Requirement and instructions for the document photo

Document photograph of an adult

We recommend taking the photo in a photo booth of a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board or at a photographer’s studio

A photograph taken at the photo booth can be used in the self-service portal within 183 days

The photograph taken by yourself shall not be older than six months

You can also upload a photo taken by yourself to the self-service portal, but the instructions for taking a document photograph should be followed carefully when taking the photo

Submitting a non-compliant photograph will extend the time of receipt of the document

Instructions for a document photograph for an adult

The photograph must be a colour photograph and unedited

The file size for the document photo must be between 1MB and 5MB. The dimensions of the photo must be at least 1,300 × 1,600 pixels.

Submitting a scanned photograph, or a screenshot of a computer screen or a mobile phone screen, is not allowed

Background should be light and of single colour, without extraneous objects (including patterns)

The person on the photograph should not wear headwear or headphones

Use the help of a family member, friend or acquaintance to take the photo. When taking the photo with a mobile phone, use the rear camera of the device, the front-side camera distorts the shape of the face

Look straight into the camera, the eyes must be level (head should not be tilted)

The face must be in the centre of the photograph

The eyes must be visible from behind the spectacle frames and glasses may not reflect light

Document photograph of a young child (0-7 years)

When applying for a document for a young child, we advise taking the digital document photograph at a photographer’s studio

Taking a photo of a young child in the photo booth may fail because the child might not face the camera for the time necessary for taking the photo

When taking pictures of a young child in the booth, we recommend asking an official to assist you

Instructions for a document photograph for a young child

The photograph must be a colour photograph and unedited

Background should be light and of single colour, without extraneous objects (including patterns)

Submitting a scanned photograph, or a screenshot of a computer screen or a mobile phone screen, is not allowed

The child must look straight into the camera and the mouth must be closed

Big hair adornments and extraneous objects (like toys) should be avoided in the photograph

Taking the document photograph at the Service Office

Photo booth

A document photo can be taken for free in the photo booth in all service offices (except for Keila) even if you do not want to submit an application at the service office. Depending on the application to be submitted, fingerprints and signature sample can also be provided in the photo booth.

The photograph taken in the photo booth is digital and it can be used within 183 days for applications submitted at any service office or in the self-service portal (except for weapons permit).

If you submit the application by email and took the photo in the photo booth at the service office, then specify that information with the application.

When sending the photo by email, make sure to add the first name and surname of the person on the photograph and the personal identification number or date of birth to the content of the email.