Guatemala DPI Photo: The Exact RENAP Biometric Standard
Everything you need to know about the photo for Guatemala's national ID card (DPI) issued by RENAP, including the exact 26x32 mm biometric specification.
This photo must be taken by an accredited service
For this document, Guatemala 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 Guatemala photos online:
A document photo is a headache of its own
A Guatemala 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 national identity document of Guatemala is the DPI (Documento Personal de Identificacion), issued by RENAP (Registro Nacional de las Personas). Its photograph follows the same 26x32 mm white-background biometric standard used for the Guatemalan passport, ensuring the face is captured consistently across every official identity document.
There is one crucial peculiarity that sets the DPI apart from many other documents: the photograph and biometric data are captured live, on-site, at a RENAP office during enrollment. When you apply or renew, a RENAP operator takes your picture directly, along with your fingerprints and signature. For this reason, a self-supplied or downloaded photo is not accepted for DPI submission. The image must originate from the agency's own certified capture station so it can be tied securely to your biometric record.
Even though you cannot hand in your own file, knowing the exact technical standard helps you arrive prepared and looking your best. The official specification is:
- Size: 26x32 mm (614x756 px)
- Background: plain white (#FFFFFF), evenly lit, no shadows
- Face size: the head fills 70-80% of the frame height
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera
- Glasses: not allowed
- Headwear: forbidden, no hats or caps
- Recency: reflects your current appearance (taken within the last 6 months)
- Common reasons photos are rejected in Guatemala:
- Wearing glasses at the capture station, causing glare or hidden eyes; remove them before the operator takes the shot.
- Hair covering the face or eyebrows, which interferes with the biometric facial match.
- A non-neutral expression such as a smile or open mouth, which the standard does not permit.
- Headwear or accessories like caps or large earrings that obscure the face outline.
Because RENAP performs the capture itself, this tool will not produce a file you can submit directly for your DPI. Instead, it gives you a perfectly standard-compliant reference image: prepare your photo from your own picture, automatically cropped to the exact 26x32 mm RENAP specification, so you can see precisely how a compliant result should look before your appointment. Use it to check your framing, expression and background, to prepare for the office visit, or for other documents that do accept self-supplied photos. For Guatemala's DPI, plan to attend a RENAP office where the official photograph will be taken on the spot.
What an accepted National ID card photo looks like
Guatemala · 26 × 32 mm. Tap any requirement to see what it means on a real photo.
- Size
- 26 × 32 mm · 614 × 756 px
- Background
- White plain
- Head in frame
- 70–80%
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Facial expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Headwear
- Not allowed
- File
- JPG · ≤ 240 KB
Print size is 26 × 32 mm and the digital file is 614 × 756 px.
Official requirements source: igm.gob.gt, agn.gt
Requirements verified: 08.2026
How to take a good photo
The most common reasons a Guatemala 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 Guatemala National ID card photos
What are the photo requirements for the Guatemala DPI?
Can I submit my own photo for the Guatemala DPI?
Where is the DPI photo taken?
Are glasses allowed in the DPI photo?
What background colour is required?
Can I smile in the DPI photo?
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.