head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceWielkopolska Province Office in Poznań (Department for Foreigners), Poland
Verified
Quick answer: A Poland residence permit photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background; colour photo not older than 6 months. 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 | Plain light background; colour photo not older than 6 months. |
| Pose | Full face, no rotation or tilt; eye line parallel to the top of the photo. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | No tinted glasses; eyes and pupils must be clearly visible. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Good sharpness, no shadows, overexposure, or digital retouching. |
| Head covering | No head covering, unless permitted by the applicable official rules. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| Digital resolution | Minimum 684 × 883 px |
| File format | JPG |
| File size | max 2.5 MB Compress photo to 2 MB — Poland residence permit → |
| 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 Wielkopolska Province Office in Poznań (Department for Foreigners) says a residence permit application needs photographs that are «undamaged, in colour and of good quality, 35 mm × 45 mm, taken no earlier than 6 months before the date of submitting the application», showing the face from the top of the head to the upper shoulders so that it occupies 70–80 % of the photograph, against a uniform light background, looking straight ahead, eyes open and visible, hair not covering the face, a natural expression and a closed mouth, with the natural skin tone; «the eyes, especially the pupils, must be clearly visible and the eye line parallel to the upper edge». From 27 April 2026 an application submitted electronically must include a JPG file of that photograph — at least 684 × 883 pixels (width × height), at most 2.5 MB, in the proportions of a 35 × 45 mm photograph. A paper application for some temporary permits granted to a foreigner staying abroad needs four photographs. A head covering worn by the rules of a religion is allowed if the face is fully visible, with a statement confirming membership of the religious community (a template is available on the office page).
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Poland residence permit photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Wielkopolska Province Office in Poznań (Department for Foreigners), Poland publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that is not 35 × 45 mm, not in colour, damaged, or taken more than six months before the application | A colour photo of 35 × 45 mm, undamaged, taken in the last six months. |
| A face outside 70–80 % of the height, an eye line not parallel to the top edge, pupils not clearly visible, hair over the face | Head to upper shoulders with the face at 70–80 %, level eyes, pupils clear, hair off the face. |
| A background that is not uniform and light, a smile or open mouth, an unnatural skin tone | A uniform light background, natural expression, mouth closed, true skin tone. |
| An online file that is not a JPG, is smaller than 684 × 883 pixels or larger than 2.5 MB, or is not in 35:45 proportions | A JPG of at least 684 × 883 pixels, at most 2.5 MB, in 35:45 proportions. |
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 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.
A Polish residence permit is applied for at the voivodeship office of your place of stay, on paper or electronically (from 27 April 2026 with a JPG photograph), with 35 × 45 mm photographs.
The Department for Foreigners of the voivodeship office of your province (Poznań: migrant.poznan.uw.gov.pl)
35 × 45 mm colour, face 70–80 %, within six months; online JPG at least 684 × 883 px, at most 2.5 MB.
Authority page| Authority | Wielkopolska Province Office in Poznań (Department for Foreigners), Poland |
|---|---|
| Source | Poland residence-permit photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
An undamaged colour photo of 35 mm × 45 mm taken within six months, the face from the top of the head to the upper shoulders at 70–80 %, a uniform light background, looking straight ahead with eyes open, hair off the face, a natural expression and a closed mouth.
From 27 April 2026 a JPG of the photograph with at least 684 × 883 pixels (width × height) and at most 2.5 MB, in the proportions of a 35 × 45 mm photograph.
Four photographs for a paper application for some temporary permits granted to a foreigner staying abroad.
A religious head covering is allowed if the face is fully visible and a statement confirming membership of the religious community is attached.
The Poland residence permit photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height.
For this document the photo must be no older than 6 months. Take a new photo that looks like you on the day you apply.
Plain light background; colour photo not older than 6 months. A plain, evenly lit wall without shadows or pattern is enough — the tool sets the required background colour.
Only if the size and rules are the same and the photo is still recent. Otherwise take a new one: the same selfie can be turned into photos for both documents.
Take a new photo: it should show how you look now — hairstyle, beard, glasses.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the Poland immigration office.
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.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: CUKR residence card, EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, permanent residence card, refugee travel document, residence card for family member of an EU citizen.