedures should both be checked on your own consulate’s minors page.
Can I submit a digital photo? Confirm the local procedure. Some offices request prints; Singapore’s adult page describes digital capture at the appointment. A downloaded file does not automatically replace required prints or on-site capture.
Can I use my US passport photo? An untrimmed U.S. 2 x 2-inch print does not match the Italian formats discussed here. A suitable original digital capture may be formatted separately if its composition, quality and recency meet your receiving office’s rules.
How recent must the photo be? No more than 6 months old, according to the sources reviewed.
How do I know which rules apply to me? Use the page of the consulate or Questura where you will apply, and keep a copy of it. Different offices publish different details.
Check Your Italian Passport Photo Before Your Appointment
An unsuitable size or shadowed background can prevent your photo from being accepted. Note the exact specifications on your consulate's page, prepare your photo to match, review it against the checklist above and print a clean copy at the right size.
About the Author
PhotoOmni Editorial Team publishes guides to passport and visa photo requirements, digital image preparation and printing. PhotoOmni also offers paid photo services; this guide is published by PhotoOmni. Always follow the issuing authority’s current instructions.