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Spain passport photo size & requirements

Spanish DNI and passport photos use a small 32 x 26 mm format, while EU/Schengen visas use the 35 x 45 mm standard.

Spain uses one of the most unusual photo formats in the world for its national identity card (DNI, Documento Nacional de Identidad) and passport — a landscape-oriented 32 x 26 mm photo. This is significantly smaller than the 35 x 45 mm portrait format used by most of Europe, and it is horizontal rather than vertical, which surprises applicants expecting the standard upright format. The photo is submitted at the Policía Nacional office (Jefatura Provincial de Policía) or at one of the Oficinas de Expedición de Documentación across Spain.

For Schengen visa applications processed by Spanish consulates outside Spain, the standard EU 35 x 45 mm portrait format applies — not the 32 x 26 mm domestic format. This means Spanish nationals applying for their DNI or passport inside Spain need the small landscape format, while foreign nationals applying for a Spanish visa or Schengen visa through Spain need the standard 35 x 45 mm. Spanish photo studios are well aware of this distinction and typically ask which document you are applying for before printing. The background must be plain white for both formats.

Photo size
32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm
Resolution
300 DPI
Head height
Face fills most of the compact frame, front and centred
Background
Plain white
Make my Spanish photo How to print it

Spain passport photo requirements

  • The Spanish DNI and passport photo is an unusually small 32 x 26 mm; EU/Schengen visa photos use 35 x 45 mm.
  • Plain white, uniform background.
  • Front view of the head and the top of the shoulders.
  • Neutral expression with the mouth closed and eyes open.
  • No tinted glasses, hats, or head coverings except for religious reasons.
  • Recent photo with even lighting and no shadows.

Common reasons Spain passport photos get rejected

Even a technically correct photo can be turned away for these issues. They come up repeatedly in official rejection notices.

  • Submitting a 35 x 45 mm portrait photo for a DNI or Spanish passport application — this is the most common mistake, as 35 x 45 mm is the default preset at most international photo services.
  • Background not plain white — even a very light grey, which is acceptable in France or Germany, is not specified for Spanish passport and DNI photos.
  • Photo in the wrong orientation — submitting a portrait photo for the landscape DNI format, or vice versa.
  • Head tilt or rotation — Spanish police officers check facial alignment manually at the document office.
  • Glasses with any glare on the lenses — Spanish biometric processing follows ICAO standards on eye visibility.
  • Photo taken more than six months before the application.

Make your Spain passport photo

Use our free passport size photo maker — select Spain from the country list and it will automatically apply the correct size (32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm) and background settings for you.

Crop, remove background, and download a compliant Spain passport photo — free, no signup, no watermark.

Open Passport Size Photo Maker

Select Spain in the tool to get the exact 32 x 26 mm (Spanish ID/passport); EU visas use 35 x 45 mm preset.

Other countries

United States flag United States 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Albania flag Albania 35 x 45 mm Australia flag Australia 35 x 45 mm Brazil flag Brazil 3 x 4 cm (30 x 40 mm); US visa applications use 2 x 2 in Canada flag Canada 50 x 70 mm China flag China 33 x 48 mm France flag France 35 x 45 mm Germany flag Germany 35 x 45 mm Iceland flag Iceland 35 x 45 mm India flag India 35 x 45 mm (Indian visa & many applications use 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 in) Ireland flag Ireland 35 x 45 mm Italy flag Italy 35 x 45 mm Japan flag Japan 35 x 45 mm Luxembourg flag Luxembourg 35 x 45 mm Malaysia flag Malaysia 35 x 50 mm Netherlands flag Netherlands 35 x 45 mm New Zealand flag New Zealand 35 x 45 mm Nigeria flag Nigeria 35 x 45 mm Norway flag Norway 35 x 45 mm Pakistan flag Pakistan 35 x 45 mm Philippines flag Philippines 35 x 45 mm (Philippine visa applications often use 2 x 2 in) Russia flag Russia 35 x 45 mm Saudi Arabia flag Saudi Arabia 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) Schengen / EU flag Schengen / EU 35 x 45 mm Singapore flag Singapore 35 x 45 mm South Africa flag South Africa 35 x 45 mm South Korea flag South Korea 35 x 45 mm Switzerland flag Switzerland 35 x 45 mm Thailand flag Thailand 35 x 45 mm Turkey flag Turkey 50 x 60 mm United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates 43 x 55 mm United Kingdom flag United Kingdom 35 x 45 mm Vietnam flag Vietnam 4 x 6 cm (40 x 60 mm)