Estonia uses 40 × 50 mm — bigger than the 35 × 45 mm format most of Europe uses, and the same size for the passport, ID card, residence permit and visa. The head fills 70–80% of the height (about 35–40 mm) on a plain light background, and Estonia is one of the few countries that still allows glasses as long as there is no glare. Digital files must be at least 1,300 × 1,600 px and between 1 and 5 MB.
Make an Estonian Passport Photo →Per the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance for passport applications made at Estonian embassies.
| Photo size | 40 × 50 mm (4 × 5 cm) portrait, borderless — 1.57 × 1.97 inches |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70 – 80% of the frame height, roughly 35 – 40 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain light single colour — light grey (#EEEEEE), white, light blue or beige. Must contrast with face and hair, no patterns, gradients or shadows |
| Resolution | 600 DPI for print; a 40 × 50 mm photo at 600 DPI is 945 × 1,181 px |
| Digital file | At least 1,300 × 1,600 px, JPEG, 1 – 5 MB, sRGB |
| Colour | Colour, natural skin tones, no filters or retouching |
| Pose | Full frontal view, head straight and level, shoulders square, looking into the lens |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible |
| Glasses | Allowed — but the frame must not cover the eyes and there must be no glare or reflection. Tinted lenses are not permitted |
| Hair | Must not cover the face or cast shadows on it; eyebrows and eyes stay visible |
| Head covering | Religious headwear only, with the face visible from chin to forehead. No headphones |
| Retouching | Not allowed. Red-eye removal by software is explicitly forbidden — re-shoot instead |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Unlike most countries, you do not need a different crop per document.
Both use 40 × 50 mm with the head at 70–80%. The same print works for the Estonian ID card and the residence permit card.
The Estonian long-stay (D) visa uses 40 × 50 mm as well. A Schengen short-stay visa applied for through Estonia still follows the 35 × 45 mm Schengen format.
Estonia accepts a digital photo through the PPA self-service portal. File rules are unusually strict: minimum 1,300 × 1,600 px and a minimum of 1 MB, so a compressed phone export often fails.