head 68–77 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceFinnish Immigration Service (Migri)
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Finland residence permit photo size is 36 × 47 mm. Plain light neutral background without shadows. Head occupies 68–77% of photo height (32–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 36 × 47 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 68–77% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 32–36 mm chin to crown |
| Background | Plain light neutral background without shadows. |
| Pose | Head straight, no tilt, face and eyes directed directly into the camera. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. |
| Glasses | Glasses must not cover the eyes; tinted lenses permitted only for medical reasons. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Even lighting without shadows on face and background, no red eyes. |
| Head covering | Religious, traditional, or medical reasons only; must not cast shadows on the face. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 36 × 47 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.6 × 4.7 cm |
| Inches | 1.42 × 1.85″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 425 × 555 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 850 × 1110 px |
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) says a residence permit application needs a photograph that «must comply with the passport photo guidelines issued by the police» and is «not more than six months old». The appendix form gives the measurements: «47 mm high and 36 mm wide», «the distance between the top of the head without hair and the bottom of the chin 32–36 mm», head straight and in the middle of the photo, shoulders and head turned straight to the camera, a neutral expression and a closed mouth, eyes open and clearly visible, «a plain background, neutral and light, with no shadows», «printed on high-quality photograph paper», sharp, with no scratches, stains or creases, and «no manipulation or retouch». For a child under 11 a smaller head is acceptable if blurring cannot otherwise be avoided, but the head must still be at least 25 mm. Migri adds that you «cannot use in a new application the same photo you used in your previous application», and that you hand in either a paper photo or the «photograph retrieval code» from the photo shop when you visit the service point. A passport photo is needed for a residence permit, a residence card, an alien's passport and a refugee travel document, but not for a citizenship application or an EU registration.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Finland residence permit applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo older than six months, or the same photo that was used in a previous application | A new passport photo taken within the last six months. |
| A photo that is not 47 mm high and 36 mm wide, or a head outside 32–36 mm from the top of the head to the chin | A 36 × 47 mm photo with the head 32–36 mm, straight and in the middle. |
| A turned or tilted head, a portrait-style photo over one shoulder, hair or garments over the face, a smile or open mouth | Head and shoulders straight to the camera, a neutral expression and a closed mouth. |
| A background that is not plain, neutral and light, shadows or hot spots, red eye, tinted glasses without a medical reason | A plain neutral light background, even light, eyes clear. |
| A print that is blurred, grainy, scratched, stained or creased, or a photo that has been manipulated or retouched | A sharp print on high-quality photograph paper, unretouched. |
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: 68–77 % of the photo height (32–36 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 36 × 47 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 and clearly visible
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 | 32 (4 × 8) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Finnish residence permit is applied for in the Enter Finland online service or on paper, and the applicant visits a Migri service point (or a mission abroad) with a passport photo or the photograph retrieval code.
migri.fi — book an appointment at a service point in Finland
Bring a recent passport photo or the photograph retrieval code from the photo shop; not the photo of a previous application.
Authority page| Authority | Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) |
|---|---|
| Source | Finnish passport photograph instructions |
| Verified |
Questions
The Migri appendix form gives 47 mm high and 36 mm wide, with the distance from the top of the head (without hair) to the chin 32–36 mm, in the manner of the police passport photo guidelines.
No. Migri says the photo may not be more than six months old and that the photo of a previous application cannot be used again; the officials can check it, and a reused photo makes processing longer.
Either: add a paper photo or the photograph retrieval code from the photo shop, and bring it to the service point.
No. Migri says a passport photo is not needed for a citizenship application or an EU registration; it is needed for a residence permit, a residence card, an alien's passport and a refugee travel document.
The recommended size for the Finland residence permit photo is 36 × 47 mm. The head occupies 68–77% of the photo height. Submit the photo with your application file or online portal as required by the immigration authority.
Residence permit photos often have stricter recency requirements than passport photos because the permit is tied to an active legal status. Submit a photo taken within the last three months where possible, even if the authority allows up to six months.
Plain light neutral background without shadows. The wall behind you must be evenly lit with no shadows. Patterns typically trigger automated pre-screening rejection at the immigration submission portal.
Usually no. Even when dimensions match, residence permit applications require a fresh photo that reflects your current appearance at the time of application. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause.
If hair, beard, weight or facial features have changed noticeably, take a new photo. The immigration reviewer compares the photo to your current appearance during the in-person submission or biometric appointment.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Finland immigration authority rejects the photo and you supply the official rejection notice.
36 × 47 mm = 3.6 × 4.7 cm = 1.42 × 1.85 inches. At 300 dpi that is 425 × 555 pixels; at 600 dpi, 850 × 1110 pixels.
Religious, traditional, or medical reasons only; must not cast shadows on the face. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 36 × 47 mm format and head size apply to: driver's license, EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, ID card, national visa (Type D), passport.