Sweden · Passport Photo
Sweden Passport Photo Maker: Get the Exact 35×45mm Size
A Swedish passport photo isn't just any portrait — it's a precise biometric document checked against rules set by the Swedish Police Authority (Polismyndigheten). The required size is 35mm by 45mm, with the head measuring 32–36mm from chin to crown against a plain, even background. Most rejected photos fail for the same reasons: the head sits too large or too small in the frame, the background has shadows or texture, or the photo is simply too old to reflect your current appearance. Since the police photograph you on the spot for the passport itself, this tool is built for everything around that process — Swedish visa applications, ID card prep, and embassy submissions abroad — where a correctly sized 35×45mm photo is still required from you.
Sweden Photo Spec
Why Use the Tool Instead of Cropping It Yourself
Automatic Crop
The tool maps your photo straight onto the 35×45mm frame instead of you guessing pixel ratios in an image editor.
Biometric Head Framing
Your head is measured and positioned to land inside the 32–36mm chin-to-crown range Sweden's biometric standard expects.
Correct Dimensions, Every Time
Output is locked to 35×45mm at print resolution, so there's no risk of submitting an off-size photo.
Even, Compliant Background
Shadows, clutter, and uneven tone behind you are automatically replaced with a plain light background.
Printable Photo Sheet
Get a ready-to-print sheet sized for standard photo paper if your application or embassy needs a physical copy.
No Photoshop Required
Everything — cropping, background, sizing — happens in the browser. No design software, no manual measuring.
Sweden Passport Photo Requirements
These specifications reflect the standard EU/Schengen biometric photo format that Sweden's passport and travel documents follow.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo Size | 35mm × 45mm |
| Width | 35mm |
| Height | 45mm |
| Background | Plain white or light grey, even lighting, no shadows or patterns |
| Head Size | 32mm–36mm from chin to crown (approx. 70–80% of frame height) |
| Resolution | High-resolution, sharp, no pixelation or compression artifacts |
| File Format | JPEG for digital submissions; matte or glossy photo paper for prints |
| Glasses Rules | Clear lenses only, no glare, no tint; eyes fully visible |
| Expression Rules | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, facing forward |
| Photo Age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Digital Submission Rules | Varies by use case (visa portal, embassy, or ID prep); follow the specific service's upload format |
Polismyndigheten: Passport Authority Overview
Passports for Swedish citizens are issued by the Swedish Police Authority (Polismyndigheten), not a separate civil registry. Passport offices, known as Passexpeditioner, sit inside police stations across the country and at select Swedish embassies and consulates abroad. Because passport issuance is handled by national police, the same visit that produces your passport also captures your fingerprints, since Swedish passports issued since October 2005 are biometric documents.
This is one reason Sweden's process differs from countries where you upload a photo before your appointment: here, the photo is one part of a wider in-person identity and biometric check that the police themselves carry out at the passport office terminal.
How the Swedish Passport Application Works
Every applicant — adults, teenagers, and children alike — must appear in person at a passport office. There is no mail-in or fully digital path for a standard Swedish passport. The typical visit covers:
- Booking an appointment in advance through the police's online booking system
- Bringing valid proof of identity (an existing Swedish passport, national ID card, or driving licence)
- Having your photo and fingerprints captured directly at the passport office terminal
- Paying the application fee on-site by card
- Collecting the finished passport at a passport office once it's ready, typically within one to two weeks domestically
Because the photo for the passport itself is taken by Polismyndigheten staff, a self-prepared photo isn't submitted for that specific step. Where a prepared 35×45mm photo matters is everything adjacent: Schengen visa applications, national ID card pre-checks, employer or student ID documentation, and passport applications submitted through certain embassies abroad that do accept a supplied photo.
Child Passport Photo Requirements
Children, including infants, must also appear in person at a Swedish passport office, and all legal guardians must provide written consent for applicants under 18. The photo standards mirror the adult rules with a few practical adjustments:
- Only the child should appear in the frame — no parent's hand, toy, or pacifier visible
- A neutral expression is preferred, though infants are generally allowed to have closed eyes
- The child should face forward with the head positioned centrally, same as an adult photo
- Clothing should contrast with the plain light background so the outline of the head and shoulders is clear
Can I Take My Sweden Passport Photo at Home?
For the official Swedish passport itself, no — the photo is captured by Polismyndigheten at the passport office. But for a Schengen visa, an ID card pre-check, or an embassy application that does accept a submitted photo, a home-taken photo can absolutely work if you follow a few rules.
Phone Camera Requirements
Use the rear camera on your phone rather than the front-facing one — it typically captures sharper detail and avoids the slight distortion of selfie lenses. Ask someone else to take the photo for you rather than using a tripod selfie timer where possible.
Lighting
Face a window or other soft, even light source so both sides of your face are lit equally. Avoid overhead lighting that casts shadows under the eyes or chin, and avoid direct flash, which tends to wash out detail and create red-eye.
Background
Stand about a meter in front of a plain, light-colored wall. You don't need to worry about getting the background perfectly even — the tool replaces it automatically once you upload your photo.
Distance From Camera
Keep roughly one meter between you and the camera, with the lens at eye level. Standing too close distorts facial proportions; standing too far makes it harder to crop the head to the correct 32–36mm range.
Printing Requirements
If a physical copy is needed, print on quality matte or glossy photo paper at full resolution rather than regular printer paper, which tends to blur fine detail.
Common Mistakes
- Smiling or having the mouth open, which most biometric standards reject
- Wearing tinted glasses or letting overhead light glare off the lenses
- Letting hair fall across the eyebrows or eyes
- Using an old photo that no longer matches your current appearance
Sweden Passport Photo vs US Passport Photo
Sweden follows the EU/Schengen biometric format, while the United States uses its own distinct standard. The two are not interchangeable.
| Sweden | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35mm × 45mm | 2in × 2in (51mm × 51mm) |
| Head Size | 32–36mm chin to crown | 25–35mm (1–1⅜in) chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white or light grey | Plain white or off-white |
| Submission Format | In-person capture at passport office; printed photo for select embassy/visa uses | Printed photo or digital upload, depending on application type |
| Compliance Differences | Aligned with Schengen biometric standard across the EU | Set independently by the US Department of State |
How to Create a Sweden Passport Photo Maker Result
- Upload your photo. Choose a clear, well-lit photo from your phone or computer using the upload tool above.
- Let the tool crop it. Your photo is automatically resized and cropped to the 35×45mm Sweden frame with the head positioned in the correct range.
- Fix the background. Any background clutter, shadow, or color is replaced with a plain, even light background.
- Verify the result. Check the preview against the dimension and head-size guides before downloading.
- Download. Save a digital file for online submissions or a print-ready sheet for physical copies.
Common Rejection Reasons for Sweden-Style Passport Photos
- Incorrect dimensions — photo isn't sized to the 35×45mm frame
- Wrong background — patterned, dark, or uneven backgrounds
- Head too large — exceeds the 36mm chin-to-crown maximum
- Head too small — falls under the 32mm chin-to-crown minimum
- Shadows on the face or background from harsh or one-sided lighting
- Glasses glare obscuring the eyes
- Photo older than six months and no longer reflecting current appearance
- Poor lighting — over- or under-exposed images
- Digital editing issues — visible filters, retouching, or smoothing
Frequently Asked Questions
What size does a Sweden passport photo need to be?
35mm wide by 45mm high, with the head measuring 32–36mm from chin to crown — the standard EU/Schengen biometric photo format.
Can I use a selfie for my Sweden passport photo?
It's not recommended. Selfies rarely meet the distance, angle, and lighting standards required, and for the actual Swedish passport, the photo is captured for you at the police passport office anyway.
How long is a Sweden passport photo valid for?
It should reflect your current appearance and is generally expected to have been taken within the last six months.
What background color is required for a Sweden passport photo?
A plain, light, even background — typically white or light grey — with no shadows, patterns, or objects behind you.
Does the Swedish Police Authority take my passport photo for me?
Yes. For a standard passport, Polismyndigheten photographs you in person at the Passexpedition using their own terminal, so you don't submit a printed photo for that step.
Why would I need a Sweden passport photo tool if the police take the photo?
A correctly sized 35×45mm photo is still required for Swedish national ID card pre-checks, visa applications, embassy submissions abroad, and other ID documents where you do supply your own photo.
Can I wear glasses in my Sweden passport photo?
Plain glasses are typically fine if there's no glare or tint and your eyes stay fully visible. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not accepted.
What's the most common reason a Sweden passport-style photo gets rejected?
Incorrect head size relative to the frame and shadowed or uneven backgrounds, followed closely by photos older than six months.
Create Your Sweden Passport Photo Maker Photo Now
Upload your photo and get a properly sized 35×45mm result with the background and head framing handled automatically — ready for your visa, ID, or embassy application.