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Romania ID card photo requirements

The 30 × 40 mm photo rules set by Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania, Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor for the Romania ID card, with the official wording and sources.

Based on 8 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What size is the Romania ID card photo?

For a Romanian electronic identity card (CEI) or simple identity card (CIS), the photo is taken at the counter of the population records office, usually against a white background, so avoid white clothes. Printed photos are needed for a provisional identity card and for a first card requested through a consulate: two photos of 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm, 1.18 x 1.57 in) with a 7 mm white band along the bottom.

Romanian identity cards are issued by the public community services for population records (SPCEP), coordinated by the General Directorate for Persons Records (DGEP) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The two cards issued since 2025 share the bank-card format: the electronic identity card (CEI), whose chip allows online authentication and electronic signatures and which can replace a passport in the EU, and the simple identity card (CIS), which holds no electronic data. A paper provisional identity card (CIP) covers special cases, including Romanians domiciled abroad who live temporarily in Romania.

How the photo is made depends on the card. For a CEI or CIS you attend in person and the picture is taken at the counter, where DGEP says the background is usually white. Since 1 August 2025 a CEI can be requested at any population records office, whatever your address; a CIS only at the office for your domicile. Two printed photos of 3 x 4 cm with a 7 mm white band are still asked for when a provisional card is issued and when a first identity card is requested through a Romanian embassy or consulate.

Romania ID card photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania, Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor:[1]

Print size3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm, 1.18 x 1.57 in), two prints with a 7 mm white band at the base, where prints are needed
Digital sizeNo digital file: the CEI and CIS photo is taken at the counter
BackgroundCounter photo: background usually white (DGEP); no colour is published for the printed photos
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: counter photo: background usually white.

Key requirements

  • Photo taken at the counter

    DGEP describes taking the holder's photo as an essential moment in issuing the card, done when you present yourself at the counter. The CEI and CIS are not issued on a special power of attorney, so you must be there.

  • Avoid white or very pale clothes

    The counter background is usually white. DGEP recommends not wearing white or very light colours, which give no clear contrast with it and can create an unwanted floating head effect in the card photo.

  • Prints for the provisional card

    A provisional identity card needs two 3 x 4 cm photos with a 7 mm white band at the base. It is issued when documents are missing, when biometric capture is temporarily impossible, or to a Romanian domiciled abroad who lives temporarily in Romania.

  • Prints for a first ID requested abroad

    Romanians domiciled in Romania who are temporarily abroad for objective reasons, such as studies or medical treatment, may request their first identity card at a Romanian mission. The checklist for this route asks for two 3 x 4 cm photos with a 7 mm white band.

  • Two fingerprints, not before 12

    For a CEI, flat prints of two fingers are taken, as a rule the left and right index fingers. Fingerprints are not taken from children aged up to 12, and their cards are issued without them.

  • Facial image stored in the chip

    The CEI chip stores the facial image as one of the biometric data collected when the card is issued, together with the fingerprints where they are taken.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Wear clothing that contrasts with a white background
  • Book a counter appointment through the MAI online booking map
  • Bring the original payment receipt when you apply
  • Bring two 3 x 4 cm prints with a 7 mm white band for a provisional card
  • Collect the card in person and set its two PIN codes

Don't

  • Do not wear white or very light clothes for the counter photo
  • Do not send someone with a power of attorney for a CEI or CIS
  • Do not expect a CIS to be issued outside your domicile office
  • Do not expect a CEI from a consulate until the start date is announced

Sample photos

How a Romania 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.

Babies and children

A CEI can be issued to a child of any age, from birth. Fingerprints are not taken from children aged up to 12, so their cards rely on the facial image photographed at the counter. Parents or the legal representative apply for children under 14, and when both parents do not agree, the CEI is issued on the basis of a final court decision.

From 14 to 18, a minor applies accompanied by one parent. The first identity card at 14 cannot be obtained through a power of attorney. If the young person is temporarily abroad, the first card can be requested at a Romanian mission, with the application signed by both the minor and a parent in front of the consular official, and two 3 x 4 cm photos with a 7 mm white band.

No Romanian identity card takes an uploaded photo. For the CEI and CIS the picture is taken at the office, and on the CEI it is also written to the chip.

Prints of 3 x 4 cm, which is 30 x 40 mm or 1.18 x 1.57 inches, are used for the provisional identity card and for a first card requested through a mission. The checklists also ask for a 7 mm white band along the base of each photo. A digital photo can be cropped to 30 x 40 mm and printed on a 4x6 inch sheet at a photo counter.

Where to submit the photo

In Romania, apply at a public community service for population records. A CEI application can be lodged at any of them since 1 August 2025; a CIS only at the service for your domicile. Book a slot on the MAI appointment map, pay any fee at a CEC Bank branch or SelfPay terminal and bring the original receipt.

Abroad, DGEP says the CEI will become available at Romanian missions and consular offices from a date it will announce. Meanwhile, Romanians domiciled in Romania who are temporarily abroad can request a first identity card at a mission. For a later card, DGEP's FAQ still describes a representative in Romania acting on a special power of attorney authenticated at a mission, and one local office's checklist says that power of attorney carries the applicant's photo with an identical photo attached. The CEI site, however, states that neither the CEI nor the CIS is issued on a power of attorney, so check with the office first.

How to get your Romania ID card photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Romania ID card: 30 × 40 mm print, counter photo: background usually white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: photo taken at the counter; avoid white or very pale clothes; prints for the provisional card; prints for a first ID requested abroad.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. No Romanian identity card takes an uploaded photo. For the CEI and CIS the picture is taken at the office, and on the CEI it is also written to the chip.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. In Romania, apply at a public community service for population records. A CEI application can be lodged at any of them since 1 August 2025; a CIS only at the service for your domicile.

Make this photo online

Romania ID card photo FAQ

No print is needed. The holder's photo is taken at the counter of the population records office when you apply, and two fingerprints are taken too, except from children aged up to 12. The CEI chip then stores the facial image.

Avoid white or very light colours. DGEP explains that the background at the counter is usually white, so pale clothing gives little contrast and can make the head look as if it floats. Choose clothing that stands out against white.

Two photos of 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm) with a 7 mm white band at the base. The provisional card is issued when documents are missing, when biometric capture is temporarily impossible, and to Romanians domiciled abroad who live temporarily in Romania.

A first identity card, yes, if you are domiciled in Romania, aged 14 or over and temporarily abroad for an objective reason. You apply in person at the mission with two 3 x 4 cm photos with a 7 mm white band. The CEI will be available at missions only from a date still to be announced.

Not for a CEI or CIS: the CEI site says neither is issued on a special power of attorney. DGEP also rules it out for a first card at 14 or after 18, for a card after acquiring citizenship or moving domicile from abroad, and for the provisional card of a Romanian domiciled abroad.

Yes. A CEI can be issued from age 0. Fingerprints are not taken from children aged up to 12, so the child's card relies on the facial image taken at the counter.

Both are bank-card size. Only the CEI has a chip for online authentication and electronic signatures, works as a travel document in the EU and some other states, and can be requested at any population records office. The CIS has no electronic data and is requested only at the office for your domicile.

Related photo specifications

Other Romania documents

Identity cards nearby

Also 30 × 40 mm

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Official sources

  1. Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania, Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor. Informații utile: întrebări frecvente CEI (CEI questions and answers) carteadeidentitate.gov.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  2. Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania, Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor. Despre cartea electronică de identitate (about the CEI and CIS) carteadeidentitate.gov.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  3. Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor (DGEP). Întrebări frecvente (frequently asked questions) depabd.mai.gov.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  4. Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor (DGEP). Evidența persoanelor (population records services) depabd.mai.gov.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  5. Direcția Județeană de Evidență a Persoanelor Iași. Carte de identitate provizorie: acte necesare (provisional identity card checklist) djep-iasi.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  6. Serviciul Public Comunitar Local de Evidență a Persoanelor Copșa Mică. Eliberarea cărții de identitate provizorii cetățenilor români cu domiciliul în străinătate copsa-mica.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  7. Primăria comunei Orlat. Informații privind eliberarea primului act de identitate (first identity card while temporarily abroad) comunaorlat.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.
  8. Primăria Municipiului Sebeș. Eliberarea actului de identitate când titularul se află temporar în străinătate (procură specială) primariasebes.ro. Checked 2 November 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania, Direcția Generală pentru Evidența Persoanelor before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

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

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