Crop a photo to 30 × 40 mm — Malta passport
Upload a photo — the frame is already set for a Malta passport. Ready to print or upload.
Two ways to hand in the photo for this document
Malta accepts the photo for this document two ways, and only one of them starts with a file on your computer. Read both before you crop anything.
- You supply the photo yourself — printed or as a file. Then it has to match the sizes on this page exactly, and the cropper below is the right tool.
- The photo is taken for you where the application is filed. On that route Government of Malta / Identità works with its own image, and a file you cropped here is not used at all.
Upload your photo
The document is already selected — the frame is locked to 30 × 40 mm. Drag the photo inside the frame; the shape cannot be broken.
The photo is cropped in your browser. It is not uploaded to a server and we do not store it.
How to crop it, in three steps
- Upload a photo taken face-on, in even light
- Move the photo until the eyes sit on the guide line and the head fills 70–80%
- Save the 30 × 40 mm result — print it or attach it to the application
Exact numbers for this document
| Parameter | What it must be |
|---|---|
| Print size | 30 × 40 mm |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 354 × 472 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 709 × 945 px |
| Aspect ratio | 3:4 |
| Head, share of height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Eye line from the bottom edge | 55–70% |
| Background | Plain white background. #ffffff |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
What these millimetres work out to
- In a 30 × 40 mm frame a head band of 70–80% is 28–32 mm from the chin to the crown.
- Of the 40 mm of height that leaves 8–12 mm for the gap above the crown and the space below the chin together.
- At 300 dpi that is a head 331–378 pixels tall — below 331 px the file is too small to print, however good the crop is.
- Against the European 35 × 45 mm standard this frame is 0.86 times as wide, 0.89 times as tall and 0.76 times the area — a photo cut for one of the two cannot be reused for the other.
What cropping will not fix
- A wrong background — cropping does not repaint the wall behind you. This document needs: plain white
- A shadow on the face or on the wall. Step 1–2 m away from the wall and shoot facing a window.
- Glare on the lenses. Take the glasses off or turn away from the light source and shoot again.
- A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given.
- Too few pixels. If the original is smaller than 354 × 472 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Glossy paper (NON-glossy required — Malta unique) | Reprint on matte/non-glossy paper |
| Photo not exactly 35×45mm | Reprint to exact dimensions (automated rejection otherwise) |
| Background not pure white | Re-shoot against white backdrop |
| Digital alteration or retouching detected | Submit unedited original |
| Child under 14 photo not 40×30mm format | Reprint at child-specific size |
Malta-specific things to know
- NON-GLOSSY paper required (Malta unique among EU)
- Children <14: SMALLER 40×30mm format (different orientation)
- Automated rejection for dimensions slightly outside 35×45mm
- Identità (Identity Malta Agency) issues
Printing on a single sheet
4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.
Photos per print sheet
| 10 × 15 cm · 4×6″ | 10 (5 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 49 (7 × 7) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
Where these numbers come from
Source: Government of Malta / Identità. Last checked against the official page on 2026-05-17.
- Adult passport applicants in Malta are normally photographed during the appointment.
- Where printed photos are required, the Passport Office specifies a 30 × 40 mm colour photograph.
- The background must be white.
- The face should cover 70-80% of the photo and be shown in a direct front view.
- The expression should be neutral and the eyes clearly visible.
Questions people ask before cropping
30 × 40 mm. 70–80% of photo height.
354 × 472 px (300 dpi) · 709 × 945 px (600 dpi).
70–80% of photo height.
Plain white background.
A wrong background — cropping does not repaint the wall behind you. This document needs: plain white A shadow on the face or on the wall. Step 1–2 m away from the wall and shoot facing a window. Glare on the lenses. Take the glasses off or turn away from the light source and shoot again. A smile, raised brows or a half-open mouth. Cropping keeps the face it was given. Too few pixels. If the original is smaller than 354 × 472 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.