Turkey passport photo requirements
The 50 × 60 mm photo rules set by Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Interior for the Turkey passport, with the official wording and sources.
Quick answer
What size is the Turkey passport photo?
A Turkish passport needs a biometric colour photo of 50 x 60 mm (1.97 x 2.36 in), taken in the last six months: full face, eyes open, mouth closed, on a plain white background. Do not cut it down to 35 x 45 mm. That is only the photo area printed in the passport, and a smaller print may not scan. Glasses may stay on if the eyes are clearly visible, but tinted lenses and sunglasses are refused.
Ordinary Turkish passports, the burgundy umuma mahsus type, are issued by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri, NVİ) of the Ministry of Interior. You book an appointment online, through e-Devlet, the NVİ Mobil app, a Nüfusmatik kiosk or the Alo 199 call centre, then apply in person at a provincial or district civil registry office. Special (green) and service (grey) passports go through provincial directorates. Abroad, applications are taken by Turkish embassies and consulates.
You must attend yourself, because biometric data is recorded from age 7, and a signature as well from age 12. The photo is the one thing you bring ready-made. NVİ wants a biometric photo taken in the last six months, and under the passport instruction the print you hand over is scanned into the system. Every passport carries a photo, whatever the holder's age.
Bring the 50 x 60 mm print. The 35 x 45 mm size is the photo window on the data page of the chip passport, not the size of the print. The Foreign Ministry's consular FAQ explains that the scanner needs a photo larger than 35 x 45 mm, which is why the Ministry of Interior recommends 50 x 60 mm. With a smaller print the application may not go through, or the finished passport may fail quality control and be cancelled.
Turkey passport photo size and specifications
The requirements as published by Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Interior:[1]
| Print size | 50 x 60 mm (1.97 x 2.36 in); do not cut prints to 35 x 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Digital size | No digital file: bring a printed photo, which is scanned when you apply |
| Head height | Face 32 to 36 mm tall, covering 70 to 80% of the photo (passport instruction) |
| Background | Plain white, no pattern or shadow; the instruction prefers mid-grey for light hair |
| Colour | Colour; a colour biometric photo is required for a new passport |
| Photo age | Taken in the last six months |
| Print quality | Quality photo paper, sharp, no stains, creases or damage; no photocopies or computer-made copies |
| Pixels when printed | 591 × 709 px at 300 dpi · 1181 × 1417 px at 600 dpi (calculated) |
In the official words
Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:
Photocopies, photographs reproduced on a computer, or non-biometric photographs are not accepted. (translated from Turkish)
Key requirements
- 50 x 60 mm, never trimmed
The consular FAQ asks applicants to remind their photographer not to cut biometric photos to 35 x 45 mm. The print has to be bigger than the passport's photo window so the scanner can read it, and the Ministry of Interior recommends 50 x 60 mm.
- Full face, mouth closed
Hold your head upright without turning it, look straight at the camera and keep your mouth closed. The passport instruction rejects smiling and other expressions, and both sides of the face must show from the chin to the hairline. Hair must not cover the eyes.
- Plain, shadow-free background
The background must be plain, with no pattern or shadow. The passport instruction prefers white behind dark hair and a mid-tone grey behind light hair. The consulates in New York, Los Angeles and Stockholm ask for white, so white is the safe choice.
- Even light and true colours
Light the face evenly, with no reflections, shadows or red eye. Colours must be neutral and show the natural colour of the face; tinted or discoloured prints are marked as rejected in the instruction's examples.
- Headscarf allowed with conditions
In a photo with a headscarf, the face must be visible from the chin to the forehead, with no shadows on it, and the scarf must be a different colour from the background. Hats, caps and similar headgear are not allowed.
- Light retouching tolerated
The consular FAQ says retouching that does not stop you being identified is, in theory, not a problem. It still recommends an unretouched photo so border officers can identify you quickly.
- No dress code
You do not need a jacket or tie. The consular FAQ says you may wear any clothes, provided the eyes are open and the forehead, face and chin are uncovered.
- Real photographic prints only
NVİ refuses photocopies, photos copied on a computer and photos that are not biometric. The New York consulate asks for a print on good-quality paper that is not damaged, crumpled or creased.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Have the photo printed at 50 x 60 mm.
- Use a photo taken within the last six months.
- Keep your mouth closed and your expression neutral.
- Keep both sides of your face visible from chin to hairline.
- Choose a headscarf that contrasts with the background.
- Bring the print to your appointment; it is scanned there.
Don't
- Do not let the photographer trim the print to 35 x 45 mm.
- Do not wear sunglasses, tinted lenses or a hat.
- Do not smile or tilt your head.
- Do not bring a photocopy or a printout made on a home printer.
- Do not include another person, a hand or a toy in a baby's photo.
Sample photos
How a Turkey passport photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 50 × 60 mm, head height and background colour.
Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.
Glasses
Glasses you need to wear can stay on. NVİ rules out coloured lenses and sunglasses, and the passport instruction sets the other conditions: eyes clearly visible, no reflections on the lenses, no tinted lenses or sunglasses, and frames that do not cover the eyes. The New York consulate puts it as prescription glasses only, and they must not hide your eyes.
One consulate is stricter. The Los Angeles guideline says accessories such as glasses, earrings and hats should not be used. If you apply there, take your glasses off for the photo.
Headwear and religious dress
Hats, caps and similar headgear are not allowed in a Turkish passport photo. The passport instruction allows only accessories a person has to wear, such as glasses. The New York consulate adds that nothing may hide the hair or face.
A headscarf is accepted. The face must show fully from the chin to the forehead, without shadows falling on it, and the scarf colour must differ from the background, so a white scarf against a white background will not do.
Babies and children
Every applicant needs a biometric photo, babies included, because each passport carries a photo; children cannot be added to a parent's passport. The same rules apply to children and babies as to adults. The instruction adds that a small child's photo must not show another person or any object, such as a supporting hand or a toy.
Children apply in person with an adult. Biometric data is taken from age 7 and a signature from age 12. For a minor, the legal representatives give consent at the application centre; if they cannot attend, bring a consent document drawn up by a notary or a Turkish mission. A child under 15 does not need an ID card with a photo, but the ID document must show the Turkish ID number.
Printed and digital photos
There is no upload. You hand in a printed photo at the appointment and staff scan it into the system. NVİ lists one photo for applications in Turkey. The consular FAQ says one is enough abroad, though the Stockholm embassy still asks for two and has a photo booth in its consular section.
A digital photo can be printed at 50 x 60 mm at a photo lab or on a 4x6 inch sheet at a photo counter. Avoid home printers and photocopies, which NVİ does not accept. The Los Angeles consulate also accepts the 2 x 2 inch size common in the US.
Where to submit the photo
In Turkey, book through the NVİ appointment site, e-Devlet, NVİ Mobil, a Nüfusmatik kiosk or Alo 199, and pay the booklet and fee charges beforehand at a tax office, PTT branch, partner bank or the Revenue Administration website. Ordinary passports are taken at provincial and district civil registry offices, and the finished passport is delivered by PTT cargo.
Abroad, book through the Foreign Ministry's consular portal and apply in person at the consular section of an embassy or a consulate general. Applications cannot be made by proxy. The consular FAQ says passports for applicants living abroad are handed over at the mission where they applied.
How to get your Turkey passport photo
- Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the Turkey passport: 50 × 60 mm print, plain white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
- Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: 50 x 60 mm, never trimmed; full face, mouth closed; plain, shadow-free background; even light and true colours.
- Prepare a print or digital file. There is no upload. You hand in a printed photo at the appointment and staff scan it into the system. NVİ lists one photo for applications in Turkey.
- Submit the photo with your application. In Turkey, book through the NVİ appointment site, e-Devlet, NVİ Mobil, a Nüfusmatik kiosk or Alo 199, and pay the booklet and fee charges beforehand at a tax office, PTT branch, partner bank or the Revenue Administration website.
Turkey passport photo FAQ
50 x 60 mm (1.97 x 2.36 in), biometric, in colour and taken within the last six months. NVİ and the consular FAQ both give this size, and the Ministry of Interior recommends it because the print must be larger than the 35 x 45 mm photo area on the passport page.
No. The consular FAQ says photos must be larger than 35 x 45 mm for the scanner to detect them. A smaller print can stop the application being completed, or get the passport cancelled at quality control so you have to apply again.
Usually yes, if you need them. The lenses must be clear and free of reflections and the frames must not cover your eyes; tinted lenses and sunglasses are refused. The Los Angeles consulate is an exception and asks for no glasses.
Yes. Your face must be visible from chin to forehead, with no shadows on it, and the scarf must be a different colour from the background. Hats, caps and other headgear are not allowed.
No. The passport instruction rejects smiling and similar expressions. Look straight at the camera with your head upright, eyes open and mouth closed.
Light retouching that does not hinder identification is, in theory, not a problem, according to the consular FAQ. It still advises an unretouched photo so that border officers can identify you easily and quickly.
NVİ asks for one biometric photo for an application in Turkey. The consular FAQ says one is enough for applications abroad, but check your mission: the embassy in Stockholm asks for two.
Yes. NVİ requires a biometric photo for every age group, and each child gets a separate passport. The photo must follow the adult rules and show no other person or object, such as a parent's hand.
The Consulate General in Los Angeles says the 2 x 2 inch size common in the US is also acceptable. The New York consulate's guide gives only 50 x 60 mm, so use that size unless your consulate says otherwise.
No. The consular FAQ says there is no dress code: wear whatever you like, provided your eyes are open and your forehead, face and chin are uncovered.
Related photo specifications
Other Turkey documents
- Visa photo 50 × 60 mm
Passports nearby
- Azerbaijan passport photo 30 × 40 mm
- Bahrain e-passport photo 32.5 × 43 mm
- Bahrain passport photo 40 × 60 mm
- Georgia passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Iraq passport photo 2 × 2 in
- Israel passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Jordan passport photo 2 × 2 in
- Lebanon passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Oman passport photo 40 × 60 mm
- Palestine passport photo 30 × 40 mm
Also 50 × 60 mm
- Moldova work permit photo 50 × 60 mm
- All Turkey photo specifications
- Passports: photo rules by country
- Every document that uses a 50 × 60 mm photo
- Photo specifications in Asia
Official sources
- Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Interior. Pasaport hizmetleri (Passport services, Turkish) nvi.gov.tr. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Interior. Sıkça sorulan sorular: Pasaport hizmetleri (Passport FAQ, Turkish) nvi.gov.tr. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, consular portal. Sıkça sorulan sorular (Consular FAQ, Turkish) konsolosluk.gov.tr. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Consulate General of Türkiye in New York. Biyometrik fotoğraf özellikleri, with the passport instruction excerpt (PDF, Turkish) newyork-bk.mfa.gov.tr. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Consulate General of Türkiye in Los Angeles. Guidelines on biometric photo for visa, Turkish ID and passport applications losangeles-cg.mfa.gov.tr. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Embassy of Türkiye in Stockholm, consular section. E-pasaport başvurusu (PDF, Turkish) stokholm-be.mfa.gov.tr. Checked 1 November 2026.
Requirements can change, so always confirm with Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Interior before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.
Cite this page
"Turkey passport photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/turkey/passport-photo