head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Verified
Quick answer: A Estonia document photo must be 40 × 50 mm. Plain light background without foreign objects or patterns. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 40 × 50 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without foreign objects or patterns. |
| Pose | Full face, looking directly into the camera. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, no smile, mouth closed. |
| Glasses | Lenses must not be tinted or reflective; frame must not cover the eyes. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No overexposure, underexposure, defects, or unnatural colours. |
| Head covering | No head coverings or headphones, except for officially permitted religious cases. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| Digital resolution | 1300 × 1600 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | min 1024 KB · max 5 MB Compress photo to 2 MB — Estonia document → |
| Millimetres | 40 × 50 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 4 × 5 cm |
| Inches | 1.57 × 1.97″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 472 × 591 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 945 × 1181 px |
Estonia document photos (passport, ID card, residence permit) are administered by PPA (Police and Border Guard Board). The format is 40×50mm — same unique larger size as Estonian visa photo.
Background plain grey. Digital files: minimum 1300×1600 px, JPEG 1-5MB file size (high resolution requirement). Estonia's digital state ecosystem is among most advanced — most photos submitted electronically through e-residency / mobile-ID workflows.
PPA also issues Resident digital identity card with specific 1300×1600 px digital photo spec.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Estonia document photos get rejected.
Common reasons a document photo is rejected, checked against the requirements Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photo not 40×50mm | Reprint at Estonian standard |
| Digital file under 1MB | Re-encode at higher quality |
| Pixel dimensions under 1300×1600 | Resize to PPA minimum |
| Background not plain grey | Re-shoot against grey backdrop |
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 40 × 50 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, no smile, mouth closed
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″ | 6 (3 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 28 (4 × 7) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia |
|---|---|
| Source | Photo requirements 2024 PDF |
| Verified |
Questions
All requirements are in the table above. Format: 40 × 50 mm. Head height: 70–80%. Plain light background without foreign objects or patterns.
Yes. A phone and a light wall near a window are enough; shoot without flash, using a timer or with someone’s help. The tool crops the photo, fixes the background and checks it against the rules.
Lenses must not be tinted or reflective; frame must not cover the eyes. If you keep them on, check that there are no reflections on the lenses.
Most offices ask for a photo taken within the last six months. Take a new one if your appearance has changed.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the Estonia authority.
40 × 50 mm = 4 × 5 cm = 1.57 × 1.97 inches. At 300 dpi that is 472 × 591 pixels; at 600 dpi, 945 × 1181 pixels.
No head coverings or headphones, except for officially permitted religious cases. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 40 × 50 mm format and head size apply to: consular, EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, ID card, passport, residence card for family member of an EU citizen.