Crop a photo to 35 × 45 mm — Schengen area eu id card
We have not yet confirmed from European Union / Schengen authorities whether this document accepts a photo you prepare yourself. Until that is checked, this page promises nothing about it — the sizes below are the published ones, the route is not.
Upload your photo
The document is already selected — the frame is locked to 35 × 45 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 35 × 45 mm result — print it or attach it to the application
Exact numbers for this document
| Parameter | What it must be |
|---|---|
| Print size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
| Aspect ratio | 7:9 |
| Head, share of height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Eye line from the bottom edge | 55–70% |
| Background | Plain light background. |
| Glasses | No tinting or reflections; eyes must be fully visible. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
What cropping will not fix
- A wrong background — cropping does not repaint the wall behind you. This document needs: plain light
- 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 413 × 531 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
Why these photos get rejected — and how to fix each one
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photo not 35×45mm (except ES 26×32) | Reprint per member-state size |
| Head outside 32-36mm | Re-shoot at correct distance |
| Background not member-state-specific | Re-shoot per local spec |
Schengen area-specific things to know
- Regulation 2019/1157 (August 2021): mandatory biometric chip for new EU IDs
- Older non-biometric cards valid until expiry (latest Aug 2031)
- Member-state variations: ES uniquely 26×32mm, others 35×45
- Valid as EU/EEA/Schengen travel document
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″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
Where these numbers come from
Source: European Union / Schengen authorities. Last checked against the official page on 2026-05-17.
- Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1208 is the current EU act on identity-card and residence-document security in free-movement contexts.
- The regulation describes facial image and two fingerprints as biometric data used for reliable identification and authentication.
- Member States should primarily verify the facial image when checking document authenticity and holder identity.
- The regulation refers to ICAO Document 9303 for machine-readable travel-document specifications.
- The EU act does not publish one applicant-photo size for all national ID cards; the issuing Member State remains the final source for local photo dimensions.
Questions people ask before cropping
35 × 45 mm. 70–80% of photo height.
413 × 531 px (300 dpi) · 827 × 1063 px (600 dpi).
70–80% of photo height.
Plain light background.
A wrong background — cropping does not repaint the wall behind you. This document needs: plain light 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 413 × 531 px, enlarging it only blurs the face.
4 × 2 frames fit on one 10×15 cm sheet — 8 copies from a single print.