Seaman’s Book Photo

A Seaman's Book, also called a Seafarer's Identity Document, is the professional identity document carried by merchant sailors. It records a mariner's service history and identity, and the photograph inside it must meet strict, passport-style standards. PhotoID24 prepares a compliant 35x45 mm photo from a picture you take at home, so seafarers can submit their application without a trip to a studio.

Because this document identifies you in ports and to maritime authorities around the world, its photo follows the same disciplined rules as official travel documents.

What this photo is for

The Seaman's Book photograph identifies a merchant sailor for work on board ships, for shore leave in foreign ports, and for dealings with port-state and flag-state authorities. As a recognised identity document for seafarers, it must show your face clearly and neutrally so that officials can match the document to its holder reliably. A poor or non-compliant photo can hold up issuance of a document you may need before you can join a vessel.

Exact specification

We produce the photo at 35x45 mm with the head occupying about 33.75 mm, generally 70-80% of the frame height. The background is a plain white, the expression is neutral with the mouth closed, glasses are not worn, and the file is delivered as a JPG of up to 2 MB at 300 dpi.

• Dimensions: 35x45 mm
• Head height: about 33.75 mm (roughly 70-80% of the frame)
• Background: plain white
• Expression: neutral, eyes open, mouth closed, no smile
• Glasses: not allowed
• Headwear: only for religious reasons, with the full face visible
• File: JPG up to 2 MB, 300 dpi

Common rejection reasons

Applications are commonly returned because of smiling or an open mouth, glasses or uniform caps worn in the photo, shadows behind the head, uneven or coloured backgrounds, a head that is too large or too small in the frame, and pictures that are not recent. Snapshots cropped from holiday photos rarely meet the uniform-lighting and neutral-pose requirements, which is why a properly prepared image saves time.

How we prepare your photo

Take a recent, front-facing picture in even light with a neutral expression and no glasses or cap. We straighten and centre your head, set the 70-80% head proportion, replace the background with a clean uniform white, remove shadows and crop to exactly 35x45 mm. The output is a print-ready JPG under 2 MB that satisfies the disciplined, passport-style standard expected for maritime identity documents.

Notes for seafarers

Mariners often need this document on a tight schedule before a contract begins, so avoiding a rejected photo matters. Keep your shoulders square to the camera, remove any headgear that is part of a uniform, and make sure your full face from the crown to the chin is visible and evenly lit. Requirements can differ slightly between issuing countries and between the various national and international document formats, so always confirm the exact specification with your issuing authority or manning agency; the 35x45 mm white-background photo we prepare follows the widely used standard and gives you a clean, professional starting point.

Why a compliant photo matters at sea

A Seaman's Book travels with a mariner across international borders and is presented to immigration and port officials who may never have met the holder before. The photograph is often their first reference point, so it must be unambiguous: a clear, front-facing, evenly lit face that matches the person standing in front of them. A blurred, dated or badly cropped image undermines the document's whole purpose, which is to let officials confirm a seafarer's identity quickly and without doubt.

Because contracts and crew changes can be arranged at short notice, many sailors prepare their documents while still ashore, and a rejected photo at that stage can cause real delays. Getting the photo right the first time keeps the paperwork on schedule and avoids the cost of re-submitting. A neutral, professional portrait also sits well alongside the official stamps and entries that fill the rest of the document.

With PhotoID24 you handle this step from anywhere, including from home before signing on. You upload an ordinary photo, we apply the correct framing, background and proportions, and you receive a file ready to print or submit for your Seaman's Book.