Iceland passport photo size & requirements
Icelandic passport photos are 35 x 45 mm with a plain light background and the head filling 70–80% of the frame.
Iceland issues its biometric passports through the Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands) and the Icelandic Police (Lögreglan). The photo standard follows the EU/ICAO biometric format — 35 x 45 mm with the face filling 70–80% of the frame — which Iceland adopted as part of its alignment with EU travel document standards under the Schengen Agreement. Iceland is not an EU member, but it is a full Schengen member, so its passport and ID documentation meets the same biometric requirements as EU states.
Icelandic passport applications can be submitted at any district commissioner's office (sýslumaður) or police station across the country. For online services and renewals, the Þjóðskrá portal is used. One practical note specific to Iceland: the country has one of the smallest populations in the world, and local passport offices are small and handle photos personally. Officers will visually check your photo before accepting the application, so borderline photos that might pass an automated system elsewhere may be queried here.
- Photo size
- 35 x 45 mm
- Resolution
- 300 DPI
- Head height
- Head fills 70–80% of the frame; face from chin to crown roughly 32–36 mm
- Background
- Plain light grey or white
Iceland passport photo requirements
- Photo must be 35 x 45 mm, meeting the Icelandic biometric standard.
- Plain light-grey or white background with no patterns or shadows.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera.
- Head centred in the frame with the face filling 70–80% of the photo height.
- No sunglasses, tinted lenses, or heavy jewellery obscuring the face.
- Head coverings only for documented religious or medical reasons, with the full face visible.
- Recent photo taken within the last six months.
Common reasons Iceland passport photos get rejected
Even a technically correct photo can be turned away for these issues. They come up repeatedly in official rejection notices.
- Background not uniformly light grey or white — Icelandic passport offices apply the same biometric background checks as other Schengen states, and home photos against textured walls are a recurring problem.
- Head size outside 70–80% of the frame height — the face must be well-proportioned within the 35 x 45 mm crop, and photos with too much headroom above the crown are frequently returned.
- Eyes not fully open or partially obscured by hair — the Schengen biometric standard specifically requires both pupils to be fully visible.
- Photo taken with flash that creates red-eye or visible skin glare.
- Photo not taken within the last six months — Icelandic officials compare the photo to the applicant in person, and a significant change in appearance will result in a request for a new photo.
Make your Iceland passport photo
Use our free passport size photo maker — select Iceland from the country list and it will automatically apply the correct size (35 x 45 mm) and background settings for you.
Crop, remove background, and download a compliant Iceland passport photo — free, no signup, no watermark.
Select Iceland in the tool to get the exact 35 x 45 mm preset.
Other countries
United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) 
Albania 35 x 45 mm 
Australia 35 x 45 mm 
Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in 
Canada 50 x 70 mm 
China 33 x 48 mm 
France 35 x 45 mm 
Germany 35 x 45 mm 
India 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in) 
Ireland 35 x 45 mm 
Italy 35 x 45 mm 
Japan 35 x 45 mm 
Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm 
Malaysia 35 x 50 mm 
Netherlands 35 x 45 mm 
New Zealand 35 x 45 mm 
Nigeria 35 x 45 mm 
Norway 35 x 45 mm 
Pakistan 35 x 45 mm 
Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) 
Russia 35 x 45 mm 
Saudi Arabia 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) 
Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm 
Singapore 35 x 45 mm 
South Africa 35 x 45 mm 
South Korea 35 x 45 mm 
Spain 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm 
Switzerland 35 x 45 mm 
Thailand 35 x 45 mm 
Turkey 50 x 60 mm 
United Arab Emirates 43 x 55 mm 
United Kingdom 35 x 45 mm 
Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)