Latvia Passport Photo: Official Requirements and 35×45 mm Specification

A compliant Latvia passport photo meets the EU/ICAO biometric standard enforced by PMLP (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde) — Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. Getting the dimensions, proportions, and expression exactly right determines whether an application moves forward without delay.

Latvia stands apart from most EU countries in one critical way: PMLP offices photograph the applicant on-site using certified digital equipment during the appointment itself. This means that for a standard domestic passport application, you do not submit a printed or self-prepared photograph — the photo is captured by PMLP staff under controlled conditions. However, Latvian consulates and embassies abroad do require applicants to supply their own photograph, and in those cases the image must strictly conform to the technical specification below. Understanding this distinction is essential before you begin preparing documents.

• Size: 35 × 45 mm (digital equivalent: 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain light gray or white (#F5F5F5) — no patterns, shadows, or gradients
• Face proportion: head height (chin to crown) approximately 34.5 mm, filling 70–80% of the frame height; 3 mm clear margin above the crown
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no smile
• Eyes: open, clearly visible, looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: permitted only if eyes are fully visible, with no glare, reflections, or tinted lenses
• Headwear: forbidden except for documented religious reasons; must not obscure any facial features
• Photo recency: taken within the last 6 months, reflecting current appearance
• Print quality: sharp focus, even lighting, no red-eye, no pixelation

Common reasons Latvia passport photos are rejected at consulates:

• Incorrect head proportion: face occupying less than 70% or more than 80% of the frame — the 34.5 mm chin-to-crown measurement is checked precisely under ICAO biometric rules
• Glasses with glare or tinted lenses: even a faint reflection on the lenses is grounds for automatic rejection; photochromic or lightly tinted lenses are not acceptable
• Wrong background tone: cream, off-white, yellow-tinted, or patterned backgrounds are rejected; only the specific light gray (#F5F5F5) is accepted
• Visible smile or open mouth: consulate staff verify a strictly neutral expression — even a slight upward curve of the lips can disqualify the image

Our tool automatically crops and adjusts any portrait photo to the precise Latvia passport specification — 35 × 45 mm format, correct head proportion, proper margins, and the required background tone. An important transparency note: for passport applications processed inside Latvia, PMLP captures your photograph on-site at the office. A self-prepared image cannot be submitted for domestic applications. If you are applying through a Latvian consulate or embassy abroad, a properly prepared photo is required from you directly — and this is where our tool is most useful. For applicants inside Latvia, use it to see exactly how a compliant photo must look before your appointment, or to prepare photos for other identity documents that accept self-supplied images.