Malta National ID Card Photo: ICAO 35x45 mm Standard Explained
A clear, expert guide to the Maltese eID card photo standard, including the on-site biometric capture rule that means a self-made photo cannot be submitted for issuance.
This photo must be taken by an accredited service
For this document, Malta 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 Malta photos online:
A document photo is a headache of its own
A Malta 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
Getting your Malta National Identity Card (eID) photo right means meeting the ICAO 35x45 mm biometric framing used by Identità, the agency that issues identity documents under Maltese law. This page explains exactly how a compliant image must look so you know precisely what the standard demands before your appointment.
There is one peculiarity that sets Malta apart from most countries: you do not supply your own photo. For the Maltese eID card, your image is captured live by Identità front-office staff during your biometric enrolment, together with your fingerprints and signature. Because the picture is taken digitally on-site, a downloaded or self-made photo is generally not accepted for issuance. Knowing the exact standard still matters: it lets you arrive groomed, correctly dressed and confident that the captured frame will pass without a retake.
The official specification for the captured frame is:
- Dimensions: 35x45 mm (413x531 px) in ICAO portrait framing
- Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) or light, uniform tone
- Head size: the face fills 70-80% of the frame height
- Expression: neutral, looking straight at the camera, mouth closed
- Glasses: discouraged; if worn, eyes must be fully visible with no glare and no tinted lenses
- Headwear: none, except for genuine religious reasons with the full face visible
- Recency: the image must reflect your current appearance (typically within the last 6 months)
Common reasons photos are rejected in Malta:
- Tinted or reflective glasses that obscure the eyes — a frequent cause of retakes at the Identità counter
- Non-neutral expression — smiling, open mouth or turned head breaks ICAO compliance
- Hair across the eyes or face, or a fringe that hides the eyebrows
- Shadows on the face or background caused by poor positioning under the office lighting
Our tool prepares a perfectly standard-compliant 35x45 mm ICAO reference image from your own picture, automatically cropped to the exact official framing. For the Maltese eID card we are transparent: this reference cannot be submitted for issuance, because Identità captures your photo on-site. Use it instead to see exactly how a compliant photo must look, to prepare for your biometric appointment, or for any other document where a self-supplied 35x45 mm image is accepted. Honesty about this rule is the surest way to avoid a wasted trip.
What an accepted National ID card photo looks like
Malta · 35 × 45 mm. Tap any requirement to see what it means on a real photo.
- Size
- 35 × 45 mm · 413 × 531 px
- Background
- White plain
- Head in frame
- 70–80%
- Glasses
- Allowed
- Facial expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Headwear
- Only for religious reasons
- File
- JPG · ≤ 2.4 MB
Print size is 35 × 45 mm and the digital file is 413 × 531 px.
Official requirements source: identita.gov.mt
Requirements verified: 08.2026
How to take a good photo
The most common reasons a Malta 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 Malta National ID card photos
Can I submit my own photo for the Maltese eID card?
What size is the Malta ID card photo?
Can I wear glasses for the Malta eID photo?
Where is my Malta ID card photo taken?
What expression should I have?
Is headwear allowed?
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.