head 70–80 %no glasses
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceNorwegian Police (passport and ID offices) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Norway passport photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Evenly lit background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses prohibited. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Evenly lit background. |
| Pose | Full face, looking at the lens, head centred. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed. |
| Glasses | Do not wear glasses; eyes and eyebrows must be fully visible. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Do not wear head coverings, except for officially permitted religious or special reasons without obscuring the face. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| 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 |
For an ordinary Norwegian passport or ID card the Norwegian Police say plainly: «you must not bring your own photo» — «we take your picture when you arrive for your appointment», everyone, babies and children included, with the same machine and, for a baby, in front of a white screen with the eyes open. The photograph is only your own for an emergency passport (nødpass): «a colour passport photo — taken by a photographer or in a photo booth, in colour, meeting the facial-photo requirements» (the emergency passport costs NOK 1 320 and you apply in person, at the earliest seven days before departure).
The requirements are the ones UDI states for facial photographs in passports and national ID cards: the face as it looks today; both eyes, both eyebrows and both ears entirely visible; the eyes towards the lens; a neutral expression and the mouth closed; the background and the face evenly lit; no glasses and no headgear; photographed from the front, with scarves, bags and outerwear removed. Headgear is allowed only for religious or other special reasons, for example illness, when similar headgear is expected whenever the document is presented, and it must not cover any part of the face, more of the head than necessary, or be so tight that it changes the natural shape of the face.
Because the police take the picture, what you control is your appearance on the day: ears and eyebrows uncovered, glasses off, mouth closed.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Norway passport photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Norwegian Police (passport and ID offices) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Ears or eyebrows covered by hair, a hat or a scarf when the police take the photo | Tuck the hair behind the ears, keep the eyebrows clear and remove scarves and outerwear. |
| Glasses or headgear (without a religious or other special reason) | Take off glasses and headgear before the picture. |
| An open mouth or a non-neutral expression, eyes not towards the lens | Neutral expression, mouth closed, look into the lens. |
| For an emergency passport, a photo that is not in colour or not from a photographer or booth | Bring a colour photograph made by a photographer or in a booth that meets the facial-photo requirements. |
How to take it
Background: evenly lit
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.
Glasses prohibited
Take them off before the shot.
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 glassesTake your glasses off — this document's rules require it.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.
A Norwegian passport is applied for in person at a police passport and ID office after booking an appointment online; the police take the photograph there. An emergency passport needs your own colour photo from a photographer or booth.
politiet.no — find your nearest passport and ID office and book an appointment
Do not bring a photo for an ordinary passport; bring a colour photo for an emergency passport.
Authority page| Authority | Norwegian Police (passport and ID offices) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) |
|---|---|
| Source | Passports and ID cards for Norwegian citizens |
| Verified |
Questions
You bring no photo: the police take it at the appointment. It must show the face as it looks today with both eyes, eyebrows and ears entirely visible, eyes towards the lens, a neutral expression, the mouth closed, even light, and no glasses or headgear (except for religious or other special reasons).
No — for an ordinary passport or ID card the police take your picture at the appointment, babies and children included. For an emergency passport you must bring your own colour photo.
A colour passport photo taken by a photographer or in a photo booth that meets the facial-photo requirements, brought to the appointment; the fee is NOK 1 320.
Glasses are not worn. Headgear is allowed only for religious or other special reasons such as illness, must not cover any part of the face or more of the head than necessary, and must not be so tight that it changes the natural shape of the face.
The recommended size for the Norway passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
Evenly lit 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.
Most passport offices ask for a photo taken within the last six 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 Norway authority — the refund policy page has the details.
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.
Do not wear head coverings, except for officially permitted religious or special reasons without obscuring the face. 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: national ID card, visa and residence permit.