head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceDepartment of National ID and Civil Registration (DoNIDCR), Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Nepal ID card photo size is 24 × 30 mm. Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 24 × 30 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. |
| Pose | Strictly full face, head without rotation or tilt, shoulders level. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, shoulders visible, without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 24 × 30 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 2.4 × 3 cm |
| Inches | 0.94 × 1.18″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 283 × 354 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 567 × 709 px |
For the Nepali National Identity Card the Department of National ID and Civil Registration lists the biometric details — «fingerprints (10 fingers), the iris of the eyes, the photograph, the electronic signature» — which the Department collects. Asked whether one may be photographed wearing «cosmetic makeup, a hat, a burqa or other items or jewellery», the Department answers that under «section 16 (c) and (d) of the National Identity Card Procedure 2078» it is not allowed: «with such items or ornaments a photograph of the size and quality of the international standard cannot be taken, and the face and features may become unclear», so the photograph «must be taken without any cosmetic makeup, hat, burqa or other items or ornaments». The form is filled in on the Department's website (donidcr.gov.np) following the instructions given there, and the biometric details are collected by the Department. The Department publishes no size, background or head size for the photograph.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Nepal ID card 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 National ID and Civil Registration (DoNIDCR), Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph taken wearing cosmetic makeup | A photograph without makeup. |
| A hat, a cap or a burqa in the photograph | A bare head, with the face clearly visible. |
| Jewellery or ornaments that make the face or features unclear | No jewellery or ornaments in the photograph. |
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 24 × 30 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″ | 20 (5 × 4) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 84 (7 × 12) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
The Nepali National Identity Card is applied for by filling in the online form on the Department's website; the Department collects the biometric details — ten fingerprints, the iris, the photograph and the electronic signature.
donidcr.gov.np
The photograph is one of the biometric details collected: no makeup, hat, cap, burqa or jewellery.
Authority page| Authority | Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DoNIDCR), Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal |
|---|---|
| Source | ICAO biometric portrait baseline |
| Verified |
Questions
The Department's page asks for no print: the photograph is one of the biometric details it collects, and it expects a photograph of international-standard size and quality.
No — under section 16 (c) and (d) of the National Identity Card Procedure 2078 no cosmetic makeup, hat, burqa, cap or other items or jewellery are allowed.
Ten fingerprints, the iris of the eyes, the photograph and the electronic signature.
The recommended size for the Nepal ID card photo is 24 × 30 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height. The photo must reflect your current everyday appearance.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. Identity cards are used frequently in daily life — for banking, age verification and domestic travel — so the photo is scrutinised many times and minor background issues become more visible at print scale.
Yes. Stand against a flat light-coloured wall, face a window for even natural light, and use a phone with a timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and ICAO alignment check automatically.
Identity card photos generally need to reflect your current appearance. Most authorities accept photos taken within the last six months, but significant changes to hair, beard or facial features since the photo was taken may require a new one.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. Removing glasses for the shoot is the safest option, especially given the long validity period of most identity cards. Glare that passes today may fail re-verification at a future biometric checkpoint.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Nepal authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
24 × 30 mm = 2.4 × 3 cm = 0.94 × 1.18 inches. At 300 dpi that is 283 × 354 pixels; at 600 dpi, 567 × 709 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.