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Italy Passport Photo Guide

For your Italian passport photo, ensure a size of 35mm x 45mm (3.5cm x 4.5cm) with a plain light background. Capture a color photo showcasing you looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression, head-centered and filling 70-80% of the frame. Choose high resolution, avoid filters, and dress in plain attire with contrasting colors. Keep reading to learn more about the full specification of Italian passport photos.

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Here’s the full specification of the Italian passport photo:

  • General requirements
    • Size: 35mm x 45mm (or 3.5cm x 4.5cm). This is the finished size of the printed photo.
    • Color: Color photos only. Black and white photos are not accepted.
    • Quantity: Two identical photos are required.
    • Recent: The photos must be taken within the last 6 months.
    • Background: Plain, white background with no patterns or shadows.
  • Photo quality
    • Focus: The photo must be in sharp focus and clear.
    • Resolution: High resolution (at least 600 dpi) is required for online applications.
    • Printing: Printed on high-quality photo paper.
    • Lighting: Even lighting with no shadows or flash reflections on your face.
    • Red-eye: No red-eye.
  • Your appearance
    • Pose: Looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. No smiling or grimacing.
    • Head size and position: Your head should fill 70-80% of the photo and be centered and squared with the camera.
    • Eyes: Open and visible.
    • Glasses: Only prescription glasses are allowed. The frames should be thin and not cover any part of your eyes. No tinted glasses or sunglasses.
    • Headwear: Headwear is generally not allowed except for religious or medical reasons. If you wear a head covering, it must not obscure your face.
    • Clothing: No specific clothing requirements, but avoid busy patterns or low-cut tops.
  • Additional tips
    • Do not use filters or edit your photos in any way that alters your appearance.
    • If you have long hair, style it away from your face to make your ears visible.
    • Remove any jewelry that is large or distracting.
Italy Passport Photo Guide
Click the photo to view the full-size United States passport photo size infographic.

Visas for Future Passport Photo Service

Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a photo of yourself using our guidelines, send it in, and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.


How it works

Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.

How to take your passport photo

Here’s how you can take passport photos at home, to ensure that they’ll be high quality:

1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.

2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!

3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.

4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.


Benefits of using an online passport photo service

There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:

  1. You don’t have to leave your house.
  2. We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
  3. We validate your photo – we check your passport photo to make sure it is in order.
  4. Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.

Why choose us

Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:

  • Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
  • Convenience: You can upload your photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
  • Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process easier.
  • Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
  • Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.

Tips for Taking a Perfect Italy Passport Photo Using a Smartphone

Preparing the Environment

  • Background: Find a plain, light-colored background like a white wall or sheet. Avoid patterns, shadows, or furniture in the back.
  • Lighting: Use natural light, preferably diffused (facing a window with indirect sunlight). Avoid harsh shadows or using flash.
  • Camera App: Use the native camera app on your phone, avoiding filters or editing tools that alter your appearance.

Capturing the Image

  • Pose & Expression: Stand straight with shoulders relaxed, look directly at the camera, and maintain a neutral expression. No smiling, grimacing, or tilting your head.
  • Head Position: Center your head in the frame, ensuring both ears are visible. Your head size should fill 70-80% of the photo.
  • Clothing: Wear plain, solid-colored clothing that contrasts with the background. Avoid busy patterns, low-cut tops, or uniforms.
  • Accessories: Remove hats, sunglasses, and other headwear unless for religious or medical reasons (with documentation). Large jewelry is also discouraged.

Technical Considerations

  • Resolution: Ensure your camera app is set to high resolution (at least 600 dpi) for clear printing.
  • Focus: Tap the screen where your eyes are to ensure sharp focus.
  • Multiple Takes: Snap multiple photos with slight variations in head position and expression to choose the best one later.

Additional Tips

  • Hair: Style long hair away from your face so ears are visible.
  • Eyes: Open your eyes fully and avoid red-eye.
  • Selfie Stick: Use a tripod or a friend to hold the phone for a stable shot and proper framing.
  • Editing Apps (Optional): After taking the picture, some passport photo editing apps can help adjust the background, size, and format.

Italy Passport photo for kids and babies

Italy’s passport photo requirements for children and babies are generally the same as for adults, with a few specific considerations:

General Requirements

  • Size: 35mm x 45mm (or 3.5cm x 4.5cm).
  • Color: Color photos only.
  • Quantity: Two identical photos.
  • Recent: Taken within the last 6 months.
  • Background: Plain, white background with no patterns or shadows.

For Children:

  • Age 6 and above: Follow the same requirements as adults.
  • Age 3-5: Photos can be taken with the child sitting or standing, as long as their head is properly positioned and fills 70-80% of the frame. Avoid props or toys in the photo.
  • Under 3: Photos can be taken with the child lying down or held by a parent/guardian. Ensure the child’s face is unobstructed, and the parent/guardian’s hands are not visible.

Additional Tips

  • For young children, consider using a white sheet as a background and placing them on a bed or other flat surface.
  • Use natural or diffused indoor lighting to avoid harsh shadows or flash reflections.
  • Capture multiple photos with slight variations in positioning and expression to increase your chances of getting a suitable one.
  • If your child wears glasses, ensure they are prescription; the frames are thin and do not cover any part of their eyes.

Correct and Incorrect Samples of Italy Passport Photos

Steps to get an Italy passport photo Online

Here’s the step-by-step process for obtaining your passport photo through Visas for Future.

Step 1: Visit Visas for Future.

Step 2: Click on Get Passport Photo now

Step 3: Fill out the order form by providing your name, email, phone number, country of residence, and what country you are applying to.

Step 4: Pay the application fee.

Step 5: Upload your photo.

Step 6: Receive your photo in seven days for printed photo service or in 24 hours for digital photo.


Frequently Asked Questions

What do you wear to an Italian passport photo?

For your Italian passport photo, prioritize plain clothes (not uniforms or costumes) you’d wear daily. While there’s no specific shirt color requirement, consider a dark top as it contrasts with the white background and makes your face stand out. Remember, avoid busy patterns, low-cut tops, and anything that obstructs your face (like scarves or hats, unless for religious/medical reasons). Focus on presenting a neat and professional appearance.

Can you go to Italy with a Philippine passport?

Yes, you can go to Italy with a Philippine passport, but you will need to obtain a Schengen visa first.


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Wences Orcales
Written by

Wences has been working home-based for 7 years in the Visa industry. As a content writer in Visas for Future, she makes sure the information she provides is useful for her readers. Once a quarter she does visa fulfillment for Turkey and India visas. She makes sure that clients are satisfied with their orders through customer service. She loves learning new things and hates procrastination.

Glen Vidania
Managed by Glen Vidania

Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.

Glen Vidania
Published by Visas for Future

Visas for Future strives to help you virtually, so that your research is complete in one visit. Our articles are informative, complete and to-the-point. We write in an accessible way, so that non-native English speakers will understand. Our website is accessible for the visually impaired. We have full oversight of our articles and are unbiased in writing. Check our editorial guidelines.

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Cite this article

MLA Style

Orcales, Wences. "Italy Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/italian-passport-photo-guidelines/. Accessed on 20 September 2023.

Chicago Style

Orcales, Wences. "Italy Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 20, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/italian-passport-photo-guidelines/.

Published: 20 Sep 2023 6:45 UTC

Last modified: 23 Feb 2024 13:48 UTC

Reading time: 8 minutes

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