head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of the Interior of Italy — Electronic Identity Card (CIE) portal
Verified
Quick answer: A Italy ID card photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Even background, preferably light blue, beige, light brown, light grey, or white. 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 | Even background, preferably light blue, beige, light brown, light grey, or white. |
| Pose | Full face, no horizontal or vertical tilt; face directed at the lens. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes clearly visible and open. |
| Glasses | Clear lenses only; tinted lenses prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on background and face, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Both earlobes and the entire head with the upper shoulders must be visible. |
| 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 |
The photograph for the Italian electronic identity card (CIE) is set by the Ministry of the Interior, which digitises it on a device at the municipality where the application is registered. The photo is at least 45 mm high and 35 mm wide; if it must be cut, the cut must show the whole face, not rotated, with both earlobes visible, and the photo may not be cropped to remove the background or to straighten the head, nor retouched, coloured or tampered with.
It must be recent — not taken more than six months ago — not folded, stapled, written on or damaged, and printed on high-quality paper. The background is uniform, preferably light blue, beige, light brown, light grey or white; the head and the tops of the shoulders show, with the face taking 70–80 % of the height and the eyes between 23 and 31 mm above the bottom of the frame; only you in the picture, face frontal and not tilted, gaze toward the lens, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
No shadows on the face or background, no flash reflections, natural colours; hair must not cover the eyes, no head covering except for religious, cultural or medical reasons with the face clearly shown, and no glasses with coloured lenses.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Italy ID card photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of the Interior of Italy — Electronic Identity Card (CIE) portal publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo smaller than 45 mm × 35 mm, or cut so that the whole face or both earlobes are not visible | Use at least 45 mm × 35 mm and keep the whole face with both earlobes. |
| A photo older than six months, folded, stapled, written on or retouched | Use a fresh, clean, unretouched print on high-quality paper. |
| A face outside 70–80 % of the height or eyes outside 23–31 mm from the bottom | Frame the face at 70–80 % with the eyes 23–31 mm above the bottom edge. |
| Shadows, flash reflections, a non-uniform background, or unnatural colours | Use even light, a uniform light background and natural colours. |
| A tilted or turned face, an open mouth, hair over the eyes, or glasses with coloured lenses | Face the lens with a neutral expression and clear lenses, if any. |
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 clearly visible and 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.
The electronic identity card (CIE) is requested at a municipality in Italy (or at a consulate abroad), where the photograph is digitised on a device; you bring a printed photo that meets the Ministry of the Interior's specification.
Book through the CIE reservation system of the Ministry of the Interior
Photo of at least 45 × 35 mm, within six months, face 70–80 %, light uniform background.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of the Interior of Italy — Electronic Identity Card (CIE) portal |
|---|---|
| Source | Italian electronic ID card photo capture rules |
| Verified |
Questions
A recent print (not older than six months) of at least 45 mm × 35 mm on high-quality paper, a uniform background (light blue, beige, light brown, light grey or white), the face 70–80 % of the height with the eyes 23–31 mm from the bottom, a neutral expression with the mouth closed, natural colours, no shadows or flash reflections, no coloured lenses.
At least 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, with the face 70–80 % of the height; the page does not state a maximum height.
Yes: the preferred colours are light blue, beige, light brown, light grey or white, uniform and evenly lit, to increase the contrast with the face.
Glasses with coloured lenses are not allowed; clear lenses are, as long as the eyes are clearly visible and there are no reflections.
The Italy ID card photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height. The photo should look like you do day to day.
Yes. Stand against a plain light wall facing a window, and take the photo with a timer or ask someone to help. The tool crops it to size, fixes the background and checks the framing.
Most offices accept a photo taken within the last six months. If your hair, beard or face has changed noticeably since then, 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 Italy authority.
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.