head 70–80 %
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SourceDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) of Ireland — Employment Permits
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Ireland work permit photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain white or light grey background. 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 white or light grey background. |
| Pose | Full face, head level, looking directly into the camera. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed. |
| Glasses | Sunglasses and heavily tinted glasses prohibited; eyes must be fully visible. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Photo must be sharp, without shadows, creases, or foreign marks. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Photo must reflect current appearance and be recent. |
| 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 |
An Irish employment permit application needs «a passport photo of the Foreign National» uploaded in the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) — for all permit types, on the first page of the employee section, next to the question whether the employee is in the State. The Employment Permits Regulations say the photo must be «the same size and specifications as that provided for an Irish passport», and the Department gives the digital figures: «Width 413 pixels (35 mm), Height 531 pixels (45 mm)» as the minimum, «Width 448 pixels (38 mm), Height 590 pixels (50 mm)» as the maximum, «240 dpi to 300 dpi». The photo «should not be scanned»: applicants are advised «to go to an official photo shop» and get a «Digital File Photo saved in Jpeg format»; each uploaded document must be «less than 5 MB» or the system may reject it. If a file that meets the figures still will not upload, the Department suggests saving it to the desktop and uploading from there; the dimensions and dpi can be checked in the file properties. A copy of the passport page showing the photograph, personal details and signature goes with it — the passport must be valid six months or more after the application date for a new permit, three months or more for a renewal.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Ireland work 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 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) of Ireland — Employment Permits publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A scanned photograph, or a file that is not a JPEG | A digital file photo saved in JPEG format from an official photo shop. |
| An image smaller than 413 × 531 pixels or larger than 448 × 590 pixels, or a resolution outside 240–300 dpi | An image between 413 × 531 and 448 × 590 pixels at 240–300 dpi. |
| A file of 5 MB or more | Each uploaded file under 5 MB. |
| A photograph that does not follow the Irish passport photo rules (the permit refers to them) | A photograph that meets the Irish passport photo specification. |
How to take it
Background: white or light grey
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
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.
An Irish employment permit is applied for online in the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) by the employer or an agent and the employee, with the employee uploading the passport photograph.
enterprise.gov.ie — Employment Permits
The employee uploads the passport photo — digital JPEG, at least 413 × 531 px, 240–300 dpi, under 5 MB.
Authority page| Authority | Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) of Ireland — Employment Permits |
|---|---|
| Source | Irish visa application photograph rules |
| Verified |
Questions
A digital passport photo of the foreign national in the same size and specification as an Irish passport photo, uploaded in the Employment Permits Online System as a JPEG of 413 × 531 pixels at minimum.
Minimum 413 × 531 pixels (35 × 45 mm), maximum 448 × 590 pixels (38 × 50 mm), 240 to 300 dpi, saved as a JPEG, and each uploaded document under 5 MB.
No. The Department says the photo should not be scanned; go to an official photo shop and get a digital file saved in JPEG format.
Check the dimensions and dpi in the file properties, resize it if needed, and if it meets the requirements but still fails, save it to the desktop and upload it from there.
The recommended size for the Ireland work permit photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height. Work permit applications typically use the same biometric standard as Ireland passports.
Sometimes. If your visa or passport photo was taken within the last six months and meets the work permit requirements, reusing it may be acceptable.
Plain white or light grey background. Even, shadow-free lighting is critical because work permits often go through both automated and manual review stages, and any inconsistency between them slows the application.
Most work permit applications accept photos taken within the last six months. Submit a photo that reflects your current appearance because the permit card is checked at workplaces and border crossings throughout its validity period.
No. Uniforms, military or law-enforcement clothing, religious headwear (except for permanent religious exception), or any clothing that obscures the neckline is typically rejected for Ireland work permit photos.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Ireland work permit authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
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.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: visa.