Irish Passport Photo in the US

35 × 45 mm · white background · Department of Foreign Affairs (Passport Service)

$8.99 digital file

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

Rules last checked against Department of Foreign Affairs (Passport Service) on 12 October 2026.

About this photo

An Irish Passport photo from the Department of Foreign Affairs (Passport Service) is 35 by 45 mm, and when you apply through Passport Online the upload must be a JPEG of at least 715 by 951 pixels and no bigger than 9 MB. The background can be white, light grey or cream, provided it is plain and evenly lit. The photo should show you from head to mid torso, with clear space around your head and shoulders, hair off your face and nothing covering it. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed. Ask someone else to take the picture, or prop your phone at eye level, rather than holding it at arm's length.

Photo requirements

Irish Passport photo requirements
Photo size35 × 45 mm
Digital fileJPEG, at least 715 × 951 pixels, up to 8.6 MB, for Passport Online (dfa.ie)
Backgroundwhite, also accepted: light grey, cream
Head size45–55% of the photo height (20–25 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
ExpressionNeutral, mouth closed, eyes open
GlassesAllowed. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.
Head coveringsAllowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.
Head positionFacing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rulesHead to mid torso, with visible space between your head and shoulders and the edge of the photo; Plain light background (white, cream or light grey), evenly lit, no shadows; Look straight at the camera, head straight and centred; Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open; Nothing covering the face; hair off the face; Taken within the last 6 months; Must not be digitally enhanced or altered

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. 1. Take or upload a photo

    Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.

  2. 2. We size and check it

    We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.

  3. 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 Irish Passport photos

What size is an Irish Passport photo?

Irish Passport photos are 35 × 45 mm. The head should fill 45–55% of the photo height (20–25 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does an Irish Passport photo need?

A plain white background (light grey, cream 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 Irish Passport 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 Irish Passport 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 Irish Passport 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 (Passport Service). PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

What file does the online application need?

A digital photo file: JPEG, at least 715 × 951 pixels, up to 8.6 MB, for Passport Online (dfa.ie). Your download is prepared to these settings.

How much does an Irish Passport 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 (Passport Service)

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

Rules last checked against Department of Foreign Affairs (Passport Service) on 12 October 2026.

Related pages

Take my Irish Passport photo