Finland is the exception in the Nordic countries: the passport photo is 36 × 47 mm, not the 35 × 45 mm used almost everywhere else in Europe. The head must be 32–36 mm chin to crown, with a tight 4–6 mm of space above it, and the background should be plain light grey rather than pure white. Because the picture is laser-engraved on the document in greyscale, a white background is a common cause of refusal. Full Poliisi specification below.
Make a Finnish Passport Photo →Per the Finnish Police (Poliisi) photo guidelines, which also cover identity cards, residence permits and firearms licences.
| Photo size | 36 × 47 mm portrait, borderless (3.6 × 4.7 cm) — Finland's own format, not the 35 × 45 mm EU standard |
|---|---|
| Head height | 32 – 36 mm chin to crown, which is 68–77% of the photo height. Hair and beard are not counted |
| Margins | 4 – 6 mm between the top of the head and the top edge; 7 – 9 mm between the chin and the bottom edge |
| Centring | The centre line of the face may deviate from the centre line of the photo by no more than 1.5 mm |
| Background | Plain, uniform and light. Light grey is recommended; a bright white background can blend into a pale complexion or light clothing once the image is engraved in greyscale |
| Digital file | Exactly 500 × 653 pixels, JPEG, maximum 250 kB. One pixel off is rejected, and compression artefacts are not allowed |
| Colour | Colour or black and white — both are accepted in Finland |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible, looking straight at the camera |
| Glasses | Clear lenses only, no glare, frame must not cover the eyes. Tinted lenses only with a documented medical reason |
| Editing | No retouching, filters or digital makeup — even a tiny change to your appearance makes the photo unusable |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
Finland is unusual: in most cases you never carry the photo yourself.
Most Finnish photographers send the image straight to the police photo server and hand you a receipt with a unique retrieval code.
Type the code into your online passport application, or bring it to a police licence service point. The photo is linked to your application automatically.
A printed photo is accepted if you apply at a service point — but you then lose the option of submitting the application electronically.