RU Moscow social card 3x4 cm Photo Requirements Guide - Official Guidelines

Requirements

• Photo dimensions: exactly 30×40 mm (3×4 cm) with sharp edges and no borders
• Head size and position: head height 28–32 mm (chin to crown) centered horizontally and vertically
• Top margin: 3–5 mm of space from the top edge of the photo to the top of the hairline
• Background: plain light color (white or light gray), uniformly lit, free of shadows or patterns
• Pose and expression: full-face view, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking straight at camera
• Lighting: even frontal lighting with no glare, reflections or shadows on the face or background
• Eyes and eyewear: eyes fully visible, no tinted or reflective glasses; medically necessary frames allowed if they don’t obscure eyes
• Head covering: permitted only for religious reasons, must not cast shadows or obscure any facial features
• Photo quality: high-resolution color print with natural skin tones, no retouching, printed on smooth matte or glossy photo paper without creases or marks
• Photo age and quantity: taken within the last 6 months, submit two identical prints

Step-by-Step Process

• Understand official requirements: Review the Moscow social card photo specs on the City Services portal—ensure 3×4 cm dimensions (30×40 mm), head height 70–80% of frame, neutral gray or white background, color print on matte paper, no retouching.
• Prepare shooting environment: Set up a plain light-gray or white wall at least 5 m behind subject, position two soft light sources at 45° angles to eliminate shadows on face and background, use a tripod-mounted camera at subject’s eye level.
• Subject styling and positioning: Ask the applicant to remove hats, head coverings (unless for religious reasons), heavy jewelry and tinted glasses, tie back long hair, adopt a neutral expression with closed mouth, eyes open and looking directly at camera.
• Capture the photo: Use a digital camera with 8 MP+ sensor or smartphone in “portrait” mode, set resolution to ≥300 dpi, disable flash red-eye reduction, fill the frame so head and shoulders occupy 70–80%, maintain 5 m distance, take 2–3 shots to choose the sharpest.
• Edit and crop to size: Import image into photo software, crop exactly to 30×40 mm at 300 dpi, ensure head height is 21–28 mm, adjust only color balance and exposure to match natural skin tones, do not apply filters or smoothing.
• Print and quality-check: Print on high-quality matte photo paper at 600 dpi, confirm true-to-size measurement with a ruler, verify no creases, dust or ink streaks, check background uniformity and absence of reflections.
• Attach and submit: Affix the printed photo to the application form in the indicated box, write full name and application number lightly on the back in pencil, double-check placement is straight and fully within borders before submitting at the Moscow social services office.

Tips and Best Practices

• Exact dimensions: ensure the photo is trimmed to exactly 30×40 mm with a tolerance of ±1 mm—cropping errors or printing at 29×39 mm will trigger automatic rejection.
• Correct head size: position the head (chin to crown) at 28–32 mm tall so it fills 70–80% of the frame—too small or too large makes facial features unreadable to automated systems.
• Even white background: use a plain, matte white backdrop with no shadows or textures—uneven lighting or grey patches can cause your photo to be declined.
• No glasses glare: either remove eyeglasses or angle lighting to eliminate reflections—glare obscures your eyes and breaches ID-photo rules.
• High-quality print: use professional 600 dpi lab printing on matte photo paper—low-resolution home prints often blur fine details and lead to disqualification.

Conclusion

In summary, a compliant 3×4 cm Moscow social card photo ensures a smooth application process and prevents delays or rejections. Adhering to these precise specifications guarantees your image meets all official standards:

• Photo dimensions: exactly 30 × 40 mm
• Head size & position: face height 70–80 % of frame, centered, eyes level
• Background: uniform light (white or light gray), no shadows or patterns
• Expression: neutral with closed mouth, eyes open and clearly visible
• Glasses & accessories: no tinted lenses or frame reflections; head coverings only for verified religious reasons
• Hair & face visibility: no hair across eyes; full face unobstructed from chin to crown
• Photo quality: high resolution, true-to-life colors, printed on matte or glossy paper without creases
• Recency: taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance