FinlandFinland Visa Photo Requirements: 36 x 47 mm, Head 32–36 mm, Light Grey Background — the Police Rules
Finland asks for one recognisable photo and points to the police rules: head 32–36 mm, 4–6 mm above the crown, under 6 months, light grey background best.
Key points
5 points- The Foreign Ministry lists one photograph «from which you are recognizable» and sends applicants to the Police guidance.
- Police: crown to chin 32–36 mm (445–500 px); 4–6 mm above the crown, 7–9 mm below the chin.
- No more than six months old; colour or black-and-white; no manipulation and no digital make-up.
- Light grey is the best background, because the laser-engraved picture on Finnish documents is greyscale.
- Migri’s residence permit photo: 47 mm high, 36 mm wide, head 32–36 mm, on high-quality photo paper.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs keeps the visa photo line short: “Include a colour photograph from which you are recognizable. Please visit the Police website for guidance.” The Police photo instructions are very precise — down to millimetres above the head. Here they are.
What goes with a Finland visa application
The application form completed and signed, one photograph, a passport (valid at least three months after the trip and issued within the last ten years), travel insurance and supporting documents. Country-specific instructions are on finlandvisa.fi.
Dimensions (Finnish Police)
| Parameter | Police instructions |
|---|---|
| Crown to chin | 32–36 mm (445–500 px) |
| Above the crown | At least 4 mm, at most 6 mm |
| Below the chin | At least 7 mm, at most 9 mm |
| Centring | Face centre line within 1.5 mm of the photo centre line |
Migri’s residence permit appendix gives the print size: 47 mm high and 36 mm wide, head 32–36 mm without hair, on high-quality photo paper. For children under 11 a smaller head, at least 25 mm, is acceptable if distortion cannot be avoided.
Age, editing, sharpness
- No more than six months old; black-and-white or colour.
- Not manipulated in any way that changes even small details; no digital make-up.
- Sharp over the whole face. Smartphone wide-angle photos taken close up enlarge the nose — step back.
Pose, glasses, head coverings
- Head straight, face and eyes to the camera, shoulders in line with the face; neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
- Glasses can always be taken off; tinted glasses or an eyepatch only for medical reasons.
- A scarf or head covering only for religious, traditional or medical reasons, without hiding the face or casting shadows.
Light and background
Even light, no shadows on the face or behind, no red eye, natural colour. The background is plain, light and neutral — light grey is best, because the laser-engraved picture on the document is always greyscale.
Our Finland visa photo tool sets the 36 x 47 mm frame with the head inside 32–36 mm.
06Questions
5 answers01What size is a Finland visa photo?
Finnish documents use a 47 mm high, 36 mm wide photo, with the head 32–36 mm from crown to chin.
02How many photos do I need?
One photograph, according to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
03What background colour is best?
Light grey, according to the Police — the laser-engraved picture is greyscale.
04Can I wear glasses?
Glasses can always be taken off; tinted glasses only for medical reasons.
05Can the photo be retouched?
No. No manipulation that changes even small details, and no digital make-up.
07Official sources
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland — A visa to visit Finland
um.fi - Finnish Police — passport photograph instructions (PDF)
poliisi.fi - Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) — appendix to residence permit application: passport photo (PDF)
migri.fi
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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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.