Irish Passport Photo Requirements 2026 – DEASP Rules

Irish passport photos must be 35mm wide and 45mm tall. This is the standard ICAO biometric format used across the European Union and many other countries.

Within that frame, the head — measured from the chin to the crown of the head (not the top of any hair styling) — must occupy 34 to 36mm of the total 45mm height. This means the head takes up roughly 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. If the head is too small or too large within the frame, the photo will be rejected.

The face must be centred horizontally and the eyes should appear approximately halfway down the photo. DEASP photo checkers and the automated validation in the online system both check for these proportions.

The background must be plain white or off-white. No patterns, textures, or colours are acceptable. There must be no shadows on the background — including shadows cast by the subject's head or shoulders. Other people or objects must not be visible in the frame.

A common rejection reason is photographing against a wall that appears white but photographs as a warm cream or grey. If you are taking the photo at home, use a bright white sheet of paper or card as a backdrop and ensure it is evenly lit.

The DEASP requirements specify the following for expression and appearance:

• Neutral expression: Relax your face into a natural, neutral expression. Smiling is not permitted — even a slight smile can distort the shape of the face and cause biometric matching issues.
• Mouth closed: Lips should be gently closed with teeth not visible.
• Eyes open and clearly visible: Both eyes must be open, facing the camera directly, and free from obstruction by hair, glasses frames, or eyebrows.
• No glasses: Glasses are not permitted in Irish passport photos, in line with the ICAO biometric standard. This applies to all types of glasses including prescription, tinted, and sports eyewear.
• Head position: Face the camera directly. The head must not be tilted, turned, or rotated.

Religious head coverings are permitted as long as they do not obscure any part of the face. Medical head coverings follow the same principle, and a supporting letter from a medical professional may be required.

The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must be a true likeness of the applicant at the time of application. A photo taken several years ago — even if it looks like you — will be rejected. This is particularly relevant for children, whose appearance changes rapidly.

Ireland's Online Passport Service, available at passport.gov.ie, accepts digital photo uploads. When applying online, you upload your photo directly as part of the application process instead of submitting printed photos.

The digital photo must meet the same requirements as a printed photo: correct dimensions, white or off-white background, neutral expression, no glasses, and taken within 6 months. The online system performs an automated validation of uploaded photos and will prompt you to re-upload if the photo does not pass.

Technical requirements for the digital upload: JPEG format, minimum 492×640 pixels, maximum file size of 9MB. The system expects a clearly cropped, head-and-shoulders image without borders.

For first-time child passport applications (applicants under 18), a guarantor is required. The guarantor must sign the back of one of the two printed passport photos (or complete the relevant section of the online application) to confirm the photo is a true likeness of the child.

A guarantor must be an Irish citizen, hold a valid Irish passport, and have known the child or the child's parents for at least 2 years. The guarantor cannot be a parent or guardian of the child. They must also be able to provide their own passport number as part of the verification process.

For online applications, the guarantor completes their section electronically rather than signing a physical photo.