Italian Passport Photo Requirements 2026: Fototessera 35x45 mm Size, Questura Checklist, and Background Rules

Overview

Italy requires a 35 x 45 mm biometric passport photo (fototessera) for passports, the electronic identity card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica, CIE), and visa applications. The specifications are managed by the Polizia di Stato and follow ICAO international standards for machine-readable travel documents.

Searches for Italian passport photo requirements 2026 usually boil down to the same checks: the standard European 35 x 45 mm crop, the right chin-to-crown height, a clean light background, and positioning that still works for passport, CIE, and many consular workflows. Getting those details right helps you avoid rejection at the questura or comune.

The same page also answers looser English phrasing such as Italian passport photo, Italian passport picture requirements, and Italian passport picture size. In practice those queries still point back to the same Italian fototessera rule set: 35 x 45 mm, the correct biometric crop, and a clean submission route for the office handling the application.

If your application also includes a portal upload or a comune workflow with digital file checks, use this page together with the digital passport photo requirements guide and the passport photo size in pixels guide. Italy still starts with the biometric fototessera crop, but the upload layer matters when you move beyond the print itself.

Italy is also a useful example for broader searches like passport photo requirements because it shows how a familiar European size still sits inside a country-specific workflow. The questura, the comune, and consulates all expect the same basic biometric photo, but the practical steps and submission route still matter.

If your search is specifically Italian passport photo requirements 2026, the short version is simple: use a compliant 35 x 45 mm fototessera, keep the face in the right biometric zone, use a clean light background, and prepare the photo for the office you are actually dealing with, whether that is a questura, a comune, or a consular route.

Italian passport photo requirements 2026 checklist

• Photo size: 35 x 45 mm fototessera.
• Face height: 32-36 mm from chin to crown.
• Background: white or very light and fully uniform.
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, full face visible.
• Questura route: bring the number of printed photos your appointment requires.
• CIE or portal route: confirm whether the workflow still starts from a printed photo or from a digital upload/check.

Italy Fototessera Size in Simple Terms

When people search for Italy passport photo size or fototessera passaporto, they usually need the standard Italian biometric format: 35 x 45 mm. The face still needs to be sized correctly inside that frame, so the format and the crop both matter.

The same general size is used across many Italian document workflows, but passport offices still check expression, centering, and background quality carefully. That is why it helps to treat fototessera as more than just a print size.

If you also need the digital-upload side of the workflow, pair this page with the digital passport photo requirements guide. It covers the file-size, JPEG, and upload checks that matter once the crop itself is correct. For quick pixel conversions between 35x45 mm, 2x2 inch, and 50x70 mm exports, use the passport photo size in pixels guide.

Official Specifications

The photo must be 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall. The face from chin to crown must measure between 32 mm and 36 mm. The photo must be recent, sharp, and show the full front view of the face.

Background Requirements

Italy requires a white or very light, uniform background. No patterns, shadows, or visible objects are permitted behind the subject. The background should be evenly lit with no gradients.

Unlike France, Italy does accept white backgrounds. However, some questure (police offices) prefer a very light grey for better contrast. The most important factor is uniformity — no shadows, no variations in brightness.

If you are comparing Italy with France, Germany, or the UK, use the passport photo background color guide as a companion page. Italy often accepts white or very light backgrounds, but that does not mean the same answer carries over to every European passport workflow.

Clothing and Appearance

Italian biometric photo rules require a neutral expression with the mouth closed. The face must be fully visible, and the photo should reflect your everyday appearance.

• Glasses: Italy now discourages wearing glasses in passport photos. While not an absolute ban, the Polizia di Stato recommends removing glasses to avoid glare and shadow issues. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are never permitted.
• Head coverings: Not allowed except for documented religious reasons. The entire face from chin to forehead must be visible.
• Expression: Neutral, with mouth closed. No smiling, no frowning.
• Eyes: Both eyes must be open and clearly visible, looking directly at the camera.
• Hair: Must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or ears (ears visible is preferred).
• Babies and children: The child must be the only subject in the photo. For infants, eyes should be open and the mouth can be slightly open.

How to Make It with Passlens

Passlens is set up for the Italian biometric photo standard. Create your fototessera at home in minutes.

1. Open Passlens and select the Italy Passport preset.
2. Take a photo with even lighting and a neutral expression, or upload an existing portrait.
3. Passlens crops to 35 x 45 mm and verifies face height (32–36 mm).
4. AI background removal produces a clean white or light background that meets Italian standards.
5. Check the compliance report for head centering, expression, and background quality.
6. Download for digital submission (CIE online), or print a sheet of photos for your questura appointment.

Where to Submit

Italian passport applications are processed at the questura (police headquarters) or commissariato (police station). The CIE (electronic ID card) is issued at the comune (municipality). Appointments are required for both.

If you are checking Italy against other countries that also use 35 x 45 mm, the passport photo requirements by country guide is the fastest way to compare the crop, background, and workflow differences before you book an appointment.

The fastest way to avoid a wasted questura visit is to treat the passport photo as part of the appointment checklist, not as a last-minute print. The biometric crop itself is stable, but the practical route changes depending on whether you are preparing a passport, a CIE, or a consular submission.

• Questura (passport): Book an appointment through the Agenda Online system at passaportonline.poliziadistato.it. Bring two identical photos.
• Comune (CIE): Book through your municipality’s website. Photos can be taken on-site at some locations, or bring your own.
• Online portal: Some passport processes now accept digital photo uploads through the Polizia di Stato portal.
• Consulates abroad: Italian citizens abroad apply through their local consulate. Processing times may be longer.

Common Mistakes

Italian authorities check photos carefully during in-person appointments. These are the most common reasons for rejection:

• Shadow behind head — The most common issue in Italian photo rejections. Stand well away from the background wall.
• Glasses with glare — Reflections that obscure the iris or pupil. It is safest to remove glasses.
• Face not centered — The head must be exactly centered horizontally and properly positioned vertically.
• Expression not neutral — Smiling, frowning, or open-mouth expressions are rejected.
• Incorrect dimensions — Using the wrong print size or incorrect face proportions.
• Poor print quality — Photos printed on regular paper or low-resolution images.
• Photo not recent — Must be taken within the last 6 months and reflect current appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Italian passport photo requirements for 2026?

Use a 35 x 45 mm biometric fototessera, keep the face in the 32-36 mm range, use a white or very light uniform background, keep a neutral expression, and bring the number of prints required by your questura or related office. The biometric rules are stable even when the submission path changes.

Can I wear glasses in my Italian passport photo?

The Italian Polizia di Stato strongly discourages wearing glasses in passport photos. While it is not an absolute ban, glasses frequently cause glare and shadows that lead to rejection. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are always prohibited. The safest approach is to remove all eyewear.

Is the photo the same for passport and CIE?

Yes, both the passaporto and the Carta d’Identità Elettronica use the same 35 x 45 mm biometric photo format with identical specifications. You can use photos from the same session for both documents.

Do I need to book an appointment for the questura?

Yes, an appointment is mandatory for passport applications. Book through the Agenda Online system at passaportonline.poliziadistato.it. In major cities like Rome and Milan, appointments can be booked out weeks in advance, so plan ahead.

What should I bring to a questura passport appointment?

At minimum, bring the compliant 35 x 45 mm fototessera prints required by the appointment instructions, your supporting identity documents, and the booking confirmation. The exact administrative paperwork varies, but the photo itself still needs to meet the Italian biometric rules before the questura will accept it.

Can I use a fototessera from a photo booth (cabina fotografica)?

Yes, approved photo booths that produce biometric-standard photos are widely available in Italy, often found in metro stations and post offices. However, the quality varies, and they do not always produce compliant results. Using Passlens gives you more control over the outcome.

Can I use the same fototessera for passport, CIE, and other Italian ID workflows?

Often yes, because the underlying biometric photo is the same 35 x 45 mm fototessera. But the safest approach is still to check the exact document route, because the passport, CIE, visa, and consular workflows can differ on how many prints you need, whether the submission is digital, and where the photo is checked.

How many photos do I need?

For a passport application, you need two identical photos. For the CIE, one photo is typically sufficient as it is captured digitally at the comune. Always bring extras as a precaution.

Sources

• Polizia di Stato — Le fotografie per il passaporto
• Polizia di Stato — Passaporto online
• Ministero dell Interno — La richiesta della Carta d Identita Elettronica