Cuba Carné de Identidad Photo — Official Size & Requirements
Exact official photo requirements for Cuba's Carné de Identidad: 45×45 mm, pure white background, no glasses — everything you need to arrive at your appointment fully prepared.
This photo must be taken by an accredited service
For this document, Cuba does not accept a self-prepared photo. By law it must be captured on site by an authorised service and submitted electronically, so we cannot produce a submittable file for it. The official specification is shown below so you know exactly what to expect at your appointment.
This photo is captured on site — but we can make your Cuba photos online:
A document photo is a headache of its own
A Cuba National ID card photo has strict requirements, and a mistake costs time and money. We’ll show you how to pass on the first try.
It gets rejected
Wrong size, background or cropping — and the system returns the application.
Expensive and slow
A trip to a photo studio means a queue, time and €7–12 for a reshoot.
Confusing requirements
Exact size, head height, light background, facial expression — easy to get wrong.
Redo it all over
Rejected — take another photo, pay and submit again. Round and round.
«Below are the exact requirements from the official source, so you arrive at your appointment prepared.»
Ordinary photo → ready for submission
We remove the background and clutter, set the framing and lighting — keeping your face without «beautifying».
Your face stays yours — we do not change features, only the background, lighting and framing.
Your National ID card photo: what matters
The Cuban national identity document — the Carné de Identidad — is issued and administered by the Ministerio del Interior (MININT) through its nationwide network of civil registry offices. It is mandatory for all Cuban citizens aged 16 and older and acts as the primary proof of identity for government services, official transactions, and domestic travel. Complying precisely with the official photo standard means your appointment runs without a hitch and your document is processed on the first visit.
One characteristic of the Cuban Carné de Identidad distinguishes it from most national ID systems: the photograph is captured digitally on-site at the registry office by trained staff during the application or renewal appointment. You do not bring or submit a printed photo. What this means in practice is that preparation is everything — knowing exactly what a compliant image looks like, how to dress, and which details the staff will check removes every element of uncertainty from the visit. A correctly prepared reference photo built to the official standard also serves you directly for Cuban consular applications, visa paperwork, and any other official document that does accept a photo submitted by the applicant.
Official photo requirements for the Cuban Carné de Identidad:
- Size: 45 × 45 mm (531 × 531 pixels at 300 dpi)
- Background: pure white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, gradients, or patterns
- Face coverage: the face must occupy 55–78% of the total frame height
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no smiling
- Glasses: not permitted under any circumstances
- Head coverings: allowed only for verified religious reasons; the head must otherwise be fully uncovered
- Recency: the photo must accurately reflect current appearance
Common reasons photos are rejected in Cuba:
- Glasses of any kind — even clear prescription lenses or lightly tinted frames are not accepted
- Background not pure white — cream, off-white, grey, or any tone other than #FFFFFF results in rejection
- Smiling or open mouth — the Cuban standard requires a strictly neutral, closed-mouth expression
- Head tilted, rotated, or partially obscured — the face must be fully frontal, centred, and unobstructed
Our tool automatically crops and calibrates your uploaded photo to the exact 45 × 45 mm / 531 × 531 px specification, applies a pure white background, and verifies correct face framing against the official standard. A free watermarked preview is generated before any payment — confirm every requirement is met before downloading the print-ready file. Use the compliant image as a visual reference walking into your registry appointment, and keep it on hand for Cuban visa applications, consular forms, and any other official document that accepts a submitted photograph.
What an accepted National ID card photo looks like
Cuba · 45 × 45 mm. Tap any requirement to see what it means on a real photo.
- Size
- 45 × 45 mm · 531 × 531 px
- Background
- White plain
- Head in frame
- 55–78%
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Facial expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Headwear
- Only for religious reasons
- File
- JPG · ≤ 1 MB
Print size is 45 × 45 mm and the digital file is 531 × 531 px.
Requirements verified: 08.2026
How to take a good photo
The most common reasons a Cuba National ID card photo gets rejected — and how to avoid them. Compare good and bad shots.
1Format and freshness
A color photo taken no more than 6 months ago.
2Lighting and background
Even light with no shadows on the face; a plain light background, without glare.
3Head position
Face head-on, head centered, no tilt or turn.
4Facial expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera.
5Glasses and accessories
No glasses (especially sunglasses); eyes fully visible, without glare.
6Headwear
Only for religious reasons and not covering the face — the face fully visible.
7Clothing
Ordinary everyday clothes; no uniforms or face-covering clothing.
Common questions about Cuba National ID card photos
What are the exact dimensions of the Cuba Carné de Identidad photo?
Is the photo for the Cuban ID taken at the office, or do I bring my own?
Are glasses allowed in the Cuban Carné de Identidad photo?
What background colour is required for the Cuban national ID photo?
Can I use a compliant reference photo for other Cuban documents or visa applications?
How does having a compliant reference image help me at my registry appointment?
Your photo is protected
A photo is personal data, so we handle it carefully and in line with GDPR. We process it only to prepare the document and delete it within clear deadlines.
- Only with consentWe process the photo only after your explicit consent before upload.
- Auto-deletionWe delete the source photo within a day, the ready file after 7 days.
- No sharing with third partiesYour photos are not sold or used to train any third-party systems.
- Deletion on requestYou can ask to delete your data at any time — with a single request.