Skip to content

Norway visa and residence permit photo 35 × 45 mm

Updated

Quick answer: This Norway visa and residence permit preset uses 35 × 45 mm with evenly lit background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, see glasses rule. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .

Source-backedOfficial authority link
Free preview€4.99 to download HD
14-day refundIf rejected by authority
Official — generalVerified 2026-05-17
Create visa and residence permit photo — free preview

No registration · result in 60 seconds

100% refund if the authority rejects the photo Refund policy →
Source: Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
Compiled and cited by Yevhen Kravchenko — pending external review Last cited Editorial policy

Photo requirements

Format35 × 45 mm
Head height70–80% of photo height
BackgroundEvenly lit background.
PoseFull face, looking at the lens, head centred.
ExpressionNeutral expression, mouth closed.
GlassesDo not wear glasses; eyes and eyebrows must be fully visible. See full rules →
LightingShadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted.
Head coveringDo not wear head coverings, except for officially permitted religious or special reasons without obscuring the face.
AttireNeutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories.
Digital resolutionCheck the authority portal before digital upload
File formatJPEG · sRGB / 24-bit
File sizeCheck the authority portal before upload

How a visa and residence permit photo is verified

Norway visa / residence permit photos are administered by **UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration / Utlendingsdirektoratet)** in coordination with the Norwegian Police. The format follows the Norwegian biometric standard: 35×45mm with head 34.5mm precise (same as Norwegian passport), head occupying 75-80% (tighter than typical 70-80%). Both ears MUST be visible. Glasses and headgear NOT allowed (no medical exception per Politiet/UDI). Photo can be captured on-site at the police station during application or self-uploaded via the UDI application portal.

Local application route

AuthorityNorwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
SourcePhoto/passport photo
Verified
ConfidenceOfficial — general
What the source confirms
  • UDI says visa and residence applicants normally do not need to bring a photo.
  • Police or foreign-service missions usually take the photo at the appointment.
  • The quality rules require a current facial image in front view.
  • The face and background should be evenly lit, with visible eyes, eyebrows and ears.
  • Glasses and headgear are not accepted except permitted special cases.
Still conservative because
  • The official public source gives quality requirements and capture workflow but not a reusable applicant-supplied print-photo size matrix.

What makes a Norway visa and residence permit photo accepted

One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Norway visa and residence permit applications. The final decision always belongs to Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.

Accepted Compliant Norway visa and residence permit photo example (35 × 45 mm) — centered face, plain background, neutral expression, eyes open, even frontal lighting. Meets Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) biometric requirements.

Compliant Norway visa and residence permit example (35 × 45 mm)

  • Face centred, looking directly into the lens
  • Plain background — no shadow, pattern or texture
  • Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed
  • No glasses, no hair across the face

Top 6 Norway visa and residence permit rejection causes

Rejected Norway visa and residence permit photo example — shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) would reject this for visa and residence permit applications.
Background shadow Norway visa and residence permit: Shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient
Rejected Norway visa and residence permit photo example — visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) would reject this for visa and residence permit applications.
Smile / open mouth Norway visa and residence permit: Visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression
Rejected Norway visa and residence permit photo example — glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) would reject this for visa and residence permit applications.
Glasses with glare Norway visa and residence permit: Glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye
Rejected Norway visa and residence permit photo example — loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) would reject this for visa and residence permit applications.
Hair across the face Norway visa and residence permit: Loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face
Rejected Norway visa and residence permit photo example — eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) would reject this for visa and residence permit applications.
Eyes off-camera Norway visa and residence permit: Eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens
Rejected Norway visa and residence permit photo example — head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) would reject this for visa and residence permit applications.
Head tilted Norway visa and residence permit: Head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal
Current profile Format: 35 × 45 mm Head: 70–80% Background: Evenly lit background.

Prepare your Norway visa and residence permit photo

Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.

How to take a Norway visa and residence permit photo correctly

Background setup

Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall — match Evenly lit background. The gap eliminates shadow on the wall behind you. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with patterned wallpaper or any background colour gradient.

Lighting

Face a large window during daylight hours. Even frontal light prevents shadow under the brow ridge and beside the nose — two of the most common rejection triggers for consular visa applications.

Head position

Look straight at the camera. Keep your head level and centred in the frame. Even a 3–5° tilt is flagged by the consular ICAO alignment check before a human reviewer sees the application.

Shoulder position

Both shoulders square to the camera. Visa photos are biometrically checked against the same reference standard as passports — turned shoulders shift the perceived face centre.

Eyewear

Do not wear glasses; eyes and eyebrows must be fully visible For visa photos, consular pre-screening is particularly strict on glasses glare. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, document this in your application.

Expression

Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open and looking directly at the lens. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no parted lips. Match the expression of someone sitting for an official photograph, not a friendly portrait.

Attire

Deep solid colours photograph cleanest against a light background. Avoid white tops (they merge with the background), uniforms, religious headwear except where permanent and documented, and any large jewellery near the face or neck.

Final check before upload

Verify the photo dimensions match 35 × 45 mm, the head occupies 70–80% of the height, both eyes are clearly visible, and the background matches the rule above. The tool catches most issues automatically but a manual check prevents surprises.

Authority rejection codes

Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.

CodeReasonFix
NO-V-01 Head height not 34.5mm Re-shoot at correct distance
NO-V-02 Ears not visible (hair covering) Re-shoot with hair tucked back
NO-V-03 Glasses worn (no medical exception) Re-shoot without glasses
NO-V-04 Head outside 75-80% of image Re-crop tighter to Politiet spec

Norway-specific things to know

Top reasons Norway visa and residence permit photos get rejected

Frequently asked questions

This Norway visa and residence permit preset uses 35 × 45 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 70–80% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.

Related documents

Compare

Photo rules & guides

Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.