Spain ID card photo
Spain ID card photo: 26 x 32 mm. Spain: no head height is published for this document. The photo must have been taken in the last 24 months. Source: Direccion General de la Policia, Ministerio del Interior, checked September 27, 2026.
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The requirements
| Print size | 26 x 32 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height, chin to crown | The authority publishes no head height |
| Background | Plain uniform white background, smooth, with no pattern or shadow. |
| Glasses | Allowed, as long as the eyes are fully visible with no glare and no tint. |
| Head covering | Only for religious or medical reasons, and the face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. |
| Ears | No |
| Photo age | 24 months |
| Also required |
|
How to apply: Spain
For a Spanish national identity card (Documento Nacional de Identidad, DNI) you bring one recent colour photo, printed on paper, to your appointment at a police Documentation Unit (Unidad de Documentación). The National Police publish the size as 32 by 26 millimetres, height first, so the print is 26 mm wide and 32 mm high. This is the classic Spanish carné size, and it is the same print the Spanish passport uses, not the 35 x 45 mm found in most of Europe.
The background must be white, uniform and smooth, the photo taken from the front with the head fully uncovered, and the picture may be at most two years old. There is no online upload: the DNI is always applied for in person, with an appointment (cita previa), under Royal Decree 255/2025 of 1 April.
On a renewal without any change of personal data, units equipped with a multiple issuing module can take the photo automatically on the spot, even if you bring one. On a first issue, and on any renewal where your data changes, bring the print.
Why photos get rejected here
A photo that does not look like you
The National Police say a photo can be rejected if it does not faithfully represent the applicant or makes identification unclear. A heavily retouched or very old picture is the usual cause.
A photo older than two years
The DNI rules set a maximum age of two years for the photo. An old print from a previous application does not qualify.
Dark glasses
Glasses with dark lenses are refused unless you are blind or have a serious permanent or long-lasting eye condition and wear them habitually.
A covered forehead or hidden features
No garment may cover the forehead, and a fringe must still show the eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and chin. Hair clips and bands must be discreet.
A background that is not plain white
The background must be uniform, white and smooth. Light grey or a patterned wall is not what the rule asks for.
What helps
Ask for carné size, not 35 x 45
Tell the photographer or booth that the photo is for a Spanish DNI. A 35 x 45 mm print is the wrong size for this document.
Renewing without changes? The unit may take it
Units with a multiple issuing module can photograph you on a renewal with no data change. Bringing a print anyway costs nothing and covers the case where the unit has no module.
Renew inside the last 180 days
A DNI can be renewed within the last 180 days of its validity. Book the appointment first, then have the photo taken so it is recent.
Check the other papers for a first issue
A first DNI also needs a literal birth certificate issued no more than six months before, and proof of registered address (empadronamiento) issued no more than three months before.
Glasses
Prescription glasses are allowed as long as the eyes can be seen through them and are open. Dark lenses are refused, except for blind people or people with a serious permanent or long-lasting eye condition who wear them habitually. If your glasses reflect light, taking them off for the photo is the safe choice.
Passport photo glasses rules by country
Head covering
The head must be uncovered, with one exception: a head covering worn for religious or medical reasons is accepted if the whole oval of the face, from the hairline to the chin, including the forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth, stays uncovered. The ears do not have to be visible.
Applying online
There is no upload. The photo is handed over on paper at the appointment, or taken at the unit on a renewal without data changes where the equipment exists.
Questions about Spain photos
What size is a Spanish DNI photo?
32 by 26 millimetres as the National Police write it, height first: 26 mm wide and 32 mm high, in colour, on a plain white background.
Is the DNI photo the same as the Spanish passport photo?
The size and background are the same 32 x 26 mm carné print on white. The DNI page also sets a maximum photo age of two years.
Can I wear glasses in my DNI photo?
Yes, prescription glasses are allowed if your open eyes can be seen. Dark lenses are only accepted for blind people or a serious permanent eye condition.
Do I need a photo to renew my DNI?
Bring one. On a renewal without any change of data, units with a multiple issuing module can take the photo on the spot instead, but not every unit has one.
Where these numbers come from
Official sourceEvery measurement on this page comes from the issuing authority's own published requirements.
- DNI: Primera inscripcionchecked September 27, 2026
- DNI: Renovacion del DNIchecked September 27, 2026
Reviewed by Editorial teamHow we check our numbers