EE Estonia driving license 35x45 mm Application: Photo Guidelines (Step-by-Step)

By AI Assistant 763 words 4 min read

Securing your Estonian driving licence begins with one small but crucial detail: a flawless 35 × 45 mm photo that meets the Police and Border Guard Board’s exacting standards. This image isn’t just a formality—it’s your first impression to authorities and a key element in preventing costly delays or rejections. From head size and facial expression to lighting, background colour and recentness, every criterion is designed to ensure clear identity verification and seamless processing. In the following guidelines, you’ll discover exactly how to capture a compliant photo—whether you’re shooting at home or visiting a professional studio—so your application sails through without a hitch.

Requirements

  • Photo dimensions: must be exactly 35 × 45 mm with no borders or margins
  • Head size: top of hair to bottom of chin should measure 32–36 mm, occupying about 70–80% of photo height
  • Background: plain light grey or white, uniformly lit, without shadows, patterns or objects
  • Frontal view: applicant must face camera directly, head centered and level, with both edges of face visible
  • Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible, no raised eyebrows or exaggerated expressions
  • Lighting & contrast: even lighting across face, no over- or under-exposure, no shadows or glare on face or background
  • Glasses: allowed if worn daily, frames must be slim and non-reflective, lenses clear (no tinted or photochromic), eyes fully visible
  • Head coverings: permitted only for religious reasons, must not obscure hairline, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, cheeks or chin
  • Hair & accessories: hair must not cover eyes or eyebrows; no large headbands, headphones or other non-religious items
  • Photo quality: high resolution (min. 600 dpi), sharp focus, true-to-life skin tones, no digital retouching or filters
  • Recency: taken within the last 6 months to reflect current appearance
  • Print & paper: on high-quality photographic paper with a matte or semi-matte finish, no watermarks or creases

Step-by-Step Process

Content about EE Estonia driving license 35x45 mm Application: Photo Guidelines - process

Tips and Best Practices

  • Correct Dimensions & Framing: ensure the photo is exactly 35×45 mm with your head centered and occupying 70–80% of the frame – avoids automatic rejection for wrong size.
  • Neutral Expression & Natural Appearance: keep a relaxed, closed-mouth expression without exaggerated styling – ensures your identity is clearly recognizable in official records.
  • Even Lighting & No Shadows: use diffuse, frontal light to eliminate shadows on your face and background – prevents contrast issues that may lead to a retake request.
  • Plain, Light-Colored Background: choose a uniformly bright (white, light gray or pale blue) backdrop without patterns or textures – guarantees optimal facial feature detection by authorities.
  • No Reflections or Dark Glasses: remove tinted lenses and angle clear glasses to avoid glare on the eyes – ensures full visibility of your eyes and eyelids for identity verification.

Conclusion

Conclusion:

Ensuring your photo meets Estonia’s 35×45 mm driving license requirements is essential for a smooth application process. Adhere strictly to the following key points:

  • Size and framing: photo must be exactly 35×45 mm with head height 70–80 % of frame• Background: plain, light grey and uniform with no patterns or shadows• Pose and expression: full-face view, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible• Lighting and quality: even illumination, no shadows or reflections, high resolution (600 dpi) with sharp focus• Glasses and headwear: remove tinted glasses and hats; religious head coverings allowed if they don’t obscure the face• Color and printing: true-to-life color, no filters, printed on high-quality, matte or semi-matte paper• Recency: taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance• File specifications (for digital submissions): JPEG format, 2–5 MB, sRGB color space, no compression artifacts

By following these guidelines exactly, you minimize the risk of photo rejection and ensure your Estonia driving license application proceeds without delay.

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