head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Bulgaria passport photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background without shadows or foreign objects. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without shadows or foreign objects. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
For a Bulgarian passport you bring no photograph: the Ministry of the Interior says that «the official accepts the application and the enclosed documents, takes a picture of the face of the person and captures his/her signature», and then gives you a registration tag with the place and the date for receiving the passport. The application is made in person — in Bulgaria at the Bulgarian Identity Documents unit of the Metropolitan Police, the Regional Directorate of the Interior or the local police station of your address, and abroad at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate that is technically equipped, where the officials «take digital pictures of the face and the signature». A child attends with a parent, guardian or custodian.
An electronic application through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' e-services is possible only for a Bulgarian abroad with a qualified electronic signature who holds a document issued after an application in person, with the biometric data captured (the English page writes «within 59 days», while its rule for a proxy says 59 months) and whose names, unique number, sex or nationality have not changed and whose facial image has not changed «substantially or enduringly». A new document must be requested when the facial image has changed significantly or permanently.
No size or background is published, because the picture is taken by the officials.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Bulgaria passport photos get rejected.
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 70–80 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Bulgarian passport is applied for in person at the Bulgarian Identity Documents unit of the police, or at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate abroad, where the official takes the picture of the face and captures the signature.
mvr.bg — Bulgarian personal documents; the Regional Directorate of the Interior or police station of your address
No photo to bring — the official takes the picture of the face.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Source | Bulgarian passport application abroad |
| Verified |
Questions
No: the official takes the picture of your face and captures your signature at the application, in Bulgaria and at consular missions abroad.
The Ministry of the Interior publishes no size or background because the image is taken by the officials; you appear in person, and a child attends with a parent, guardian or custodian.
Only for a Bulgarian national abroad with a qualified electronic signature, who holds a document issued after an application in person with biometric data captured and whose names, sex, nationality and facial image have not changed significantly.
When the document expires or is damaged, lost or stolen, when the names, unique identification number, sex or nationality change, when the facial image changes significantly or permanently, or (ID card) when the address changes.
The recommended size for the Bulgaria passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
Plain light background without shadows or foreign objects. Behind you there should be only a plain wall: no pattern, shadows or objects. Any light wall at home will do — the tool sets the exact background colour.
Most passport offices ask for a photo taken within the last six months. It should look like you today: after a new haircut or beard, take a new one.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the Bulgaria authority — the refund policy page has the details.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. If you keep them on, tilt them slightly downwards by lifting the arms a little above your ears: this usually moves reflections of a window or lamp off the lenses.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.