Armenia Passport Photo Maker
An Armenian passport photo must be 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) on a plain white or very light grey background, with the head measuring roughly 32–36 mm from chin to crown, taken within the last six months. The Passport and Visa Department asks for four identical colour copies.
Since Armenia moved to ICAO-compliant biometric passports the margin for error has shrunk. A head placed too high, a soft shadow behind the ear or a print at the wrong scale is enough to send an applicant back to the queue at their regional passport division. Getting the framing right the first time saves a return trip and a second wait for issuance.
Armenia passport photo size at a glance
The Armenian passport photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall (3.5 × 4.5 cm), equal to 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI with a 7:9 portrait ratio. Four identical printed copies are required.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm / 1.38 × 1.77 in) |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 826 × 1062 px |
| Aspect ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey, shadow-free |
| Head height | About 32–36 mm chin to crown (70–80% of frame) |
| Copies required | Four identical colour prints |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Issuing authority | Passport and Visa Department, Police of the Republic of Armenia |
Armenia shares the 35 × 45 mm standard with the UK, the Schengen area and most of Europe. Every national specification is indexed in the requirements by country hub, and each individual rule is explained in the passport photo rules library.
What a 35×45 mm Armenian photo looks like
The diagram shows the same frame Armenia uses: a 7:9 portrait rectangle with the head filling 70–80% of the height and a small margin above the crown.
Skip the manual editing
Cropping an Armenian passport photo by hand means guessing the head ratio, cleaning the background pixel by pixel and hoping the print scales to 35×45 mm. The maker does that work for you and locks the result to the Armenian template.
Automatic crop
The frame is set to 35×45 mm and your face is centred without measuring anything.
Biometric framing
Head height and eye line follow the ICAO layout Armenia uses for its biometric page.
Correct dimensions
Output is exact 3.5×4.5 cm at print-quality resolution, every time.
Clean background
Busy walls and shadows are replaced with the plain light background required.
Printable sheet
Download a print layout ready for a 10×15 cm sheet at any Armenian studio or kiosk.
No Photoshop
No software, no design skill and no subscription needed to get a usable file.
Armenia passport photo requirements at a glance
These specifications reflect the 35×45 mm standard used by the Passport and Visa Department for Armenian passports and biometric documents. Each rule links to the detailed standard. Confirm details for your specific document before you submit.
| Requirement | Armenia specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Width | 35 mm (413 px @ 300 DPI) |
| Height | 45 mm (531 px @ 300 DPI) |
| Aspect ratio | 7 : 9 portrait |
| Background | Plain white or very light grey, uniform and shadow-free — see background colour rules |
| Lighting | Even and diffuse, no shadow behind the head — see shadow rules |
| Head size | Face fills roughly 70–80% of the frame; head height about 32–36 mm from chin to crown, centred — see head size rules |
| Face coverage | 70–80% of frame height — see face size requirements |
| Eye line | Roughly two-thirds up the frame, both eyes open and looking at the lens — see eyes requirements |
| Hair | Must not cover the eyes or obscure the outline of the face — see hair rules |
| Ears | Not mandatory, but the full face outline must stay clear — see ears visibility rules |
| Head coverings | Not permitted except for religious reasons with the full face visible — see head covering rules |
| Resolution | 300 DPI minimum for print; e-visa images accepted up to 6000 × 6000 px — see resolution rules |
| File format | Colour JPEG for printing; JPEG/PNG for online uploads (e-visa file up to ~6 MB) |
| Colour | 24-bit colour, sRGB, natural skin tones, no filters or beautification |
| Glasses | Removed for biometric photos; if kept for medical reasons, no glare, no tint, eyes fully visible — see glasses rules |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera — see smile rules |
| Copies required | Four identical colour prints |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months and matching current appearance |
| Digital submission | Accepted through online services such as the e-visa portal; in-person passport applications use printed 35×45 mm photos |
Want the crop applied for you? Upload a photo above or open the Passport Photo Maker and pick the Armenian template.
Who sets the rules: the Passport and Visa Department
Armenian passports are issued by the Passport and Visa Department of the Police of the Republic of Armenia, the body most citizens still call OVIR. It operates territorial passport divisions across the country and coordinates with the migration service, whose online counter sits at migration.e-gov.am. The legal basis runs back to the Law on the Passport of a Citizen of the Republic of Armenia and the accompanying government regulations that fix document formats, including the 35×45 mm photograph.
Diaspora Armenians usually deal with the network of embassies and consulates instead, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Whether you apply in Yerevan, in a regional (marz) division or abroad, the photo specification stays the same, which is why a single compliant file works for every channel. Diplomatic and service passports are handled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but they follow the identical photo dimensions.
How the Armenian passport application works
In practice the process is short once your paperwork lines up. You book a slot at a passport division or start online through the migration portal, then bring your identity card or previous passport, supporting civil documents and your photographs. Biometric passports also involve on-site capture of fingerprints and a signature, which is why the printed photo has to match the person sitting at the counter that day.
State duty is paid in Armenian dram, and issuance timelines depend on whether you choose standard or expedited handling. Ordinary (non-biometric) passports remain in circulation alongside the biometric version, and minors receive shorter validity periods. A photo that fails inspection at this stage is the single easiest delay to avoid, and it is entirely within your control.
Armenia's biometric photo standard
The dark-red biometric Armenian passport carries a chip and is built to ICAO Doc 9303, the international specification that lets border systems read the document electronically. The stored facial image is matched by software, so the photo has to be sharp, evenly lit and free of red-eye, with a genuinely neutral expression and the head squared to the camera.
This machine-readability is also why background quality matters more than people expect: uneven lighting or a grey gradient behind the head can confuse facial detection. With Armenia moving closer to European travel arrangements, adherence to these biometric norms has become a routine part of issuance rather than an optional extra. The same ICAO framing underpins the EU biometric standard and the Schengen visa photo, both of which use the identical 35×45 mm frame.
Child passport photos in Armenia
Children need their own 35×45 mm photo, and no one else may appear in the frame. Hands, toys, dummies and supporting arms all have to stay out of shot, and the background must be the same plain light tone required for adults. There is no reduced size or relaxed head-height band for infants — the frame and proportions are measured exactly as they are for an adult. For very young babies the rule on a perfectly neutral face is applied with common sense, though eyes should be open and visible where possible.
A practical trick is to lay the baby on a plain white sheet and photograph straight down, then let the maker rotate and crop to the Armenian template. Shoot wide and crop in rather than filling the frame in-camera, or you will not have enough pixels left once the 7:9 rectangle is applied. Because minors receive shorter validity, a renewal comes around sooner, so keep the capture method simple and repeatable for the next time.
Full technique for newborns and toddlers, including positioning and lighting, is covered in our baby passport photo at home guide. The eyes requirements and shadow rules pages cover the two checks that fail most often on child photos.
Photographing a child? Open the maker and let the Armenian template handle the crop and background.
Renewing an Armenian passport: photo rules
A renewal always needs a fresh photo. You cannot reuse the image from an expiring passport, and the picture must have been taken within the last six months so it reflects how you look now. If your appearance has changed noticeably, through weight, facial hair or age, expect the division to insist on a new capture even if an older photo technically meets the size rules.
Armenians renewing from abroad submit to their embassy or consulate, and the same 35×45 mm specification applies there. Generating the photo digitally first means you can print matching copies locally or hand over a file that already passes the framing check.
Submitting photos digitally via e-gov.am
Armenia's online services run through the migration portal at migration.e-gov.am. For the electronic visa, applicants upload a digital image rather than a print, and the portal expects a high-resolution file, up to 6000×6000 px and within a modest megabyte limit, with the head sized to the biometric proportions. Oversized or mis-framed uploads are simply rejected by the form.
For a standard in-person passport application, printed 35×45 mm photos are still the norm. The convenient approach is to create one compliant file and use it both ways: upload it where digital is accepted, and print the same file as a sheet of matching copies for the counter.
If your upload is refused for file size, the reduce file size guide and compress to 240 KB guide cover how to hit a target without dropping below the pixel minimum. iPhone users shooting in HEIC should convert first with the HEIC to JPEG guide, and broader portal rules are in the digital passport photo requirements guide.
Printing your 35×45 mm photos
Because the Passport and Visa Department asks for four identical prints, printing is part of the specification rather than an afterthought. One standard 10×15 cm sheet covers the application with copies to spare.
| Print resolution | 300 DPI minimum — export at 413 × 531 pixels or larger |
|---|---|
| Paper | Glossy or matte photo paper, 200–250 gsm. Plain office paper is refused |
| Copies per 10 × 15 cm sheet | Six 35 × 45 mm photos — covers the four required, with two spare |
| Copies per A4 sheet | Around twenty with cutting margins |
| Cutting | Guillotine or steel rule for square edges. Do not cut inside the printed border |
| Colour management | sRGB. Disable printer auto-enhance and colour correction |
| Handling | Let ink dry fully. Do not staple, fold or glue the photo face |
Let the maker build the print sheet, then print on photo paper at a studio or self-service kiosk so the 35×45 mm scale is preserved. Printer settings and cutting technique are covered in full in the print passport photo at home guide, and multi-copy sheet layout in the print sheet guide.
Can I take my Armenia passport photo at home?
Yes. A recent phone and a plain wall are enough, provided you control lighting and framing. The maker handles the cropping and background, but the source photo still has to be clear and undistorted.
Phone camera
Use the rear camera (12 MP or better), not the selfie lens. Ask someone to take the shot so the phone stays at eye level and your face is not stretched. Switch off portrait blur and skin smoothing before you shoot — both alter facial geometry and are detected.
Lighting
Shoot in daytime facing a window, or use two soft light sources at 45 degrees. Avoid a single overhead light, which drops shadows under the eyes and nose.
Background
Stand against a plain white or very light wall and step about half a metre away from it so no shadow falls behind your head.
Distance from camera
Keep the camera roughly 1.5–2 metres away and zoom slightly rather than moving in close; getting too near widens the nose and distorts proportions.
Cropping
Let the tool apply the 7:9 rectangle and the 32–36 mm head-height band together. The crop guide explains why cropping to ratio alone is not enough.
Printing
Follow the printing guidance above, then print on photo paper at a studio or self-service kiosk so the 35×45 mm scale is preserved.
What to avoid
Selfies, beauty filters, hats, tinted glasses and busy backgrounds are the usual culprits. Fix them at the source rather than trying to edit them out afterwards — the full list is in why Armenian passport photos get rejected.
Armenia compared with other countries
Armenia's 35×45 mm format matches most of Europe but differs sharply from the American square and from its own regional neighbours. The differences are mostly about shape, head ratio and how many copies you hand over.
Armenia vs the United States
| Feature | Armenia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm (rectangular) | 51 × 51 mm / 2 × 2 in (square) |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 413 × 531 px | 600 × 600 px |
| Head size | ~70–80% of frame (≈32–36 mm chin to crown) | 25–35 mm / 1–1⅜ in (≈50–69% of frame) |
| Background | Plain white or light grey | Plain white or off-white |
| Copies required | Four identical prints | One print, or a single digital upload |
| Submission format | Mostly printed; e-visa allows digital | Printed for passports; online renewal uses digital |
| Compliance body | Passport & Visa Department, Police of Armenia | U.S. Department of State |
The headline point: an Armenian photo is taller and tighter on the face than the American square, so a US 2×2 image cannot simply be reused. The maker re-frames automatically when you pick the Armenian template.
Armenia vs its regional neighbours
| Country | Photo size | Pixels @ 300 DPI | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armenia | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 7 : 9 |
| Georgia | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 7 : 9 |
| Azerbaijan | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 7 : 9 |
| Kazakhstan | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 7 : 9 |
| Uzbekistan | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 7 : 9 |
| Ukraine | 35 × 45 mm | 413 × 531 px | 7 : 9 |
| Türkiye | 50 × 60 mm | 591 × 709 px | 5 : 6 |
| China | 33 × 48 mm | 390 × 567 px | 11 : 16 |
Armenia sits inside the large 35×45 mm bloc alongside Georgia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia, so a compliant Armenian photo also satisfies those standards. Türkiye and China are the regional exceptions: Türkiye uses a larger 50×60 mm frame, and both the Chinese passport photo and the China visa photo use 33×48 mm. Travelling into the Schengen area needs the Schengen visa photo, which shares Armenia's 35×45 mm size. The full worldwide reference is in passport size photo dimensions.
How to use the Armenia Passport Photo Maker in 5 steps
Upload
Add a clear, front-facing photo from your phone or computer. The Armenian 35×45 mm template loads automatically.
Crop
The tool auto-centres your face and sets the head height to the biometric ratio; nudge it if you want a finer fit.
Background
The busy or coloured backdrop is removed and replaced with the plain light background Armenia requires.
Verify
Run the built-in compliance check for size, head position, shadows and expression before you commit.
Download
Export a single digital file for online use or a print-ready sheet of matching copies for the passport division.
Why Armenian passport photos get rejected
Almost every refusal at an Armenian passport division traces back to a short list of avoidable issues. Check your image against each of these before you print or upload. The full cross-country breakdown is in passport photo rejection reasons.
- Wrong size — not a true 35×45 mm. See the crop guide
- Head too large and cropped by the frame — see head size rules
- Head too small, leaving too much space above
- Shadows on the face or behind the head — see shadow rules
- Coloured, textured or patterned background — see background rules
- Glasses causing glare or hiding the eyes — see glasses rules
- Hair covering the eyes or the face outline — see hair rules
- Hat or non-religious headwear — see head covering rules
- Smiling or an open mouth — see smile rules
- Photo older than six months
- Low resolution, blur or pixelation — see resolution rules
- Over-editing, skin smoothing or beauty filters
- Head tilted or not looking straight ahead — see face position rules
- Colour cast from indoor or coloured lighting
- Fewer than four identical prints handed over
- Digital upload above the portal's pixel or file-size limit
Compliance notice
Passport photo requirements may change, and individual divisions or consulates can apply them slightly differently. Always verify the current rules with the official Armenian passport authority — the Passport and Visa Department of the Police of the Republic of Armenia — before you submit.
Passport Photo Maker helps you create a photo that meets the published specifications, but final approval always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
Size & dimensions
Armenia What size is an Armenian passport photo?
35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm), which equals 413×531 pixels at 300 DPI with a 7:9 portrait ratio. Your face should fill about 70–80% of the frame with your head centred, looking straight at the camera. See the 35×45 photo size guide.
Armenia What is the Armenian passport photo size in pixels?
At 300 DPI the 35×45 mm photo equals 413×531 pixels. At 600 DPI it equals 826×1062 pixels. For the migration.e-gov.am e-visa upload the portal accepts a high-resolution file up to 6000×6000 pixels within a modest megabyte limit. Full conversions are in passport photo size in pixels.
Armenia How many photos do I need for the application?
The Passport and Visa Department generally asks for four identical 35×45 mm colour photos taken in the last six months. A 10×15 cm print sheet holds six copies of that size, so one sheet covers the application with two spare.
Appearance & compliance
General What background colour is accepted?
A plain, evenly lit white or very light grey background. Coloured walls, patterns and shadows behind the head are among the most common reasons for rejection. Stand about half a metre clear of the wall. See the background colour rules.
General Can I smile in a passport photo?
No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open. A smile shifts your facial geometry and can break the biometric match.
General Do I have to take my glasses off?
For biometric documents, yes. If you must keep them for medical reasons, the frames cannot cover your eyes and there must be no glare or tinting on the lenses. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are never accepted.
General Are head coverings allowed?
Hats and decorative headwear are not permitted. A head covering worn for religious reasons may be accepted provided the full face from chin to forehead stays visible with no shadow across the features. See the head covering rules.
General How recent does my passport photo need to be?
It has to be taken within the last six months and show your current appearance. Even a technically compliant older photo can be turned away if you no longer look like it.
Children & document types
Armenia What are the rules for a child or baby photo?
Children need their own 35×45 mm photo on the same plain light background, and no one else may appear in the frame. Hands, toys, dummies and supporting arms must stay out of shot. For infants the neutral-expression rule is applied with common sense, though eyes should be open and visible where possible. See the child passport photos section.
Armenia Are the rules the same for biometric and ordinary passports?
The 35×45 mm size and plain background apply to both. Biometric passports are stricter on focus, lighting and neutral expression because the image is read by facial-recognition software under ICAO standards.
Submitting & printing
Armenia Does Armenia accept digital passport photos?
Online services such as the e-visa on migration.e-gov.am accept a digital upload. In-person passport applications usually rely on printed 35×45 mm photos captured at the office or an authorised studio.
Armenia How do I print a 35×45 mm photo?
Print at 300 DPI on glossy or matte photo paper. A 10×15 cm (4×6 inch) sheet holds six 35×45 mm copies, which covers the four required. Cut with a guillotine for square edges and do not trim inside the printed border. See the print at home guide.
Official sources & references
The specifications on this page are compiled from publicly available guidance issued by Armenian government bodies and the international biometric travel document standard. Where a national requirement differs from ICAO, the national requirement applies.
- Police of the Republic of Armenia — Passport and Visa Department: police.am
- Migration and Citizenship Service — online applications and e-visa: migration.e-gov.am
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia — embassy and consular services: mfa.am
- ICAO Doc 9303 — Machine Readable Travel Documents biometric photograph standard: icao.int
Related Armenia Passport Photo Guides
- Passport Photo Maker Create passport and visa photos for 100+ countries.
- Requirements by Country Every national passport photo standard in one hub.
- Passport Photo Rules & Standards Background, head size, eyes, hair and shadow rules.
- 35×45 Photo Size The official photo dimensions used for Armenian passports.
- Passport Photo Size in Pixels Convert 35×45 mm into the correct pixel dimensions.
- Passport Photo Dimensions Worldwide size reference in millimetres and inches.
- Background Color Rules Official white and light background requirements.
- Head Size Rules Chin-to-crown measurement bands by country.
- Face Size Requirements Correct biometric head size and positioning.
- Eyes Requirements Eye line position, gaze direction and visibility.
- Hair Rules Fringe, styling and keeping the face outline clear.
- Ears Visibility Rules When ears must be visible and when they need not be.
- Head Covering Rules Religious head coverings, hats and headwear.
- Shadow Rules Lighting setup that avoids shadow behind the head.
- Glasses Rules When glasses are allowed in biometric passport photos.
- Crop Guide Applying the 7:9 ratio and head-height band together.
- Print at Home Guide Printer settings, paper choice and cutting technique.
- Passport Photo Rejection Reasons Common mistakes that cause passport photo rejection.
- Baby Passport Photo at Home Technique for newborns, infants and toddlers.
- Digital Photo Requirements Pixel, format and file size rules across portals.
- Reduce Photo File Size Hit a portal's KB limit without losing sharpness.
- Georgia Passport Photo Neighbouring country, same 35×45 mm standard.
- Azerbaijan Passport Photo Neighbouring country biometric passport photo guide.
- Turkey Passport Photo Regional exception at 50×60 mm.
- Kazakhstan Passport Photo Regional guide sharing the 35×45 mm format.
- Uzbekistan Passport Photo Central Asian 35×45 mm standard.
- Ukraine Passport Photo Another 35×45 mm biometric standard.
- EU Passport Photo The shared European biometric 35×45 mm standard.
- Schengen Visa Photo Same 35×45 mm size for Schengen travel.
- China Passport Photo The 33×48 mm regional exception.
- China Visa Photo 33×48 mm visa photo for COVA and CVASC.
- 2×2 Photo Size Compare the US square format with 35×45 mm.
Create Your Armenia Passport Photo Now
Skip the studio queue in Yerevan and the guesswork over head size and background. Drop in a photo and the Armenian 35×45 mm template does the rest — compliant, biometric-ready and set to print as four identical copies for the Passport and Visa Department.