33×48 mm Photo

The 33×48 mm photograph is a portrait-oriented format used by a number of national document programmes and identity applications. Its slightly taller proportions leave room for a generously sized head while keeping a comfortable margin above the hair, which is why several authorities specify it for passports, residence documents and long-validity identity cards.

This page explains the exact requirements for the 33×48 mm size, where it tends to appear, and how our studio prepares a print-ready and digital file that clears review on the first attempt.

Where this size is used

Formats close to 33×48 mm are requested across multiple countries for official identity documents. Because the same dimensions appear in different national systems, you will most often be asked for this size when an application form, a checklist at an acceptance office, or an online portal states the measurement explicitly. Always match the size your specific institution lists; when they ask for 33×48 mm, this is the file you need.

Exact specification

The finished image must measure 33 mm wide by 48 mm tall, which is roughly 1.3 by 1.89 inches. We render at 300 dpi so the print stays crisp at this small physical size. The head height should be approximately 36 mm, occupying about 65 to 78 percent of the frame, measured from the bottom of the chin to the crown of the head.

• Dimensions: 33×48 mm (about 1.3×1.89 in), 300 dpi.
• Head height: roughly 36 mm, 65–78 percent of the total frame.
• Background: plain, even white (#FFFFFF) with no shadows or texture.
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no smile, eyes open and clearly visible.
• Eyewear: glasses are not allowed; remove them before the photo is taken.
• Headwear: none, except plain head coverings worn daily for religious reasons, and the full face must stay visible.
• File: JPG, no larger than 2 MB.

Common rejection reasons

Most refusals trace back to a handful of avoidable issues. The head is sized incorrectly, sitting either too small in the frame or cropped so tightly that the margin above the hair disappears. The background carries a faint grey gradient or a shadow cast by the subject, instead of the clean white the format requires. A subtle smile or parted lips break the neutral-expression rule. Reflections or frames from glasses obscure the eyes. We address each of these before delivery so the photo conforms to specification.

How we prepare your photo

You upload a clear photo taken in soft, even light. Our team straightens the pose, centres the face, and sets the head height to the correct proportion for the 33×48 mm frame. We replace the background with a uniform white field, neutralise stray shadows, and confirm that the expression is calm with the eyes fully open. Skin tone and colour balance are kept natural, never over-processed, so you look like yourself in a professional portrait. The result is checked against the dimensional and head-size rules pixel by pixel.

Print and digital

We deliver a digital JPG sized exactly to 33×48 mm at 300 dpi and kept under the 2 MB ceiling, suitable for upload to online application portals. Alongside it we provide a print-ready sheet so you can produce physical copies at the correct real-world size, complete with cut guides, at any photo counter or on a home printer using standard 10×15 cm paper. Both files share the same approved image, so whether the office wants a digital submission or a printed photograph, you are covered.

Before you submit

Wear everyday clothing that contrasts with the white background, keep your hair clear of your eyes and the edges of your face, and look straight at the camera. If your application lists any wording beyond the standard rules, follow that wording exactly. With the size, head height, white background, neutral expression and file limits all satisfied, your 33×48 mm photograph is ready for a confident submission.