RU Moscow social card 3x4 cm Photo - Top Mistakes to Avoid

Requirements

• Incorrect dimensions: photo must be exactly 3×4 cm—cropping or printing at any other size will cause rejection
• Improper background: background must be plain light gray or white with no gradients, patterns, shadows, or objects
• Off-center head: head (top of hair to chin) must occupy 70–80 % of frame height and be centered horizontally and vertically
• Tilted or turned head: face must be square to the camera with both eyes level—no tilting forward, backward, or to the sides
• Eyes not visible: eyes must be fully open and clearly visible—no hair, glare, or heavy frames obscuring them
• Expression other than neutral: mouth closed, lips relaxed, no smile, frown, or raised eyebrows—neutral natural expression only
• Glasses glare or tinted lenses: glasses are discouraged—if worn, frames must be thin, no reflections, no tinted or dark lenses, eyes fully visible
• Shadows and uneven lighting: lighting must be uniform on face and background—no shadows, hot spots, or over-/under-exposure
• Headwear and accessories: only religious head coverings allowed, must not obscure hairline or cast shadows; no headphones, scarves, or fashion hats
• Retouching and filters: no digital alterations, filters, or blemish removals—photo must represent true likeness, skin tone, and texture
• Low resolution or poor print quality: photo must be high resolution (at least 600 dpi) with sharp focus, no pixelation, noise, or printing artifacts
• Outdated photo: must be taken within the last 6 months to reflect current appearance—old or significantly changed images will be refused

Step-by-Step Process

• Choose a certified photo studio: use a studio accredited for Russian ID photos to guarantee correct lighting, backdrop and equipment calibrated for passport-style photos
• Specify exact size and resolution: insist on a 3×4 cm print at 300 dpi (minimum 354×472 pixels digital) in JPEG sRGB to meet Moscow social card standards
• Ensure a uniform light background: require a plain white or light gray backdrop with no shadows or patterns by using two-point lighting to avoid automatic rejection
• Position face centrally with proper proportions: ask that the head occupies 70–80 % of frame height (21–28 mm), with 2–3 mm margin above hairline to align with biometric guidelines
• Maintain neutral expression and direct gaze: keep mouth closed, eyes open, no tilt or turn to ensure consistency with facial recognition software
• Remove accessories and adjust attire: no hats, scarves, tinted glasses or large earrings; wear dark, plain clothing for clear contrast against the background
• Verify photo print quality on matte paper: confirm there are no creases, ink spots or gloss reflections that can interfere with scanning or lamination
• Scan and inspect digital copy at 1:1 scale: measure dimensions in an image editor to confirm 3×4 cm output and check for any cropping errors before upload
• Name and format file correctly: save as “Surname_GivenName.jpg” under 200 KB with no spaces or Cyrillic characters to comply with the online application portal
• Perform a final checklist review: compare both printed and digital versions against the official sample, check against Moscow social card requirements and reprint immediately if any discrepancy is found

Tips and Best Practices

• Wrong Photo Size: using anything other than exact 3×4 cm dimensions leads to automatic rejection because the card reader won’t accept mismatched prints
• Non-Uniform Background: using shadows, patterns or colored walls violates the plain light-colored backdrop rule and makes facial recognition unreliable
• Incorrect Head Proportion: placing the head too large, small, high or low breaks the 70–80% head-to-photo-height guideline and causes processing delays
• Inappropriate Expression or Accessories: smiling, tilting the head or wearing hats/glasses hides key facial features and fails the neutral-expression, no-headgear requirement
• Blurry or Low-Resolution Image: submitting a grainy or pixelated print prevents machine and human checks from verifying identity, resulting in photo rejection

Conclusion

In summary, a compliant 3×4 cm Moscow social card photo hinges on precision and consistency. By avoiding common pitfalls—incorrect sizing, background issues, improper head positioning, and subpar image quality—you ensure smooth processing and approval.

Key Mistakes to Avoid:

• Incorrect dimensions: photo must be exactly 3×4 cm with 70–80% head height
• Non-uniform background: require plain, light gray or white without shadows
• Improper head position: face centered, eyes 5–5 cm from bottom edge
• Expression errors: maintain a neutral face with closed mouth and visible ears
• Outdated images: use photos taken within the last six months
• Unauthorized head coverings/glasses: no tinted lenses or non-religious headgear
• Poor lighting/contrast: avoid shadows, glare, overexposure or underexposure
• Excessive editing: no retouching, filters, or digital artifacts
• Low resolution/quality: print at ≥600 dpi and scan at ≥300 dpi without compression
• Incorrect file format/size: submit JPEG or PNG per official specifications