Czech RepublicCzech Residence Permit Photo: 35 x 45 mm, Eyes to Chin at Least 13 mm, White to Light Grey Background
Czech residence filings need a 45 x 35 mm photo: eyes to chin at least 13 mm, 2 mm above the head, white to light blue or light grey background.
In this article · 5 sections
Key points
5 points- Ministry of the Interior: a photograph is essential for many filings related to residence permits.
- Size: 45 mm high, 35 mm wide; corners straight or rounded (radius 3 mm ± 0.5 mm); thickness 0.13–0.27 mm.
- Head and upper shoulders, at least 2 mm between the top of the head and the top edge; eyes to chin at least 13 mm.
- Black and white or colour; background white to light blue or light grey, a smooth transition allowed.
- Filed via a Data Box or e-mail? The photo must still be delivered on paper at the office or by post.
The Czech residence permit photo follows one rule set. The Ministry of the Interior’s Information Portal for Foreigners says a photograph is essential for processing many filings related to residence permits, and lists the exact format. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives the same basics for visa and residence applications.
Size and print
| Item | Ministry of the Interior |
|---|---|
| Size | Rectangular, 45 mm high and 35 mm wide |
| Corners | Straight or rounded with a radius of 3 mm ± 0.5 mm |
| Thickness | 0.13–0.27 mm, smooth surface, stable over the long term |
| Colour | Black and white or colour |
| Background | White to light blue or light grey; a smooth transition between these colours is allowed |
Head, face and pose
- Head and upper shoulders in the front face view, at least 2 mm between the upper edge of the head and the upper edge of the photograph.
- Face height from the eyes to the chin at least 13 mm.
- Look straight into the lens; neutral expression, lips closed, eyes open and not covered by hair.
- No retouching or other modifications; no reflections that hide features such as the eyebrows or the chin.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: civil attire, no sunglasses (except for the blind), no head cover except for religious or health reasons, and then it must not prevent identification.
Applying electronically
If the application is submitted via a Data Box or by e-mail with an authorised electronic signature, the photograph must be provided additionally in the required format — in physical form at a Ministry of the Interior office or sent by post.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs names the legal basis: the Visa Code (Article 13) and Act No 326/1999 Coll. on the Residence of Foreign Nationals. For a visa application the photo is required for the application to be accepted.
See our Czech work and residence permit photo page for the format.
04Questions
5 answers01What size is the Czech residence permit photo?
45 mm high and 35 mm wide, with straight or rounded corners (Ministry of the Interior).
02What background is allowed?
White to light blue or light grey; a smooth transition between these colours is also allowed.
03How big must the face be?
From the eyes to the chin at least 13 mm, with at least 2 mm between the top of the head and the top edge.
04Is a black-and-white photo accepted?
Yes. The Ministry of the Interior says the photograph may be black and white or in colour.
05I apply via a Data Box. Do I still need a printed photo?
Yes. It must be delivered in physical form at a Ministry of the Interior office or sent by post.
05Official sources
- Ministry of the Interior — Information Portal for Foreigners: Photograph
ipc.gov.cz - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic — Photo (visa and residence)
mzv.gov.cz
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
Czech RepublicCzech Passport Photo: Taken at the Office in Czechia, 5 x 5 cm at Some Embassies Abroad
In Czechia the official takes your facial image when you apply — no photo to bring.
Schengen Area
Germany
Austria+5National D visa photo requirements: set by each country, not the EU
A type D visa photo is governed by the national laws of the specific country, not the EU Visa Code: the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, requires a 35x45 mm size with a 32–36 mm face height.
Czech RepublicCzechia: Lex Ukraine ZDP Biometric Registration Opens October–December 2026
Ukrainians who passed the April 2026 expression-of-interest screening for Czechia's special long-term residence permit (ZDP) under Lex Ukraine can register for biometrics from October to 31 December 2026. Here is how that stage works and what to check before registration opens.
Make your photo to the current rules
Pick your document and upload a selfie — we crop it to size, replace the background and check it. Free. The sizes come from the same official sources as the news.