International passport (Spain): 4 × 5.3 cm photo.
| Document | Photo size | Head, chin to crown | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| International passport | 4 × 5.3 cm | — | exteriores.gob.es |
| Visa | 3.5 × 4.5 cm | 31.5–36 mm | exteriores.gob.es |
| National passport | 2.6 × 3.2 cm | 22.4–25.6 mm | dnielectronico.es |
| Residence permit | 2.6 × 3.2 cm | 22.4–25.6 mm | sede.policia.gob.es |
| Driving licence | 2.6 × 3.2 cm | — | sede.dgt.gob.es |
Photograph requirements in Spain depend on the document and on where you apply: in Spain the DNI, the passport and the TIE (residence card) all use the compact 32 x 26 mm format, Spanish consulates abroad and visa offices set their own sizes, and driving licence photos are usually taken at the driver medical centre.
- Spanish passport
- Visa
- DNI (national ID card)
- TIE (residence card)
- Driving licence
Photograph for a Spanish passport
32 mm
26 mm
- Source: Spanish National Police, passport requirements
- In Spain: The passport is issued by the National Police with the same photo as the DNI: a recent colour photo, 32 x 26 mm, on a plain white background, taken from the front, without dark glasses or anything that hinders identification. It must be high resolution on good-quality photo paper. No photo is needed if you obtained or renewed your DNI on the same day.
- At a consulate abroad: Each consulate publishes its own rules. The Consulate General in Düsseldorf, for example, asks for 2 identical colour photos, 30 to 40 mm wide with a proportional height (40 to 53 mm), the head taking up about 50% of the photo with a 5 mm margin at the sides and top, on a plain white background without shadows.
- In Buenos Aires: The Consulate General in Buenos Aires asks for the same photo as in Spain: 1 recent colour photo, 32 x 26 mm, on a white background, taken from the front, without dark glasses or garments that hinder identification; garments that leave the oval of the face visible are accepted.
- Pose: Centred, fully frontal and looking straight at the camera; photos with a lowered gaze or (half-)closed eyes are not accepted. The face, including the eyebrows, must be clear of hair.
- Glasses: Clear lenses without reflections; the frame must not cover the eyes or cast a shadow, and thick or novelty frames are not accepted.
- Check the requirements of the office where you apply. At consulates the photos must be less than 6 months old.
Photograph for a Spanish visa
45 mm
35 mm
- Source: Embassy of Spain in La Paz, photograph requirements
- Size: Set by each consulate or visa centre. The Embassy in La Paz follows ICAO Doc 9303: at most 35 x 45 mm and at least 26 x 32 mm, with the head and shoulders filling 70-80% of the height and about 2 mm above the head. Other consulates name other sizes — Casablanca asks for 3 x 4 cm, the La Paz visa checklist for 4 x 5 cm — so check your consulate's list.
- Background: Plain, uniform white background, with no objects or people behind the head and no shadows.
- General requirements: Colour, front view, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. Glasses only with clear lenses and no reflections; no hat, cap or headscarf, and a veil only if the whole face is clearly visible.
- In Buenos Aires: For a national visa — a study visa, for example — the Consulate General in Buenos Aires asks for one recent ID-size colour photo on a light background, taken from the front, without dark glasses, reflections or garments hiding the oval of the face. Since September 2025 visa applications in Buenos Aires are handed in at the BLS International centre.
- The photo must be recent: one taken more than 6 months ago is not accepted.
Photograph for a Spanish DNI and residence card (TIE)
32 mm
26 mm
- Source: DNI Electrónico, Spanish National Police
- DNI: A recent colour photo, 32 x 26 mm, on a plain, uniform white background, taken from the front with the head fully uncovered and without dark glasses or anything that hinders identification. It must faithfully show how you look and be no more than 2 years old. Offices equipped for it may take the photo on the spot.
- Head coverings: Allowed for religious or medical reasons only if the oval of the face is fully uncovered from the hairline to the chin (forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth). The forehead must not be covered; the ears need not be visible.
- Glasses: Eyes open; prescription glasses must let the eyes be seen. Dark glasses are accepted only for blind people or those with a serious, long-term eye condition who wear them habitually.
- TIE: The Ministry of the Interior asks for "a recent colour photograph on a white background, ID-card size" for the first card, renewals and duplicates. The generator uses the DNI's 32 x 26 mm.
- Bring the photo printed: it is handed in at the police station appointment.
Photograph for a Spanish driving licence
32 mm
26 mm
- Source: Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT)
- Who takes the photo: Usually not you. When you renew at a driver medical centre (centro de reconocimiento de conductores), the photo is taken there. Since 6 November 2024 the DGT no longer asks for a photo again in procedures where it already holds one.
- When you bring one: When you renew from abroad through a Spanish embassy or consulate, for the reduced-mobility (LCM) and agricultural (LVA) licences, and whenever the DGT asks for a new photo because the one it holds does not meet the requirements.
- Size: An original, recent colour photo, 32 x 26 mm, with a plain background, taken from the front with the head uncovered and without dark glasses or anything that hinders identification.
- Head coverings: A veil worn for religious reasons is accepted if the oval of the face is fully uncovered from the hairline to the chin.
Make your Spain document photo now
Upload a photo and get a compliant 4 × 5.3 cm result in seconds. Free, and the photo never leaves your device.
Make a photo: International passportMake a photo: VisaMake a photo: National passportMake a photo: Residence permitMake a photo: Driving licence
Everything happens in your browser — the photo is never uploaded to a server.