Emergency Travel Certificate Photo in the US

35 × 45 mm · white background · Department of Foreign Affairs

$8.99 digital file

Take my Emergency Travel Certificate photo

Wrong size, background or crop? We fix it free or refund you in full. Refund policy

Rules last checked against Department of Foreign Affairs on 25 October 2026.

About this photo

The Department of Foreign Affairs asks for an Emergency Travel Certificate photo of 35 by 45 mm. Home photos are accepted when they follow the rules, so a well-lit phone picture taken by someone else works. Taken within the last 6 months. Head height from chin to crown is 32 to 36 mm. Applications are made with printed photos, so you need a physical copy rather than an upload. A white or light grey or off-white background is accepted, as long as it is uniform and without pattern. We crop your picture to the Emergency Travel Certificate format, set the background and check the head size before you pay.

Photo requirements

Emergency Travel Certificate photo requirements
Photo size	35 × 45 mm
Background	white, also accepted: light grey, off-white
Head size	71–80% of the photo height (32–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.
Head coverings	Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.
Head position	Facing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rules	Taken within the last 6 months; Irish embassies ask for two to four passport photos with the police report and proof of travel; Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera

Do

Illustration of an accepted photo: neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera on a plain background — Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera

Don't

Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is smiling with teeth showing — No smiling with teeth showing

Illustration of a rejected photo: light reflects off the glasses and hides the eyes — No glare on glasses

Illustration of a rejected photo: a shadow falls across the face and background — No shadows on the face or background

Illustration of a rejected photo: the head is tilted to one side — Do not tilt your head

How it works

1. Take or upload a photo
Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.
2. We size and check it
We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.
3. Download and use it
Pay once, then download the digital file and the print sheet straight away.

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Questions about Emergency Travel Certificate photos

What size is an Emergency Travel Certificate photo?

Emergency Travel Certificate photos are 35 × 45 mm. The head should fill 71–80% of the photo height (32–36 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does an Emergency Travel Certificate photo need?

A plain white background (light grey, off-white is also accepted), with no shadows, patterns or objects. We replace the background for you, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.

Can I wear glasses in an Emergency Travel Certificate photo?

Yes. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.

Can I smile in an Emergency Travel Certificate photo?

No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.

Can I take an Emergency Travel Certificate photo at home?

Usually, yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Check the instructions for your application route, because final acceptance is always decided by Department of Foreign Affairs. PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

How much does an Emergency Travel Certificate photo cost in the US?

$8.99 for the digital file, paid once. It includes a print-at-home sheet you can print at any photo shop.

What if something is wrong with my photo?

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Official source: Department of Foreign Affairs

Read the rules on the authority's website: Department of Foreign Affairs (dfa.ie).