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Brazil ID card photo requirements

The 30 × 40 mm photo rules set by Presidency of the Republic of Brazil for the Brazil ID card, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 6 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What size is the Brazil ID card photo?

For the Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN), which is replacing the state RG, the state identification office normally takes your photo, so most people bring none. Federal rules set a 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm) format to ICAO standards and forbid glued-on photos. There are exceptions: Minas Gerais lets children who cannot pose without help bring a 3 x 4 photo on white, and São Paulo lets some people with disabilities supply their own photos.

The CIN is Brazil's new national identity card. The civil identification bodies of each state and the Federal District issue it, following a single federal model set by Decree 10.977 of 2022, and it uses the CPF as the one identity number valid across the country. The first paper copy is free, a polycarbonate card costs extra, and the card also has a digital version in the GOV.BR app. Old RG cards stay valid until 2032.

The decree fixes what the card shows: the photograph in a proportion that follows the 3 x 4 cm format and the ICAO standard, plus the signature and right thumbprint. Photos and signature are integrated into the document, and glued photographs are not allowed. In practice the state office captures your image at the appointment, along with your fingerprints.

Each state runs its own service. In São Paulo the Instituto de Identificação Ricardo Gumbleton Daunt (IIRGD) issues the CIN at Poupatempo and IIRGD offices. In Minas Gerais the Polícia Civil (PCMG) issues it at UAI service centres, where the photo is taken on site and no 3 x 4 print is needed.

Brazil ID card photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Presidency of the Republic of Brazil:[1]

Print size3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm) format to the ICAO standard; usually captured by the issuing office
Digital sizeNo upload: the photo is taken at the identification office
BackgroundWhite (Minas Gerais photo standard)
ColourColour (Minas Gerais)
Photo ageMinas Gerais: taken within the last 6 months
Print qualityPrinted into the card; glued photos are not allowed. Minas Gerais: high definition, high-quality print
Pixels when printed354 × 472 px at 300 dpi · 709 × 945 px at 600 dpi (calculated)
30 mm40 mm
30 × 40 mm photo drawn to scale. Background: white.

Key requirements

  • Photo taken on site

    Minas Gerais says the photo will be taken at the service point and there is no need to bring a 3 x 4. São Paulo's Poupatempo instructions talk about the moment the photograph is captured at the counter. Expect to be photographed when you apply.

  • No glued photos

    Under Decree 10.977, the photographs and signature are integrated into the card and glued photographs may not be used. The image must follow the proportion of a 3 x 4 cm photo and the ICAO standard.

  • Children who cannot pose

    In Minas Gerais, only children who cannot pose without someone holding them may hand in a photo taken beforehand, and it must have a white background. For a babe in arms, the state tells parents to bring a 3 x 4 photo.

  • Own photos for some disabilities

    São Paulo lets people with a disability or a neurodevelopmental disorder supply their own photos when their clinical condition justifies it. They may also be photographed with their accessibility aids.

  • Framing and face size

    The Minas Gerais photo standard asks for the face and shoulders fully framed and centred, eyes open and looking at the camera, and no profile poses. The face should fill 70% to 80% of the photo, measured from chin to forehead.

  • Expression differs by state

    São Paulo tells applicants not to smile while the photograph is captured. Minas Gerais allows a neutral face or a discreet smile, but in both cases the lips must stay closed and the face must not be frowning.

  • Plain photo, nobody else

    Minas Gerais wants a colour photo taken from the front against a white background, with even lighting and no reflections, red eyes or shadows. The person must be alone in the picture, with no objects or other people behind.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Book your appointment with the state service, such as Poupatempo or Cidadão MG.
  • Bring your birth or marriage certificate and your CPF number.
  • Keep your lips closed and your face relaxed for the capture.
  • Tell staff if a disability or medical condition affects the photo.
  • Bring a 3 x 4 print on white for a baby in Minas Gerais.

Don't

  • Do not smile at a São Paulo capture.
  • Do not wear sunglasses unless you are visually impaired and have a medical report.
  • Do not wear a hat or cap unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons.
  • Do not wear heavy make-up or prominent jewellery.
  • Do not expect a glued photo to be accepted.

Sample photos

How a Brazil ID card photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 30 × 40 mm and background colour.

Correct
Open-mouth smile
Head tilted
Too close: head too big
Too far: head too small
Busy background
Shadows on face or background
Glare on glasses

Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.

Glasses

São Paulo allows dark glasses only for people with a visual impairment who present a medical report or certificate.

Minas Gerais is stricter about ordinary glasses. They are allowed only when taking them off would cause embarrassment. If you keep them on, your eyes must be fully visible, the frame must not be large, thick or conspicuous or cover the eyes even partly, there must be no flash reflection, and the lenses may not be dark or coloured, even with a prescription, except for visually impaired people who would feel uncomfortable without them.

Headwear and religious dress

São Paulo bans accessories and head coverings except for religious or medical reasons. It lists the veil, hijab, cocar (feather headdress), turban, beret, knitted cap and headscarf as permitted when worn for religion.

Minas Gerais also forbids hats and head coverings except religious ones, which must still leave the face perfectly visible. Earrings, necklaces and other adornments may be worn if they do not stand out in the photo or hide the face.

Babies and children

In São Paulo, applicants under 16 must come with a legal guardian who brings an identity document and CPF, and they need the guardian's authorisation. A CIN issued before age 12 is valid for 5 years.

Minas Gerais asks that a child appear without a dummy or toys, and that no hands or other body parts of the person holding the child show in the photo. Children who cannot pose without help may bring a photo taken in advance on a white background.

There is nothing to upload. The office captures the image and prints it into the card, and the digital CIN appears in the GOV.BR app after the card has been issued; in São Paulo you add it to the app's document wallet. Only the most recent CIN carries a valid QR code.

If you do need a print, such as for a baby in Minas Gerais, make it 3 x 4 cm in colour on a white background, recent and printed in high quality. A digital photo can be cropped to 3 x 4 cm and printed at a photo counter.

Where to submit the photo

Apply to the civil identification office of your state. In São Paulo, book a slot at a Poupatempo post or IIRGD unit and bring a certificate matching your current marital status and your CPF number. In Minas Gerais, book through Cidadão MG or the MGApp and attend a UAI; if your town is not listed, go straight to the local identification post.

Other states issue the CIN through their own identification institutes, and gov.br has a page listing where to apply in each state.

How to get your Brazil ID card photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Brazil ID card: 30 × 40 mm print, white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: photo taken on site; no glued photos; children who cannot pose; own photos for some disabilities.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. There is nothing to upload. The office captures the image and prints it into the card, and the digital CIN appears in the GOV.BR app after the card has been issued; in São Paulo you add it to the app's document wallet.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. Apply to the civil identification office of your state. In São Paulo, book a slot at a Poupatempo post or IIRGD unit and bring a certificate matching your current marital status and your CPF number.

Make this photo online

Brazil ID card photo FAQ

Usually not. The state office photographs you when you apply; Minas Gerais says outright that you do not need to bring a 3 x 4. Exceptions include young children who cannot pose unaided in Minas Gerais and some people with disabilities in São Paulo.

It depends on the state. São Paulo tells applicants not to smile during the capture. Minas Gerais allows a neutral face or a discreet smile, provided the lips stay closed and the face is not frowning.

Sunglasses are allowed in São Paulo only for visually impaired people with a medical report. Minas Gerais allows clear glasses only when removing them would cause embarrassment, with thin frames, eyes fully visible and no reflections.

Yes, for religious reasons. São Paulo names the veil, hijab, cocar, turban, beret, knitted cap and headscarf as permitted religious coverings. Minas Gerais also allows religious headwear as long as the face stays fully visible.

In Minas Gerais, a child who cannot pose without being held may hand in a photo taken beforehand with a white background; for a babe in arms the state asks for a 3 x 4 photo. Check your own state's rules before going.

Yes. The federal FAQ says the old card, known as the RG, stays valid for 10 years from the change, so until 2032. You can ask for the new CIN at any time before then.

It depends on age when issued: 5 years for children under 12, 10 years from 12 until 60, and no expiry date from age 60.

Yes. The new card is also digital and available in the GOV.BR app. You add it after the physical card has been issued, and only the most recently issued CIN has a valid QR code.

Related photo specifications

Other Brazil documents

Identity cards nearby

Also 30 × 40 mm

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Official sources

  1. Presidency of the Republic of Brazil. Decreto nº 10.977, de 23 de fevereiro de 2022 (Portuguese) planalto.gov.br. Checked 1 November 2026.
  2. Government of Brazil (Governo Digital). Perguntas frequentes sobre a CIN (Portuguese) gov.br. Checked 1 November 2026.
  3. Government of Brazil (Governo Digital). Carteira de Identidade Nacional (Portuguese) gov.br. Checked 1 November 2026.
  4. Government of Minas Gerais. Obter Carteira de Identidade Nacional (Portuguese) mg.gov.br. Checked 1 November 2026.
  5. Instituto de Identificação de Minas Gerais. Portaria nº 2, de 15 de abril de 2019: padrões da fotografia (Portuguese) mg.gov.br. Checked 1 November 2026.
  6. Poupatempo, Government of São Paulo. Obter Carteira de Identidade Nacional - CIN (Portuguese) poupatempo.sp.gov.br. Checked 1 November 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Presidency of the Republic of Brazil before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"Brazil ID card photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/brazil/id-card-photo

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