Argentina uses a square 40 × 40 mm photo — unusual for South America, where most neighbours use a rectangular format. The image must be a half-bust, front-facing portrait on a plain white background with the face filling 70–80% of the frame. The spec comes from Article 30 of Decreto 261/2011 and applies to both the passport and the DNI. Full RENAPER specification below.
Make an Argentina Passport Photo →Per RENAPER (Registro Nacional de las Personas) and Decreto 261/2011, Article 30. The same photo standard is used for the passport and the national identity document (DNI).
| Photo size | 40 × 40 mm square (4 × 4 cm) — 472 × 472 px at 300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Face coverage | 70 – 80% of the square frame, from chin to crown, centred both horizontally and vertically |
| Framing | Half-bust (medio busto), full frontal, head completely uncovered |
| Background | Plain, uniform white (fondo uniforme blanco y liso) with even lighting and no shadows |
| Colour | Colour only — black-and-white photos are not accepted |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and looking directly at the camera |
| Glasses | Not permitted. If medically necessary: no reflections, no tinted lenses. Sunglasses always prohibited |
| Head position | Head straight and centred — no tilt or rotation |
| Head covering | Only for documented religious or medical reasons; the main facial features must remain visible |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months, with no digital alterations to facial features |
| Copies | 2 identical photos for a passport application |
The square format is the part people get wrong — a standard 35 × 45 mm photo cannot simply be cropped to fit.
Face a window against a plain white wall about 1 m away, so no shadow falls behind your head. Wear a dark top for contrast.
Camera at eye level, shoulders square, mouth closed, neutral expression. Keep the head centred in the frame.
Upload to IDPhotoWork — we produce the square 4 × 4 cm crop, centre the face at 70–80% and keep the exact aspect ratio the RENAPER template expects.