International passport (Poland): 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo.
| Document | Photo size | Head, chin to crown | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| International passport | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | — | gov.pl |
| ID card | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 31.5–36 mm | gov.pl |
| ID card — online application (file) | 492 × 633 px | 70–80% of the photo height | gov.pl |
| Visa | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | — | gov.pl |
| Driving licence | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 31.5–36 mm | gov.pl |
| Driving licence — photo file (on a data carrier) | 480 × 615 px | 70–80% of the photo height | gov.pl |
| Residence permit | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 31.5–36 mm | gov.pl |
| Residence permit — MOS online application (file) | 684 × 883 px | 70–80% of the photo height | gov.pl |
Photo for a Polish ID card or passport
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Government of Poland
- Size: Colour photo on paper 35 mm x 45 mm (width x height).
- General requirements: The photo should show the entire head (from the top of the head) and the upper part of the shoulders, the face should occupy 70-80% of the photo. Look directly into the camera, do not tilt your head, the oval of your face should be visible (no semi-profile), you should have a natural facial expression, a closed mouth and free eyebrows, your eyes should be naturally open, clearly visible along with the pupils (for example, not covered with hair) and looking directly at the lens, the so-called red-eye effect is unacceptable, the ears do not have to be visible, the hairstyle may protrude beyond the outline of the photo. Stubble is allowed if it does not prevent you from being recognised, but to avoid problems it is better to be clean-shaven. The entire oval of the face and the line of the ears should be exposed. Jewellery may appear in the photo as long as it does not cover the oval of the face or disturb the uniform background, but to avoid problems it is better to be photographed without it. If your medical condition does not allow you to meet these requirements, you may have your eyes closed, your mouth open, and an unnatural facial expression (such as smiling) in the photo.
- Head coverings: If you wear a head covering because your religion requires it, you can wear it in the photo as long as your face is still visible. Then, attach to the application for an identity card or passport a certificate that confirms that you belong to a religious community (this applies only to communities registered in Poland). If you apply online, attach the certificate as an electronic document signed by the issuer, or attach a scan of it and hand the original to the official when you collect the document. The entire oval of the face and the line of the ears must be uncovered.
- Eyeglasses: Corrective glasses may be worn in the photo if your eyes are clearly visible and the lenses do not reflect light. Contact lenses are also allowed as long as they do not change the natural shape and colour of your eyes. If you have a congenital or acquired visual impairment, you may wear dark glasses in the photo. Then, attach a certificate of disability or degree of disability to the application for an identity card or passport. If you apply online, attach the certificate as an electronic document signed by the issuer, or attach a scan of it and hand the original to the official when you collect the document.
- Children: Your child may have closed eyes, an open mouth or a non-neutral facial expression (such as smiling). The child’s face must be uncovered (not covered by hair or a toy), the child must hold their head straight, the background must be light and uniform (no other people in the frame).
- Background: The background must be white, evenly lit, devoid of shadows and decorative elements, the face in the photograph must be evenly lit (glare of light on the skin or hair and shadows on the face are not allowed), only the person being photographed can be in the photo.
- Online application: If you apply online, attach a colour photo file of at least 492 × 633 pixels and no larger than 2.5 MB, in the proportions of a 35 × 45 mm photo. A passport can be applied for online only for a child under 12; the file must then be at least 768 × 1004 pixels, also up to 2.5 MB.
- Submit a recent photo, taken within 6 months.
Photo for a Polish visa
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Government of Poland
- Size: One 3.5 × 4.5 cm colour photograph.
- General requirements: The photo must be clear, clean and high-contrast, printed on high-quality paper and allow the applicant to be identified. It is taken from the front and clearly shows the eyes and both sides of the face, from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70–80% of the photo. The applicant looks straight ahead with the mouth closed, and the face is not covered by hair.
- Head coverings: In the photograph, the applicant must be without a hat.
- Eyeglasses: If the applicant wears glasses, the photo must meet the following criteria: the lenses must not be tinted, the frame must not cover any part of the eye, and there must be no glare. If the photo in your passport is without glasses, the visa photo must also be without glasses.
- Background: The background must be white.
- Submit a recent photo, taken within 6 months.
Photo for a Polish driving licence
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Government of Poland
- Size: Colour photo 35 × 45 mm, sharp (no visible pixels) and with natural contrast.
- General requirements: The photo shows your whole head and no more than the top of your shoulders, and your face takes up 70–80% of it. Look straight ahead with a natural expression and your mouth closed; keep your eyes open and not covered by hair. Your eyes, especially the pupils, must be clearly visible, and the photo must show your natural skin colour. Nothing that makes you harder to recognise may be in the photo.
- Head coverings: If you wear a head covering because of your religion, you may keep it on in the photo: your whole face must be visible, and your identity document must have a similar photo with the head covering. Attach a certificate confirming that you belong to a religious community registered in Poland.
- Eyeglasses: Glasses with dark lenses are not allowed. If you have a visual impairment you may be photographed in dark glasses, but your identity document must have a similar photo in glasses, and you attach to the application a disability certificate, or a certificate of the degree of disability, issued for a congenital or acquired visual impairment.
- Background: A uniform, light background.
- Photo file: You can also attach the photo to the application as a file on an external data carrier. The file must be a JPEG with an EXIF header (version 2.1 or later), sRGB colour, 24-bit colour depth, 480 × 615 pixels, no larger than 100 KB, with a compression quality of at least 80/100.
- Submit a recent photo, taken within 6 months.
Photo for a Polish residence card (karta pobytu)
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Office for Foreigners (UdSC)
- Size: Colour photo 35 × 45 mm, undamaged and in good focus.
- General requirements: The photo shows your face from the top of your head to the top of your shoulders, with the face taking up 70–80% of it. You face the camera and look straight ahead, eyes open and not covered by hair, with a natural expression and your mouth closed; the photo shows your natural skin colour. Your eyes, especially the pupils, must be clearly visible, and the line of your eyes must be parallel to the top edge of the photo.
- Head coverings: A head covering is not allowed unless you wear it in accordance with your religion: the photo may then show it as long as your face is fully visible, and you attach a statement that you belong to a religious community.
- Eyeglasses: Glasses with dark lenses are not allowed. With a congenital or acquired visual impairment you may attach a photo in dark glasses, together with documents confirming the disability — or, if you cannot provide them, your own statement about the disability.
- Background: A uniform, light background.
- Application in MOS: If you file the application through the MOS system, the photo is uploaded as a file: a JPG of at least 684 × 883 pixels, in the proportions of a 35 × 45 mm photo, no larger than 2.5 MB.
- Submit a recent photo, taken within 6 months.
Photo provided by Government of Poland
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