ES Spain passport 32x26 mm Photo Requirements Guide - Official Guidelines

Requirements

• Dimensions: exactly 32 mm wide × 26 mm high printed on high-quality photo paper with no borders
• Head size: distance from chin to crown between 25 mm and 35 mm (occupying about 70 – 80% of photo height)
• Background: plain white or off-white with no shadows, patterns or objects visible
• Facial expression: neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible, looking straight at the camera
• Lighting: even, diffuse lighting with no shadows on face or background and no red-eye or glare
• Glasses: remove if possible; if worn they must be clear, non-tinted lenses with no frame reflections and eyes fully visible
• Head coverings: only for religious reasons, must not obscure any facial features and forehead must remain visible
• Color and quality: natural skin tones, sharp focus, correct exposure, no filters, retouching, stamps, borders or digital artifacts
• Recency: photo must be taken within the last six months reflecting current appearance
• Paper finish: smooth matte or glossy photo paper with uniform surface and no creases or tears
• Digital file (if applicable): JPEG format, minimum 600 × 800 pixels at 300 dpi, file size under 200 KB with minimal compression
• Orientation & framing: full face centered vertically and horizontally, head straight and eyes on a horizontal line approximately 50 – 66% from the bottom of the photo

Step-by-Step Process

• Prepare your equipment and workspace: use a high-resolution digital camera (minimum 8 MP) mounted on a tripod and choose a plain white or light-gray backdrop in a well-lit room to eliminate shadows.
• Adjust camera settings: set focal length to around 50 mm (to prevent facial distortion), ISO 100–200, shutter speed ≥1/125 s, aperture f/8–f/11 for sharp focus and consistent lighting.
• Position the subject: seat them 1–5 m from the background and 5–2 m from the camera, ensuring the camera lens is at their eye level for a straight-on, full-face view.
• Instruct on appearance and expression: remove glasses and hats (unless for approved religious reasons), keep a neutral expression with eyes open and closed mouth, hair off the face, and no heavy makeup or jewellery.
• Frame and capture the shot: ensure the head (hair included) occupies 75–85% of the 32 × 26 mm frame (24–30 mm from chin to crown) and the eye line sits 12–14 mm from the bottom edge; take multiple photos to secure one perfect image.
• Select the best image: choose a sharply focused, evenly lit photo with natural skin tone, no red-eye, no reflections, and a uniform background without shadows or objects.
• Crop and resize accurately: using image-editing software, crop to exactly 32 × 26 mm (26 × 02 in) at 600 dpi, verify head and eye measurements, and avoid any digital retouching that alters your natural appearance.
• Print on approved photo paper: use high-quality matte or semi-matte photographic paper less than six months old, print in color at 600 dpi, and trim with sharp scissors—no borders or perforations.
• Perform a final compliance check: measure the print with a ruler, confirm dimensions, head height, eye line, background uniformity, and overall quality before submission to prevent rejection.

Tips and Best Practices

• Proper Head Positioning: Center your face so it fills 70–80% of the 32×26 mm frame with correct margins to avoid cropping errors that lead to photo refusal
• Uniform Background: Use a plain light-grey or white backdrop without shadows or patterns to prevent rejection for non-compliant backgrounds
• Neutral Expression and Gaze: Keep a relaxed, closed-mouth expression and look straight at the camera to meet Spain’s no-smile, direct-gaze rule and avoid retakes
• Even Lighting and No Shadows: Illuminate from the front with diffused light to eliminate facial shadows or glare, which are common reasons for photo disqualification
• Glasses and Headgear Rules: Remove glasses or ensure no glare/reflection; only wear religious head coverings that don’t obscure the face to comply with visibility regulations and avoid delays

Conclusion

In conclusion, adhering precisely to Spain’s 32 × 26 mm passport photo specifications ensures smooth application processing and avoids costly delays:

• Photo dimensions: 32 mm high × 26 mm wide on a plain light grey or white background
• Head position: centered, facing camera, occupying 70–80 % of photo height (approx. 24–26 mm from chin to crown)
• Expression & eyes: neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully visible and level
• Lighting & quality: even, shadow-free lighting; high resolution (minimum 600 dpi), sharp focus, natural skin tones
• No obstructions: no headwear (except for religious reasons), no glasses or tinted lenses, no hair across forehead or eyes
• Digital file specs: JPEG format, 250–500 KB file size, true color, no filters or edits

By following these key points step-by-step, applicants can be confident their photo meets Spain’s strict requirements—and that their passport application will proceed without photo-related setbacks.