Thailand National ID Card Photo: Official Requirements
Everything you need to know about the official Thai National ID card photo standard — exact size, background, expression rules, and what to expect at the Amphur office.
This photo must be taken by an accredited service
For this document, Thailand 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 Thailand photos online:
A document photo is a headache of its own
A Thailand 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
A compliant photograph for the Thai National ID card (บัตรประจำตัวประชาชน) must meet the specifications set by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), the authority responsible for issuing identity documents across Thailand. Matching every requirement exactly means your appointment at the district office proceeds without delays, retakes, or repeat visits.
The Thai National ID card has a notable feature that sets it apart from most national documents: the photograph is captured digitally on-site at the district (Amphur) office using the official DOPA camera system — applicants do not submit a printed or self-prepared photo for the card itself. Knowing this in advance removes any uncertainty about what to bring. That said, preparing a perfectly standard-compliant reference image beforehand is genuinely useful: you arrive knowing exactly how you should look — hairstyle, expression, glasses off, correct attire — and you walk in fully confident. The same compliant image is also directly usable for Thai visa applications, re-entry permits, work permits, and other official documents that do accept submitted photographs.
- Photo size: 35 × 45 mm (413 × 531 px at 300 dpi)
- Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, gradients, objects, or colour tints
- Face coverage: the face must fill 70–80% of the frame height
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly at the camera
- Glasses: not permitted — any type, including clear-lens or rimless frames
- Headwear: permitted for religious reasons only (e.g. hijab); must not cast shadows on the face
- Recency: photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
Common reasons photos are rejected in Thailand:
- Coloured, grey, off-white, or patterned background — DOPA regulations require strictly plain white; even a slightly cream or beige background is grounds for recapture
- Glasses of any kind, including transparent or rimless frames, are prohibited under current DOPA standards
- Visible shadows on the face or background, typically caused by overhead lighting or a head covering positioned too close to the face
- Expression that is not strictly neutral — a slight smile, raised eyebrows, or a partially open mouth will result in the photo being retaken
Our tool automatically crops your photo to the exact 35 × 45 mm dimensions with a clean white background and correctly positioned face framing, matching every DOPA requirement. A free watermarked preview is available before any download, so you can check compliance at no cost. Whether you need a precise visual reference to walk into your Amphur appointment fully prepared, or a ready compliant image for a visa or other official document, you get a result that meets every official specification.
What an accepted National ID card photo looks like
Thailand · 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
- Not allowed
- Facial expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Headwear
- Only for religious reasons
- File
- JPG · ≤ 2 MB
Print size is 35 × 45 mm and the digital file is 413 × 531 px.
Official requirements source: thaievisa.go.th, iamkohchang.com
Requirements verified: 08.2026
How to take a good photo
The most common reasons a Thailand 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 Thailand National ID card photos
What is the correct size for a Thailand National ID card photo?
Do I need to bring a photo to the Amphur office for my Thai ID card?
If the office takes my photo on the spot, what is the reference image for?
Can I wear glasses in my Thai National ID card photo?
What background colour is required for a Thai ID card photo?
Is religious headwear allowed in a Thailand ID card 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.