Slovakia photo specifications
Photo sizes and rules for 2 documents issued in Slovakia, taken from the issuing authorities and linked to their official pages.
At a glance
Slovakia does not ask for a printed photo for an identity card: the police documents office or a Slovak embassy captures your face at the application. Visas differ: a national visa needs a colour photo of 3 x 3.5 cm under Act 404/2011, while Schengen visa photos follow ICAO standards and the size depends on the embassy, from 3 x 3.5 cm to 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
Overview
Two different systems apply in Slovakia. Identity cards are issued by the Police Force under the Interior Ministry: the applicant attends a district directorate, or an embassy abroad, and the officer records the face image, fingerprints and signature, with rules about clothing, head coverings and dark glasses. No photograph is submitted.
Visas are handled by Slovak embassies and consulates. The national visa photo is set by law at 3 x 3.5 cm, in colour. For Schengen visas the embassy lists differ, and the EU Commission's photograph sheet gives the shared standard: under 6 months old, 35 to 40 mm wide, on a plain light background. Read the list of the post that handles your application.
Photo specifications by document
Visas and travel authorisations
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 30 × 35 mm | — | Plain light-coloured |
Identity cards
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID card | 30 × 35 mm | — | None specified: the face image is captured at… |
Frequently asked questions
No. The police documents office or a Slovak embassy captures your face, fingerprints and signature when you apply in person. The face is recorded in civilian clothes, bare-headed and without dark-lens glasses, with exceptions for health and religious reasons.
Act 404/2011 sets 3 x 3.5 cm (30 x 35 mm), in colour, showing the current appearance of the applicant. It is submitted with a valid travel document, a document on the purpose of stay and health insurance.
It varies by embassy, from 3 x 3.5 cm at some posts to 3.5 x 4.5 cm at others, and the EU Commission sheet asks for a width of 35 to 40 mm. Follow the list of the embassy where you apply.
The law on identity cards (Act 395/2019) and the Interior Ministry cover identity cards, while Act 404/2011 and the individual embassies cover visas. The EU Visa Code sets the ICAO standard for Schengen visas.
Nearby countries
Other countries in Eastern Europe:
Official sources
- Slov-Lex, Slovak Ministry of Justice. Zákon č. 395/2019 Z. z. o občianskych preukazoch (version effective from 15 May 2026) static.slov-lex.sk. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Slov-Lex, Slovak Ministry of Justice. Zákon č. 404/2011 Z. z. o pobyte cudzincov (version effective from 1 October 2026) static.slov-lex.sk. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic. Prijatie žiadosti o vydanie občianskeho preukazu minv.sk. Checked 2 November 2026.
- European Commission, DG Home Affairs. Photograph quality (ICAO MRTD photo guidelines sheet) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu. Checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this page
"Slovakia photo specifications". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/slovakia