head 60–75 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of the Interior and National Police of Spain
Verified
Quick answer: A Spain residence card photo must be 26 × 32 mm. Even white background. Head occupies 60–75% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 26 × 32 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 60–75% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Background | Even white background. Make photo background white — Spain residence card → |
| Pose | Full face, no tilt, face centred. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | No dark glasses or reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 26 × 32 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 2.6 × 3.2 cm |
| Inches | 1.02 × 1.25″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 307 × 378 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 614 × 756 px |
For the Spanish residence card (TIE, tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) the Ministry of the Interior asks for «one recent photograph, in colour, on a white background, carné size», in the first application, a renewal, a duplicate and a change of data. The Ministry's TIE page gives no millimetres, and the National Police's instruction sheet says the photograph must meet «the requirements established in the rules on the national identity document» — the DNI rule: «a recent photograph of the face in colour, 32 by 26 millimetres, with a uniform plain white background, taken from the front, the head fully uncovered and without dark glasses or any other item that may prevent or hinder identification». Head coverings are accepted for religious or medical reasons if the oval of the face from the hairline to the chin is fully visible; the eyes must be open and, with glasses, visible; dark glasses are accepted only for blind people or those with a serious eye defect. The application is made in person at the Unidad de Documentación of the National Police in the Oficina de Extranjeros or police station of your province, with a prior appointment.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Spain residence card photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of the Interior and National Police of Spain publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph that is not recent, not in colour, or not on a white background | A recent colour photograph on a uniform plain white background. |
| A photograph that is not carné size (the DNI rule: 32 by 26 millimetres) | A photograph of 32 by 26 millimetres, as in the DNI rule. |
| A photograph not taken from the front, or with the head covered without a religious or medical reason | A frontal photograph with the head uncovered, or covered only with the oval of the face fully visible. |
| Dark glasses without being blind or having a serious eye defect, or eyes not visible through the lenses | Eyes open and visible, with clear glasses only if they allow the eyes to be seen. |
| A fringe, a garment or another item that prevents or hinders identification | Forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and chin clearly visible. |
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: 60–75 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 26 × 32 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″ | 15 (5 × 3) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 72 (8 × 9) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
The Spanish TIE is applied for in person, with an appointment, at the Unidad de Documentación of the National Police in the Oficina de Extranjeros or police station of your province, with one recent photograph.
The Oficina de Extranjeros or police station of the province where you live
One recent colour photograph on a white background; the DNI rule of 32 by 26 mm applies.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of the Interior and National Police of Spain |
|---|---|
| Source | Spanish TIE residence card photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
The Ministry of the Interior says «carné size», in colour, on a white background, and the Police say it must meet the national identity document rules — 32 by 26 millimetres.
Yes. The Ministry lists «a recent photograph, in colour, on a white background, carné size» for the renewal, the duplicate and a change of data as well as for the first application.
Glasses only if the eyes can be seen through them; dark glasses only for blind people or a serious eye defect; a head covering for religious or medical reasons if the oval of the face is fully uncovered.
In person at the Unidad de Documentación of the National Police in the Oficina de Extranjeros or police station of your province, with an appointment made through the electronic office.
The Spain residence card photo must be 26 × 32 mm. The head must occupy 60–75% of the photo height.
Usually no older than six months; some immigration offices ask for a more recent one. Take a new photo that looks like you on the day you apply.
Even white background. 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 Spain immigration office.
26 × 32 mm = 2.6 × 3.2 cm = 1.02 × 1.25 inches. At 300 dpi that is 307 × 378 pixels; at 600 dpi, 614 × 756 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 26 × 32 mm format and head size apply to: EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, NIE foreigner Number, refugee travel document, residence card for family member of an EU citizen.