Biometric passport at a consulate 2026: how the photo works and when you must bring one

If you are applying for a biometric passport at a Ukrainian consulate or embassy abroad, the main thing about the photo is that in most cases you do not bring a ready-made photo print at all. The digital facial image for the contactless electronic chip is created by a consulate staff member on site during document submission, together with fingerprint scanning.

When the photo is taken on site, and when you need your own print

As a general rule, an adult and a child aged 12 and over are photographed directly at the consulate when submitting the application. So there is no need to prepare a separate "studio" photo — it is replaced by the digital photographing taken during processing.

Your own printed photo is submitted only in specific cases:

• a child under 12 who is absent during document submission (one of the parents submits on their behalf) — one photo print is added for scanning;
• a person who cannot move independently due to a long-term health disorder and needs urgent treatment abroad — one photo print is also submitted.

Consulates separately draw attention to children under 3: due to technical difficulties, photographing such a child on site can be tricky, so it is recommended to prepare the photo in advance and bring it with you.

What the "spare" photo print must look like

If your case is one where the photo is submitted by you, it must meet the requirements of the State Migration Service of Ukraine:

• one colour photo print measuring 10 × 15 cm of studio quality (most consulates ask for matte — check the exact surface requirement on your branch's page);
• a uniform light background (white or light grey) without shadows, coloured or gradient backgrounds;
• the head takes up 70 to 80% of the frame, the upper shoulders 20–30%;
• a neutral facial expression, mouth closed, teeth not visible;
• head and neck without turns or tilts, gaze straight ahead, face fully open;
• the shot is recent, sharp and contrasty, without defects or retouching.

These are the same parameters as for a biometric photo in Ukraine, so a properly prepared 35×45 mm photo made under these rules is easy to print in the 10×15 cm format too.

Important: for a child under 12, most branches and consulates ask specifically for one colour 10×15 cm photo print for scanning, but some consulates additionally require a 3.5×4.5 cm photo print (or two). The exact list, formats and surface requirements for the photo differ by country, so check your consulate's page in advance.

Other important details of the process in 2026

• Fingerprints are scanned from age 12. So a child aged 12 and over must be personally present during document submission together with one of the parents.
• Passport validity: 4 years for persons under 16 and 10 years for persons aged 16 and over.
• Appointment and presence: consular services are provided only by prior online appointment; the application and collection of the ready passport must be done in person.

Before your visit, be sure to check your consulate's or embassy's page: the list of documents and appointment details may differ depending on the country of stay.

What this means for you

For most applicants the conclusion is simple: you do not need to prepare a printed photo specially for the consulate — you will be photographed on site. Taking care of your own 10×15 cm photo print is worthwhile only for those applying for a passport for a child under 12 without their presence, processing a document for a person who cannot move, or preparing a photo for a very young child under 3.