Italy Passport Photo: check yours against the official spec

An Italian passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm high (the standard fototessera cut), with your face occupying 70 to 80% of the photo, against a light, solid-colour background; white is the safe choice. The photo must be at most 6 months old, printed on quality high resolution photo paper, with a neutral expression, mouth closed, and both sides of the face visible. The questura's digitisation software checks photos automatically against European parameters, so borderline framing genuinely fails.

Check your photo free. Pay $9 only if it passes. Accepted or your money back.

Upload a photo

Use a clear, front-facing photo against a plain white wall in even light. We measure and crop it. We never edit the pixels you submit.

🛡️ Accepted or your money back🔒 Your photo is deleted within 24 hours✓ We never edit your photo

Italy passport photo requirements

Photo size	1 3/8 × 1 3/4 inches (35 × 45 mm)
Head height (chin to top of hair)	1 1/4 to 1 3/8 in (32 to 36 mm)
Eye height from bottom	3/4 to 1 1/8 in (19 to 30 mm)
Background	plain white or very light, uniform
Digital file	JPEG, at least 750 × 750 px

Common reasons a Italy passport photo is rejected

The face is not 70 to 80% of the photo, or the top of the head is cut off.
The background is not light and solid, or there are shadows behind the head.
Tinted lenses, flash glare on glasses, or frames covering any part of the eyes.
The photo is older than 6 months, or the print is blurred, grainy, or marked.

“Photos must not be changed using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.”
U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements

Photo rejections are common, and you pay twice

A rejected photo means a delayed application and paying again for a retake. It's one of the most common problems people hit when applying, and it's exactly what this tool is built to catch before you submit:

We measure your photo against the official spec, never AI-edit it (itself a rejection reason as of 2026), and back it accepted-or-your-money-back.

What a passport photo really costs

The photo is the cheap part. The expensive part is a rejection: redo fees, another queue, and a delayed application or trip. Here is the honest comparison:

Pharmacy or retail (CVS, Walgreens)$16 to $17 per attempt	No compliance guarantee. A rejection means paying and queueing again.
USPS photo serviceabout $15	Same deal: rejected means a second visit and a second fee.
Cheap online photo editors$1 to $3	Most replace your background with software. Edited photos are a documented rejection reason for the US, UK and Canada since 2026, and refunds usually cover technical failures only.
Compliant Passport PhotoFree check. $9 only if it passes	We measure and crop your original, never edit it. Accepted or your money back.

Retail prices are typical 2026 US prices and vary by location. Our guarantee: accepted or your money back.

Frequently asked questions

How many photos do I need for an Italian passport?

Two identical printed photos are normally requested at the questura, on quality high resolution photo paper.

Who actually checks my Italian passport photo?

Software, not the clerk. The questura's digitisation system checks photos automatically against European parameters and rejects non-conforming images with no operator override, so borderline framing genuinely fails.

Can I wear glasses in an Italian passport photo?

Glasses are optional. Lenses must be transparent (not tinted), with no flash reflections, and the frames must not cover any part of the eyes. Heavy frames are best avoided.

Can I wear a hat or head covering in an Italian passport photo?

Only for religious reasons, and your face must be visible from the tip of the chin to the full forehead, with both sides of the face showing.

What are the rules for children's photos in Italy?

Children must be photographed alone: no chair backs, toys, or other people in the frame.