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European Union EU residence permit photo requirements

The 35 × 45 mm photo rules set by Each EU member state (uniform card format set by Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002) for the European Union EU residence permit, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 10 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What size is the European Union EU residence permit photo?

It depends on the country. Germany's foreigners' authorities have accepted only digital photos for electronic residence permits since 1 May 2025, the Dutch IND takes your photo at its desk, and France's online ANEF service needs an e-photo code. Spain's TIE still needs a printed colour photo on a white background.

There is no single EU residence permit photo. The card format is common across the EU, but the photo procedure is national: digital only in Germany since 1 May 2025, taken by the IND in the Netherlands, an e-photo code for online applications in France, and a printed colour photo on a white background for the Spanish TIE. Where prints are used, the usual size is 35 x 45 mm.

Residence permits for non-EU nationals follow the uniform format of Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, but they are issued by each member state. EU citizens moving to another EU country register instead and do not get this kind of permit.

European Union EU residence permit photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Each EU member state (uniform card format set by Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002):[1]

Print sizeNo EU-wide size; usual print size 35 x 45 mm (Austria: 35 x 45 mm; Spain TIE: "tamano carne", no mm size stated officially)
Head heightAustria: head up to 36 mm
BackgroundSpain TIE: white; Austria: light, ideally grey
ColourColour (Austria: colour only; Spain TIE: colour)
Photo ageAustria: no older than six months; Spain TIE: recent
Print qualityGermany and Netherlands: no printed photos
Pixels when printed413 × 531 px at 300 dpi · 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi (calculated)
35 mm45 mm36 mm
35 × 45 mm photo drawn to scale, with the 36 mm head height from chin to crown. Background: spain TIE: white.

Key requirements

  • Germany (eAT): digital only

    Since 1 May 2025, German foreigners' authorities accept only digital photos for electronic residence permits and travel documents for foreigners, regardless of age. The photo is taken at the authority's terminal, by a certified photo studio, or at a dm-drogerie markt store, and sent through a secure electronic channel. The exemption allowing printed photos until 31 July 2025 was not extended. At the authority the fee is 6 euros (federal fee) and Stuttgart says photos taken there are stored for 72 hours; studio prices are set by the studio. Stuttgart's terminals are not yet suitable for children up to about 4, so use a certified studio.

  • Netherlands: the IND takes your photo

    After the IND writes to say it needs your biometrics, you book an appointment at an IND desk, service point or expat centre, where the IND takes a digital passport photo and your fingerprints. It does not accept photos taken elsewhere by a photographer. Giving biometrics is free, though expat centres may charge a fee. The IND photographs you against a light grey background, so it asks you not to wear completely white or light grey clothes. Religious or philosophical head coverings are allowed if your face stays uncovered. For a child under 2, send a passport photo taken by a photographer with the IND's passport photo form (form 7630) instead of booking an appointment.

  • France: e-photo code

    For residence cards applied for online through the ANEF service, you enter an e-photo code, which the photographer or approved photo booth prints on the photo board. If you do not have one, Service-Public.fr points you to a digital photo and signature service. A home-made photo cannot produce an e-photo code. Some other procedures still list printed photos, so follow the document list for your card.

  • Spain (TIE)

    The interior ministry asks for one recent colour photo on a white background in "tamano carne" (ID-card size) and does not give a size in millimetres. The Spanish DNI uses 32 x 26 mm and many universities and photo shops use that size for the TIE too, but the TIE size could not be confirmed on an official page.

  • Italy

    Many permesso di soggiorno applications are lodged with a kit at a post office (Sportello Amico). Fees include a 16-euro revenue stamp, 30 euros for the post office and 30.46 euros for the card. The post office gives you an appointment at the Questura, where your fingerprints and photo are recorded. The required number or size of printed photos could not be found on an official page; check the instructions in the kit.

  • Austria

    The interior ministry applies the same photo criteria to residence permits (Aufenthaltstitel) as to passports: 35 x 45 mm, head up to 36 mm, a light, ideally grey background, no older than six months, and colour only.

  • Belgium and other countries

    Belgium's residence permit photo rules were not checked; confirm the requirements with your commune.

  • EU citizens

    EU citizens do not need a residence permit. If you stay longer than three months you may have to register and get a registration certificate. Your Europe says you need a valid ID card or passport and proof of your situation and that you do not need to provide any other documents. EU rules do not require a photo; every country's local practice was not checked.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Check the issuing country's procedure before preparing a photo
  • Use the authority's terminal or a certified studio in Germany
  • Use an approved photographer or booth with e-photo for online applications in France
  • For printed photos, follow the country's size and background (white for the Spanish TIE, usually 35 x 45 mm)

Don't

  • Do not bring a printed photo to a German foreigners' authority
  • Do not bring a photographer's photo to the IND (except for a child under 2)
  • Do not wear completely white or light grey clothes for the IND photo

Sample photos

How a European Union EU residence permit photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 35 × 45 mm, head height 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.

Headwear and religious dress

Netherlands (IND): religious or philosophical head coverings are allowed if your face stays uncovered.

Babies and children

Netherlands: for a child under 2, send a photographer's passport photo with the IND's photo form (form 7630) instead of booking an appointment. Germany: Stuttgart's terminals are not yet suitable for children up to about 4, so use a certified studio.

Germany: digital only (printed photos not accepted since 1 May 2025). Netherlands: photo taken by the IND (printed photos not accepted, except for children under 2). France: e-photo code for online applications. Spain: printed photo accepted. Austria: printed photo accepted.

Where to submit the photo

Attend the appointment in person with your passport and documents, where your fingerprints are usually taken as well; the provider depends on the country (German Auslaenderbehoerde or certified studio, IND desk, approved French photographer or booth, Spanish police office).

How to get your European Union EU residence permit photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the European Union EU residence permit: 35 × 45 mm print, spain TIE: white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: germany (eAT): digital only; netherlands: the IND takes your photo; france: e-photo code; spain (TIE).
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. Germany: digital only (printed photos not accepted since 1 May 2025). Netherlands: photo taken by the IND (printed photos not accepted, except for children under 2). France: e-photo code for online applications. Spain: printed photo accepted.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. Attend the appointment in person with your passport and documents, where your fingerprints are usually taken as well; the provider depends on the country (German Auslaenderbehoerde or certified studio, IND desk, approved French photographer or booth, Spanish…

European Union EU residence permit photo FAQ

No. Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 sets one card format for residence permits issued to non-EU nationals, but each country issues its own permits and decides how the photo is taken or supplied. That is why Germany wants a digital photo, the Netherlands takes the photo itself and Spain asks for a printed one.

No. Since 1 May 2025 the foreigners' authorities (Auslaenderbehoerden) accept only digital photos for electronic residence permits and travel documents for foreigners, whatever your age. The photo is taken at the authority, for 6 euros, or at a certified photo studio that sends it electronically. The temporary acceptance of printed photos ended on 31 July 2025.

No. At the IND desk or service point, the IND takes a digital passport photo and your fingerprints, and does not accept photos taken elsewhere by a photographer. The exception is a child under 2: you send a photographer's passport photo with the IND's passport photo form instead of making an appointment.

The interior ministry's list asks for a recent colour photo on a white background in "tamano carne" (ID-card size). It does not state a size in millimetres. The Spanish DNI uses 32 x 26 mm, and many universities and photo shops use the same size for the TIE, but this could not be confirmed on an official page.

Not under EU rules. To register after three months, Your Europe says you need a valid ID card or passport and proof of your situation (work, self-employment, enough money and health insurance, or study), and that you do not need to provide any other documents. Local practice may differ, so check with the registration office.

Not if you hold a residence permit issued by a country that uses the EES. Permits issued by Cyprus and Ireland are the exception, so their holders are registered.

Related photo specifications

Other European Union documents

Also 35 × 45 mm

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Official sources

  1. EUR-Lex (European Union). Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002: uniform format for residence permits eur-lex.europa.eu. Checked 29 October 2026.
  2. City of Stuttgart. Digital photo for electronic residence permits and travel documents stuttgart.de. Checked 29 October 2026.
  3. City of Siegen. Nationwide change to digital photos from 1 May 2025 for electronic residence permits (PDF) siegen.de. Checked 29 October 2026.
  4. Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Netherlands. Biometrics appointment: photo, signature and fingerprints ind.nl. Checked 29 October 2026.
  5. Service-Public.fr (French government). Residence card "private and family life" service-public.gouv.fr. Checked 29 October 2026.
  6. Ministerio del Interior, Spain. Foreigner identity card (TIE) interior.gob.es. Checked 29 October 2026.
  7. Poste Italiane. Guide to issuing and renewing a residence permit poste.it. Checked 29 October 2026.
  8. Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), Austria. Passport photo criteria bmi.gv.at. Checked 29 October 2026.
  9. Your Europe (European Union). Registering your residence after three months europa.eu. Checked 29 October 2026.
  10. European Commission. EES fully operational since 10 April 2026, who is exempt home-affairs.ec.europa.eu. Checked 29 October 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Each EU member state (uniform card format set by Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002) before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"European Union EU residence permit photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/european-union/residence-permit-photo

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