DENMARK PASSPORT PHOTO REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Follow these key rules to make sure your photo is accepted.
DIMENSIONS
Photo size: Photo size: 35 × 45 mm
Head size: Head size: 32 – 36 mm
FACE POSITION & SIZE
Keep your head centered with even space around.
BACKGROUND
Important Note
Denmark passport photos must be taken within the last 6 months. Ensure a plain white or light gray background, glasses not permitted, and exact 35 × 45 mm sizing.
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Quick reference: Denmark passport photo specifications
Before submitting your application via the SIRI portal or at a Danish embassy, ensure your photo meets every parameter in this table.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1200 × 1600 px @ 300 DPI) |
| Face height (chin to crown) | 71–80% of frame height (32 – 36 mm) |
| Denmark passport submission | Digital upload (JPEG format) |
| File size limit | 70 KB – 2 MB |
| Background | White or Light Gray, plain, shadow-free |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses | Not permitted (medical exception only) |
| Ears visibility | Ears not required to be visible; face edges must be clear |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Colour | Full colour — no black & white |
| Paper lodgement note | Physical printed photos (35 × 45 mm) are required if lodging a paper passport application. |
Official Denmark passport photo dimensions
Denmark passport photo requirements specify photos must be exactly 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (crown) must occupy between 70% and 80% of the total photo height (31–36 mm).
SIRI Digital Upload Requirement
Denmark passport photo size in mm, cm, and inches
| Unit | Width | Height | Face height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixels (Digital upload) | 1200 px | 1600 px | 1136–1280 px (71–80%) |
| Millimetres (mm) | 35 mm | 45 mm | 32 – 36 mm |
| Centimetres (cm) | 3.5 cm | 4.5 cm | 3.2–3.6 cm |
| Inches (in) | 1.38 in | 1.77 in | 1.26–1.42 in |
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Print vs. digital application requirements
| Aspect | Print (paper form) | Digital (Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 mm wide × 45 mm high | 1200 × 1600 px preferred (35 × 45 mm) |
| Format | Colour print (photo paper) | JPEG (.jpg / .jpeg) |
| File size | N/A | 70 KB – 2 MB |
| Quantity | 2 identical photos (paper forms) | 1 digital file upload |
| Paper type | Glossy or semi-matte photo paper | N/A (Digital upload) |
| Ink type | High quality colour print | N/A |
Background requirements for Denmark passport photos
The background must be plain, uniform, and shadow-free. Acceptable colours are light grey, cream, or white.
Face position and expression rules
Your face must be centred, looking directly at the lens with a neutral, relaxed expression and mouth closed.
Glasses policy for Denmark passport photos
Glasses are permitted only if frames are thin and lenses cause no glare or reflections. Removing glasses is recommended to prevent rejection.
Denmark passport photo checklist: do's and don'ts
Double check these common pitfalls to ensure your photo isn't delayed or rejected.
Do
- Use a plain, uniform background — light grey, cream, or white are acceptable
- Ensure your face is centred, forward-facing, and fully visible from chin to crown
- Keep your eyes fully open and looking directly at the camera lens
- Maintain a neutral, relaxed expression with your mouth closed
- Use even, diffused lighting with no harsh shadows on your face or background
- Include the tops of both shoulders and the base of the neck in the frame
- Ensure hair does not obscure your eyes, eyebrows, or the edges of your face
- Submit a JPEG file between 10 KB and 2 MB for online submissions
- Have the photo taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- Wear everyday clothing that contrasts well with the light background
Don't
- Smile, frown, tilt or turn your head, or allow your eyes to be partially closed
- Use a dark, coloured, patterned, textured, or overly bright white background
- Retouch, filter, adjust brightness/contrast, or digitally alter the photo in any way
- Submit a scanned photo or a picture of a printed photo
- Upload a JPEG file above 2 MB or below 10 KB to the online portal
- Wear hats, caps, or fashion headwear (religious/medical head coverings permitted under conditions)
- Allow hair, large jewellery, or accessories to cover your eyes or face
- Use a photo older than 6 months
- Use a black-and-white, sepia, or heavily compressed image
- Wear glasses with thick frames or that cause glare/reflections on the lenses
How to take a Denmark passport photo at home
Set up a light grey, cream, or white background
Stand or sit in front of a plain, uniformly coloured wall or surface that is light grey, cream, or white. The background must be shadow-free with no patterns, textures, folds, or objects. A light grey background is the standard Schengen recommendation and helps prevent overexposure.
Set up balanced, diffused lighting
Use natural daylight from a large window, or two balanced artificial lights at equal height and distance on either side of your face. Avoid direct flash, which creates harsh highlights, red-eye, and shadows. Soft, even lighting is crucial for a uniform background and a well-lit face without shadows.
Position your head and body correctly
Face the camera directly with your head level and upright — not tilted, not turned. Your chin should be neither raised nor lowered. Both sides of your face should be equally visible. Your shoulders and the base of your neck should appear at the bottom of the frame. Position yourself approximately 45–60 cm from the camera.
Take the photo
Open your eyes fully and look directly into the lens. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed — no smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows. If you wear glasses, consider removing them to avoid glare, or ensure they have thin frames and tilt them slightly to prevent reflections. Ask someone else to take the photo for better framing.
Crop and size the image
For paper submissions, crop to exactly 35 × 45 mm at 300 DPI minimum, ensuring the face occupies 70–80% of the height. For online submissions (SIRI portal), ensure the image is at least 400 × 500 pixels. Export as a JPEG file with minimum size 10 KB, ideally under 2 MB for easier upload.
Check before submitting
Verify the background is plain light grey, cream, or white and shadow-free, your expression is neutral, eyes are fully open, the face occupies 70–80% of the frame, hair does not obscure the face, there is no glare on glasses, and the file meets minimum resolution (400×500 pixels) and size (10 KB) requirements.
Common Denmark passport photo rejection reasons
Incorrect background colour or shadows
Denmark requires a plain light grey, cream, or white background for Schengen passport photos. Dark, coloured, patterned backgrounds or the presence of any shadows on the background or face will lead to rejection. Ensure even, shadow-free lighting on a uniform surface.
Non-neutral expression or head position
Smiling, open mouth, tilted head, head turned to the side, raised eyebrows, or partially closed eyes are detected by biometric checks. Your head must be level and upright, facing the camera directly with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
Face proportion out of range
Your face from chin to crown must occupy 70–80% of the 45 mm photo height (approximately 31–36 mm). If your face is too small or too large, it will fail the automated proportion check.
Insufficient resolution or file size
Danish passport applications require a minimum resolution of 400 × 500 pixels. Files that are smaller than this will be rejected. Also ensure the file size is at least 10 KB and not overly compressed.
Glasses causing glare or with thick frames
While glasses are permitted, they frequently cause rejection if the frames are too thick or if there is glare, reflections, or shadows from the lenses on the face or eyes. It is often safer to remove glasses for the photo.
Scan of a printed photo
Uploading a scanned version of a printed photo, or a mobile phone photo taken of another photo, will fail quality checks. The digital file must be the original camera capture, not a reproduction.
Photo older than 6 months
The photo must be recent (taken within the last 6 months) and reflect your current appearance. Older photos will be rejected during processing.
Hair or accessories obscuring the face
Hair covering the forehead, eyebrows, or eyes, and large earrings or accessories casting shadows on the face, are common causes of rejection. Pull hair back fully so the entire face is clearly visible.
Denmark passport photo requirements for babies and children
Children of all ages, including newborns, must have their own separate passport photo. For infants who cannot support their head, lay them on a plain light grey or white sheet and photograph from above.
Religious head coverings in Denmark passport photos
Religious head coverings are permitted provided they are worn daily for religious reasons and your full face remains clearly visible.
Official sources
These pages are the authoritative references.
Frequently asked questions: Denmark passport photo 2026
What is the Denmark passport photo size requirement in 2026?
Denmark Schengen passport photos must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. Your face from chin to crown must occupy 70 to 80 percent of the photo height (approx. 30–36 mm). The background must be plain light grey, cream, or white. For online applications submitted through SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration), upload a JPEG file with minimum resolution 400 × 500 pixels.
What is the Denmark passport photo size in pixels?
Denmark requires a minimum resolution of 400 × 500 pixels for digital photo uploads. A resolution of 900 × 1200 pixels or higher is recommended for best results, as long as the file size remains manageable. This is stricter than many other Schengen countries.
What is the Denmark passport photo size in cm and inches?
The photo must be 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm high. In inches, that is approximately 1.38 inches wide by 1.77 inches high. This follows the standard European Schengen format.
What colour must the background be for a Denmark passport photo?
The background must be plain and uniform. Acceptable colours are light grey, cream, or white. It must be shadow-free with no patterns or textures. A plain light grey background is the standard Schengen requirement and is strongly recommended.
Can I wear glasses in a Denmark passport photo?
Yes, glasses are permitted for Denmark/Schengen passport photos, but with strict conditions. Frames must be thin and not cover any part of the eyes. Lenses must be completely glare-free with no reflections. Due to these strict rules, it is often recommended to remove glasses to avoid rejection.
Can I smile in a Denmark passport photo?
No. You must maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes fully open. Smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, head tilt, and any non-neutral expression will be detected by biometric processing and will cause your photo to be rejected.
How recent must a Denmark passport photo be?
The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must accurately reflect your current appearance. Photos that are older or that do not match your current look will be rejected.
What is the minimum resolution for Denmark passport photo upload?
The Danish SIRI portal requires a minimum resolution of 400 × 500 pixels. Photos below this resolution will be rejected. This is stricter than many other Schengen countries, so ensure your photo meets this requirement before uploading.
Are Denmark tourist passport and student passport photo requirements different?
No. The same 35 × 45 mm Schengen specification and biometric requirements apply across all short-stay Schengen passport categories for Denmark, including tourist, business, and visitor passports. Always check the specific documentation checklist for your passport type on the official SIRI website.
Can I retouch or edit my Denmark passport photo?
No. Any form of digital retouching or editing is prohibited. This includes skin smoothing, blemish removal, background replacement, and brightness or contrast adjustments. The submitted file must be the original, unaltered digital capture.
What should I wear for a Denmark passport photo?
Wear everyday clothing that clearly contrasts with the light grey, cream, or white background. Avoid light-coloured tops that blend in. Do not wear uniforms, costumes, or anything that obscures the face or neck. Religious dress is permitted if the full face remains visible.
Are religious head coverings allowed in a Denmark passport photo?
Yes, provided the covering is worn daily for religious reasons and your full face from chin to crown remains clearly visible. The covering must not cast shadows on your face or background, and the side edges of your face (including the outer eye corners) must be visible.
What are the Denmark passport photo requirements for babies and children?
Children of all ages, including newborns, must have their own separate passport photo. For infants who cannot support their head, lay them on a plain light grey, cream, or white sheet and photograph from above. All standard requirements apply, with some flexibility on expression for very young infants.
Should a Denmark passport photo be matte or glossy?
For paper submissions, either matte or glossy photo paper is acceptable. For digital submissions via the SIRI portal, paper finish is irrelevant. Ensure printed photos are on high-quality photo paper.
Can I use a photo taken on my phone for a Denmark passport?
Yes, provided the photo meets all requirements: plain light grey/cream/white background, neutral expression, face occupying 70–80% of the frame, JPEG format with minimum 400 × 500 pixel resolution. Have a second person take the photo rather than using a selfie. Most modern smartphones can easily exceed the minimum resolution requirement.
Is Denmark part of the Schengen Area for passport purposes?
Yes, Denmark is a full member of the Schengen Area. Danish passport photo requirements follow the standard Schengen format (35×45 mm, face 70-80%, neutral expression, light grey/cream/white background) with the addition of a specific minimum digital resolution (400×500 pixels). A Danish short-stay passport (Schengen passport) allows travel within the entire Schengen Area.
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