Applying for a Latvian passport (pase) or eID card begins with one detail that decides everything: a photograph matching the exact rules of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP). Latvia requires a 35×45 mm colour photo on a plain light background, taken within the last six months, with a neutral expression and both eyes visible. Small problems cause delays — a shadow behind the head, a faint smile, glare on glasses, or a head sized outside the biometric range are common reasons applications are rejected. Compliance matters because the PMLP checks every image against ICAO biometric standards. Our Passport Photo Maker handles cropping, framing and background automatically, so your photo is right the first time.
Manually resizing a photo to 35×45 mm and guessing the head position rarely passes a PMLP check. The maker does the technical work for you.
The tool crops to the exact 35×45 mm ratio so you never submit a photo that is a millimetre off.
Your head is positioned and sized to the ~34.5 mm biometric range the PMLP expects.
Output matches Latvian passport, eID and Schengen visa dimensions without any manual measuring.
Busy or coloured backgrounds are replaced with a clean, evenly lit light backdrop.
Download a single digital file or a print-ready 10×15 cm sheet for a Latvian photo kiosk.
Everything happens in your browser. No editing skills, plugins or software installs needed.
These specifications are set by the PMLP for Latvian passports and eID cards and follow the ICAO biometric standard shared across the EU.
| Requirement | Latvia Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Width | 35 mm |
| Height | 45 mm |
| Background | Plain, uniform light background (white or very light grey), no shadows or objects |
| Head Size | Head height approx. 34.5 mm (chin to crown of hair); face fills 70–80% of the frame |
| Resolution | 600 DPI recommended (minimum 300 DPI); sharp, in focus, natural colour |
| File Format | Colour JPEG for digital submission; no compression artefacts or filters |
| Glasses Rules | Remove glasses; permitted only with a medical reason, with no glare and eyes fully visible |
| Expression Rules | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, no smiling or teeth showing |
| Photo Age | Taken within the last 6 months and true to your current appearance |
| Digital Submission Rules | JPEG image meeting ICAO biometrics; accepted via PMLP e-services or captured on site at a PMLP branch |
In Latvia, passports and eID cards are issued by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs — in Latvian, Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde, abbreviated PMLP. This agency operates under the Ministry of the Interior and manages the population register, identity documents, citizenship matters and residence permits.
The PMLP is the body that decides whether your photo is accepted. It applies the ICAO biometric photo standard used across the EU, and it also captures biometric data such as fingerprints for passports. Since 1 May 2023, the eID card has been a mandatory identity document for Latvian citizens and non-citizens aged 15 and over, which means many applicants now need a compliant biometric photo even if they do not travel.
Latvia issues biometric passports, so the photo is more than a picture — it becomes machine-readable data. To pass automated facial matching at borders, the PMLP enforces strict geometry:
Beyond the measurements, the PMLP applies presentation rules that trip up many applicants:
Latvian children need their own passport or eID, and infants are the hardest photos to get right. The same 35×45 mm format applies, and for very young children a larger 50×70 mm print may also be accepted at some missions.
Renewing a Latvian passport always requires a new photo. You cannot reuse the image from your previous document, even if it still looks like you. The PMLP wants a picture taken within the last six months that reflects any change in your appearance.
If your looks have changed significantly — for example new glasses you must wear medically, a very different hairstyle, or notable weight change — a fresh photo is essential to avoid a mismatch during the renewal check. Applicants abroad can arrange renewal through a Latvian diplomatic mission, which follows the same photo standard as offices inside Latvia.
Latvia supports both digital handling and on-site capture, and the route can differ by office:
Because processes vary, confirm with your specific PMLP branch or Latvian mission whether they capture the photo for you or expect you to bring one.
Yes — a home photo can meet PMLP rules if you control the setup carefully, then let the maker handle the technical crop. Where a branch captures the photo on site, a home image is still useful for eID e-services, visa forms and backups.
Use the rear camera of a modern phone at full resolution. Front cameras distort facial proportions.
Face a window or two soft lights so the face is evenly lit with no shadow on the wall behind you.
Stand about 50 cm in front of a plain light wall. The maker cleans it up if it is not perfect.
Keep the camera roughly 1.5–2 m away at eye level to avoid a wide-angle "bulge" effect.
Download the print sheet and use a photo lab or kiosk, not plain office paper, for a crisp result.
Avoid selfies, tilted heads, smiling, strong shadows and low light — all frequent rejection triggers.
If you have made a US photo before, do not reuse those settings. Latvia and the United States use completely different formats.
| Feature | Latvia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35 × 45 mm (rectangular) | 2 × 2 in / 51 × 51 mm (square) |
| Head Size | Approx. 34.5 mm; 70–80% of frame | 1 to 1⅜ in (25–35 mm) chin to crown |
| Background | Plain light / white or very light grey | Plain white or off-white |
| Submission Format | Often captured on site at PMLP; digital JPEG or print for missions | Printed 2×2 in, or digital upload for online renewal |
| Compliance Differences | Neutral expression only; strict EU/ICAO biometric geometry | Neutral or natural smile permitted; square crop unique to the US |
The Latvia passport photo maker turns an ordinary picture into a PMLP-ready image in five steps.
Select a clear, front-facing photo from your phone or computer. JPEG, PNG and WebP are all supported.
The tool detects your face and crops to the exact Latvian ratio, positioning the head to the biometric range.
The busy or coloured backdrop is replaced with a uniform light background that meets PMLP rules.
Review the on-screen checks for head size, expression, lighting and framing before you finish.
Save a single digital file for e-services, or a print-ready sheet to take to a Latvian photo lab.
Most PMLP rejections come down to a short list of avoidable mistakes:
Passport photo requirements may change. Always verify the current rules with the official Latvian authority, the PMLP (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde), or your nearest Latvian diplomatic mission before you apply. Passport Photo Maker helps you create a compliant photo, but final approval of any document always remains with the issuing authority.
General Passport Photo Questions
The 35×45 mm format is the most widely used standard and is required across the EU and Schengen area, including Latvia. Countries such as the United States are exceptions, using a 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) square photo instead.
Most authorities, Latvia's PMLP included, now ask you to remove glasses. They are only allowed with a medical reason, and even then the eyes must be fully visible with no glare, tinting or frames covering the eyes.
For a Latvian passport the photo must have been taken within the last six months and reflect your current appearance. An outdated photo that no longer looks like you is a common reason for rejection.
No. Biometric photos require a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Latvia does not accept smiles, raised eyebrows, squinting or open mouths because they interfere with facial recognition matching.
Latvia-Specific Questions
The official size for a Latvian passport and eID photo is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall (3.5×4.5 cm), in colour, on a plain light background. The head height should be roughly 34.5 mm, filling about 70–80% of the frame.
A home photo can be accepted if it fully meets the biometric rules for framing, lighting and background. In practice, the PMLP often captures the biometric image on site at its branches, so check whether your local office prefers an in-person photo before your visit.
The eID card and passport use the same 35×45 mm biometric photo standard, so a single compliant photo works for both. Since 1 May 2023 the eID card is a mandatory identity document for Latvian citizens and non-citizens aged 15 and over.
Latvia requires a plain, evenly lit light background, typically white or very light grey, with no shadows, patterns, objects or other people in the frame. Our Passport Photo Maker replaces busy backgrounds with a compliant light backdrop automatically.
Skip the trip to a Riga photo studio and the guesswork over millimetres. Upload one picture and the Latvia passport photo maker returns a PMLP-ready 35×45 mm image — correctly cropped, biometrically framed and on a clean light background.
