head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceIdentità Malta (Passport Office)
Verified
Quick answer: A Malta passport photo must be 30 × 40 mm. Plain white background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 30 × 40 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain white background. Make photo background white — Malta passport → |
| 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. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 30 × 40 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3 × 4 cm |
| Inches | 1.18 × 1.57″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 354 × 472 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 709 × 945 px |
For a Maltese passport Identità Malta photographs most adults at the Passport Office — the facial image, fingerprints and signature are captured live — so printed photographs are required only for minors under fourteen, for people who do not hold a valid Maltese e-ID card because they do not live in Malta, and for applicants who cannot call in person because of health, old age or sickness. When you do bring them, «if the photos do not meet the said requirements, then the application will be considered incomplete or completely turned down», and the photos «are kept for record purposes and are not returned».
The photo is 40 mm high × 30 mm wide (1.58 × 1.18 inch), in colour on a plain white background, printed on non-glossy photo-quality paper in high resolution, not older than six months — two identical photos where two are asked. It shows a close-up of the head and the top of the shoulders, the face taking 70–80 % of the height, centred and upright, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression, eyes open and clear, mouth closed, both edges of the face visible, with uniform light and no shadows, reflections or red eyes. Glasses must show the eyes with no reflection and no tint (dark glasses only with a medical certificate); head coverings are accepted only where the competent authority approves — religious, medical or cultural reasons — with a signed statement that a religious item is worn daily, and the face fully visible. Only original photographs are accepted: copied or scanned photos are not, and neither is any digital alteration or retouching; a minor is the only person in the picture, with no chair backs or toys visible.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Malta passport photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Identità Malta (Passport Office) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that does not meet the requirements — Identità says the application is then incomplete or turned down | Print 30 × 40 mm on non-glossy photo paper in colour on a plain white background, within six months. |
| A dark, busy or patterned background, shadows or reflections on the face, red eyes | A plain white background with uniform light and no reflection. |
| A smile, frown, raised eyebrows, a tilted or off-centre head, a face outside 70–80 % of the height | A neutral expression, upright centred head, the face at 70–80 % of the height. |
| A hat or dark glasses, tinted lenses, reflections in glasses, a head covering without approval or a covered face | No hat or dark glasses; clear lenses without reflection; a religious covering only with approval and a signed statement. |
| A copied or digitally scanned print, a digitally altered or retouched photo, a glossy, textured or slot-machine print | Hand in an original unretouched print on non-glossy photo-quality paper. |
How to take it
Background: plain white
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 30 × 40 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″ | 10 (5 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 49 (7 × 7) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Maltese passport is applied for in person at the Passport Office, where the facial image, fingerprints and signature are captured; printed photographs are needed only for minors under 14, people without a valid Maltese e-ID card and people who cannot attend.
identita.gov.mt — Passport Office
Printed photo 30 × 40 mm colour on white, within six months, only for minors under 14, non-residents and applicants who cannot attend.
Authority page| Authority | Identità Malta (Passport Office) |
|---|---|
| Source | Malta passport office photograph guidance |
| Verified |
Questions
40 mm × 30 mm in height and width, in colour on a plain white background, on non-glossy photo-quality paper, not older than six months, the face 70–80 % of the height, centred, neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, no hat or tinted glasses, no retouching.
Only for minors under fourteen, people who do not hold a valid Maltese e-ID card because they do not live in Malta, and applicants who cannot call in person; everyone else is photographed at the Passport Office.
40 mm × 30 mm (1.58 × 1.18 inch) in height and width, a close-up of the head and the top of the shoulders.
No: only original photographs are accepted, copied or digitally scanned photos are not, and photos must not be digitally altered or retouched.
The Malta passport photo must be 30 × 40 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height.
Plain white background. 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.
Yes. A phone and a light wall near a window are enough. The rear camera is sharper than the front one, so ask someone to take the photo or use a 3-second timer. The tool crops it to size, fixes the background and checks it against the Malta passport photo rules.
For this document the photo must be no older than 6 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 Malta 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.
30 × 40 mm = 3 × 4 cm = 1.18 × 1.57 inches. At 300 dpi that is 354 × 472 pixels; at 600 dpi, 709 × 945 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 30 × 40 mm format and head size apply to: EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, residence card for family member of an EU citizen.