Irish visa photo maker
An Irish visa application needs two identical printed photos, 35 to 38 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high, with your face taking up 70% to 80% of the photo. Make them here at 35 × 45 mm against a plain white or light grey background, then print them in colour on photographic paper.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 11 November 2026
Irish visa photo requirements
| Photo size | 35 to 38 mm wide and 45 to 50 mm high |
|---|---|
| Face size | Your face must take up 70% to 80% of the photo |
| How many | 2 photos showing exactly the same image |
| Background | Plain white or light grey |
| Colour | In colour, with good colour balance and natural skin tones |
| How recent | Less than 6 months old |
| Paper | Printed on photographic paper; the back of each photo white and unglazed |
| On the back | Your name and visa application/transaction number, in block capitals |
Checked against the official source on 11 November 2026. Source: Immigration Service Delivery: Photograph rules for visa applications · Department of Foreign Affairs: Visas for Ireland. Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- A close-up of your face and the top of your shoulders, with your head centred in the image.
- You looking directly at the camera and showing your full face. Do not tilt or turn your head.
- A neutral expression: no squinting, frowning or smiling. Eyes open, mouth closed, and no hair covering your eyes.
- No sunglasses or tinted or coloured glasses. If you normally wear glasses, your eyes must be clearly visible.
- No hat, cap, head-band or other head or hair covering, unless you wear it for religious reasons. Your face must then be clearly visible.
- Sharp focus and correct exposure, good contrast between your face and the background, no red eye, and no shadows or glare on you or the background.
Where the photos go
You fill in the visa application online, then print, sign and date the application summary form. The summary form tells you where to send your supporting documents. Put the two photos in the same envelope as the form, with your name and visa application/transaction number written on the back of each in block capitals. Do not staple or attach the photos to the form. If you are applying for a re-entry visa, you can leave out the transaction number.
How it differs from the Irish passport photo
The paper size range is the same as for an Irish passport (35 × 45 mm to 38 × 50 mm), but the framing is not. The visa page asks for a close-up in which your face takes up 70% to 80% of the photo, against plain white or light grey. The Passport Service asks for a wider shot from head to mid torso and also accepts cream. Use the Irish passport photo page for a passport, not this one.
Why Irish visa photos delay an application
- The face is too small. A head-and-chest shot like a passport photo does not fill 70% to 80% of the photo.
- The two photos are different shots. They must show exactly the same image.
- Shadows behind the head or glare on the face or glasses.
- Tinted or coloured glasses, or a cap or head-band worn for fashion.
- Printed on ordinary paper instead of photographic paper.
- Photos stapled or glued to the form, or nothing written on the back.
✓ Good: plain background, even light, neutral face
✕ Shadow on the wall and face
✕ Busy background
✕ Glare on glasses
✕ Selfie taken too close
✕ Too dark, orange light
More on this in why ID photos get rejected. The examples use an off-white wall. The background row in the table above gives the exact colour this document asks for.
How to use this tool
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m, at eye level, in even daylight in front of a plain wall.
- Add the photo above. The tool finds your face and frames it to the size on this page.
- Check the green lines: one on the top of your head, one on your chin. Drag or zoom to adjust.
- Read the automatic checks, then download. Nothing in the photo is retouched, only cropped and resized.
Questions about the Irish visa photo
What size is an Irish visa photo?
An Irish visa photo must be 45 to 50 mm high and 35 to 38 mm wide, and your face must take up 70% to 80% of the photo. A 35 × 45 mm photo is within that range.
How many photos do I need for an Irish visa?
Two. Both must be less than 6 months old and show exactly the same image, so print two copies of one photo.
What do I write on the back of my Irish visa photos?
Write your name and your visa application/transaction number on the back of each photo in block capitals. Leave out the transaction number if you are applying for a re-entry visa. Do not staple or attach the photos to the form.
Can I wear glasses in my Irish visa photo?
Yes, if you normally wear them and your eyes are clearly visible. Sunglasses and tinted or coloured glasses are not allowed, and there must be no glare.
Can the background be white for an Irish visa photo?
Yes. Immigration Service Delivery asks for a plain white or light grey background, with good contrast between your face and the background.
Guides for this photo
- Why passport and ID photos get rejectedThe reasons authorities list themselves, and how to avoid each
- How to take a passport photo at homeDistance, light, background and pose, step by step
- Are edited or AI passport photos allowed?What ten authorities say about retouching, filters and AI
- How to print passport photos on 4 × 6 paperHow many fit, the settings to use, and the right paper
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not