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🇮🇹 Italy Passport Photo Online

Italian passports are issued by the Polizia di Stato, which publishes the photo rules on its own passport page and backs them up with an illustrated leaflet showing accepted and refused examples side by side. The stated format is 35 by 45 mm, and Italy expresses the framing as a proportion rather than a fixed measurement: your face must cover 70 to 80 percent of the picture from the base of the chin to the forehead, which lands at roughly 32 to 36 mm.

Italy asks for a white backdrop under even light, which sets it apart from France, where white is forbidden, and from the light grey convention common in German studios. The photograph has to be in colour, no older than six months, sharp, and printed on high quality photographic paper. The expression is neutral with the lips closed and the eyes open and uncovered, and you must be alone in the shot, which matters most for infants since a supporting hand or the back of a chair appearing behind the child is enough to fail the picture.

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Italy Passport Photo Online requirements

Official specification: 35 x 45 mm

Dimensions35 x 45 mm
Head height32 to 36 mm (chin to crown)
BackgroundWhite, under even lighting, with no shadow behind the head.
Issuing authorityPolizia di Stato, Ministero dell'Interno; abroad, Italian consulates under the Ministero degli Affari Esteri
GlassesPermitted if no glare

Photo rules

Common reasons photos get rejected

How SnapIDs gets it right

Most rejections come from the wrong head size, a bad background, or glare. SnapIDs solves this before you even take the shot. A live coach checks your distance, centering, head angle, eyes, expression and lighting in real time, and only captures when every check passes. The photo is then framed mathematically to the exact 35 x 45 mm specification, and the background is cleaned to a compliant white, while your face is never altered.

Frequently asked questions

What size is an Italian passport photo?

35 mm by 45 mm according to the Polizia di Stato. The face must cover 70 to 80 percent of the photo measured from the base of the chin to the forehead, which is around 32 to 36 mm of head height.

Does an Italian passport photo need a white background?

Yes. The Polizia di Stato requires a white background with uniform lighting and no shadow behind the head. This differs from France, where a white background is refused, so a photo taken to French rules will not pass in Italy.

Can I wear glasses for an Italian passport photo?

Yes, if the lenses are clear and unreflective and the frame covers no part of the eyes. The official guidance suggests choosing a lighter frame over a heavy one, and if flash glare on the lenses cannot be avoided you should be photographed without them.

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