RomaniaRomanian Passport Photo: Taken on the Spot, Dark Clothes, No Glasses; 3.5 x 4.5 cm Prints Rarely Needed
Romanian e-passport: the photo is taken on the spot, your own photo cannot be scanned. Two 3.5 x 4.5 cm prints only for some temporary passports.
Key points
5 points- The electronic passport stores your facial image and fingerprints, so you must apply in person.
- The photo is taken at the counter or consulate; e-Consulat says your own photo cannot be scanned.
- Wear dark clothes; no head covering, no closed eyes, no glasses (religious head covering allowed if the face is fully visible).
- Two identical 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photos are needed only for a temporary passport when the holder is not present.
- An e-passport for adults domiciled abroad is valid for 10 years; applications by post or by proxy are not accepted.
If you are getting a Romanian passport, you usually do not need to bring a photo. Romania issues an electronic simple passport (pașaport simplu electronic) with a chip that stores your facial image and fingerprints, and the facial image is taken when you apply.
Electronic passport: the photo is taken on the spot
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ e-Consulat service says personal presence at the consulate is compulsory because your biometric data — fingerprints and facial image — are collected there. It also says there is no possibility of scanning the holder’s photograph: a print you bring will not be used. Applications by post or by a proxy with a power of attorney are not allowed.
The General Directorate of Passports adds that the facial image is recorded to ICAO standards and stored in the chip.
How to look when they take the picture
- Wear dark clothes. e-Consulat recommends dark clothing for a good-quality photo.
- No head covering, eyes open, no glasses.
- A neutral, everyday facial expression.
- A head covering for religious reasons is allowed if your face from the bottom of the chin to the forehead is clearly visible and without shadows.
When you need printed 3.5 x 4.5 cm photos
Printed photos are needed for the temporary simple passport (pașaport simplu temporar), and only in some cases:
| Case | Photos |
|---|---|
| Adult who is not present when the application is filed (for example, for medical reasons) | 2 identical colour photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm |
| Child under 14, application filed without the child at the counter | 2 photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm |
For a child’s photos the directorate adds: they must show the current appearance, taken from the front on a clear, neutral, light-coloured background so the outline of the head is visible; no head covering, eyes open, everyday expression. The person filing the application confirms the photos in front of the official. No fingerprints are taken for a temporary passport.
The temporary passport is not issued for tourism — only for urgent cases such as study, medical treatment or a citizen abroad left without a valid travel document.
Validity
e-Consulat lists the electronic simple passport for adults domiciled abroad as valid for 10 years. A Romanian citizen cannot hold two valid passports at the same time, except in cases provided by law.
Need 3.5 x 4.5 cm photos for a temporary passport? Make them on our Romanian passport photo page.
05Questions
5 answers01Do I need to bring a photo for a Romanian passport?
Not for the electronic passport: the facial image is taken at the counter or consulate, and your own photo cannot be scanned.
02What should I wear for the Romanian passport photo?
Dark clothes. No head covering and no glasses; a religious head covering is allowed if the face from chin to forehead is clearly visible.
03When do I need 3.5 x 4.5 cm photos?
For a temporary passport, when the holder is not present at the application, and for children under 14 applied for without the child at the counter: two photos.
04Can I apply for a Romanian passport by post?
No. e-Consulat says applications for an electronic passport by post or by proxy are not allowed; you must be present for fingerprints and the photo.
05How long is a Romanian passport valid?
The electronic passport for adults domiciled abroad is valid for 10 years.
06Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, e-Consulat — Electronic simple passport for adult Romanian citizens domiciled abroad: conditions
econsulat.ro - General Directorate of Passports (MAI) — Documents for the temporary simple passport
pasapoarte.mai.gov.ro - General Directorate of Passports (MAI) — Processing of biometric data (PDF)
pasapoarte.mai.gov.ro
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
RomaniaRomania Electronic Identity Card (CEI) Photo: Taken at the Counter — Do Not Wear White
For Romania’s CEI and CIS the facial image is taken at the counter, so you bring no photo.
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.
RomaniaPhoto for a national D visa and a Schengen C visa to Romania: requirements 2026
The size depends on the type of Romanian visa: a Schengen C visa requires 35×45 mm (the ICAO standard), a national D visa requires 3×4 cm (30×40 mm) per the eviza.mae.ro list. Shared: light plain background, neutral expression, no glasses, no older than 6 months.
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.