Greece Passfoto

Greece Passport Photo -- The Hellenic Police Standard

The Hellenic Police (Ελληνική Αστυνομία) and the Ministry of Citizen Protection oversee passport issuance in Greece. Applications are filed at local police passport offices (Γραφεία Διαβατηρίων) or through KEP citizen service centres (Κέντρα Εξυπηρέτησης Πολιτών). Greece follows the ICAO 9303 biometric standard, and all Greek biometric passports (βιομετρικά διαβατήρια) issued since 2006 store facial data on an embedded chip. Photo non-compliance is a persistent cause of application delays, with photo errors accounting for a significant portion of returned applications at Athens and Thessaloniki passport offices.

These specifications apply to the standard Greek passport (διαβατήριο), the Greek national identity card (δελτίο ταυτότητας), and Schengen visa applications processed by Greek consulates. The authoritative source is the Hellenic Police passport technical specifications.

Official Photo Specifications

Dimensions:

• 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height (chin to crown): 30-36 mm
• Face centered horizontally with equal margins on both sides

Background:

• Pure white only -- no off-white, cream, or grey tones
• No shadows, gradients, patterns, or visible objects
• The background must be uniform across the entire frame
• Shadows cast by overhead lighting are a particularly common problem in Greek home photos due to the strong natural light

Expression and pose:

• Neutral expression with mouth closed -- no visible teeth
• Both eyes open, looking directly at the camera lens
• Face perfectly frontal, not tilted or rotated
• Full face visible from forehead hairline to chin, ear to ear

Glasses:

• The Hellenic Police strongly recommends removing glasses entirely. If worn, lenses must be completely clear with zero glare or reflection, and frames must not obscure any part of the eyes or eyebrows. In practice, removing glasses avoids the most common rejection trigger.

Head coverings:

• Not allowed except for documented religious reasons
• Religious head coverings must leave the entire face visible from forehead to chin and must not cast shadows

Recency: Taken within the last 6 months. Must represent your current appearance.

Greece Document Photo Sizes

Greece uses several photo formats depending on the document type:

Baby and Child Passport Photos (Παιδικό Διαβατήριο)

Greek children need their own biometric passport for international travel, including travel within the Schengen Area. The Hellenic Police applies adjusted photo rules for children, but the white background and head positioning requirements remain strict. Child passport photos are a frequent source of rejection at Γραφεία Διαβατηρίων offices.

Infants under 1 year (βρέφη): Place the baby face-up on a plain white sheet or cloth. Photograph from directly above. Eyes do not need to be fully open -- the Hellenic Police accepts photos of sleeping newborns under 12 months. No pacifiers (πιπίλα), toys, or patterned blankets may be visible. The child must be the only person in the frame. If a parent's hand is supporting the baby's head, cover it with the white sheet so it is not visible.

Children aged 1 to 6 (νήπια): Eyes must be open. Mouth closed and neutral expression, though passport officers exercise some leniency for very young children who cannot hold a perfectly still, neutral face. Seat the child in a highchair, car seat, or on a parent's lap -- but the parent must be completely hidden behind the child or cropped out. The white background must be visible behind the child without colourful objects or furniture.

Children aged 7 to 14: Full adult photo rules apply. The child must sit or stand facing the camera with a neutral expression. A parent or legal guardian (γονέας ή κηδεμόνας) must sign the application and accompany the child to the passport office.

All children: Greek child passports (παιδικά διαβατήρια) are valid for 3 years for children under 4 and 5 years for children aged 4-13, so parents retake these photos frequently. Head height must fall within 30-36 mm. Photos showing car seat straps, colourful blankets, toys, or a visible adult are rejected.

Greek-specific tip: Photo studios (φωτογραφεία) near police passport offices in Athens (Petrou Ralli, Alexandras Avenue) and Thessaloniki have infant setups with white backdrop rigs. Cost: 5-15 EUR. This avoids the shadow problems that Greek sunlight creates when shooting at home.

How to Take Your Greece Passport Photo at Home

Camera setup: Use a smartphone rear camera with at least 5 megapixels. Mount on a tripod or stable surface at face height. Stand at least 1.2 metres from the camera. Use the timer function or have someone else take the shot.

Background: Stand in front of a plain white wall. Greek apartments often have white-painted walls that work well, but check for any yellowing or uneven paint. A white bed sheet taped to the wall is a reliable substitute. Stand at least 20 cm from the wall to prevent shadows.

Lighting: Greek natural daylight is abundant but often too harsh and directional, creating strong shadows. Face a north-facing window for softer, more diffused light, or shoot on an overcast day. If using artificial light, place two lamps at 45-degree angles on either side. Avoid relying on ceiling-only lighting.

Framing: Center your face in the frame. Head height should fill 30-36 mm in the final 35x45 mm print. Leave space above the crown and below the chin.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Greece

Photo studios (φωτογραφεία): Studios near police passport offices and KEP centres specialize in document photos. Ask for φωτογραφία διαβατηρίου (passport photo). Cost: 5-15 EUR for a set of prints. Studios in central Athens and Thessaloniki charge toward the higher end; smaller-city studios are cheaper.

Metro station photo booths: Athens Metro stations (Syntagma, Monastiraki, Panepistimio) have automated photo booths calibrated for ICAO passport specs. Cost: 5-8 EUR for a strip of photos. Follow the on-screen positioning guide carefully.

KEP offices: Some KEP citizen service centres have photo booths on-site or partnered studios nearby, allowing you to get your photo and submit your application in one visit.

Print shops and copy centres: If you have a compliant digital file, most copy centres (τυπογραφεία) and some periptera (kiosks) near government offices can print passport photos for 2-5 EUR.

Budget approach: Use a free online passport photo tool to validate your image against Greek specs, then print a 10x15 cm photo at a print kiosk for under 1 EUR. Two 35x45 mm passport photos fit on a single 10x15 cm print.

Common Rejection Reasons for Greece Passport Photos

Hellenic Police passport officers and automated biometric screening flag these issues most frequently:

1. Shadows on the background -- Strong Greek sunlight or single-source overhead lighting creates hard shadows behind the head. This is the most common rejection in Greece.
2. Glasses glare -- Lens reflections cause rejection even though glasses are technically allowed. Removing them entirely is the safest approach.
3. Photo too old -- The 6-month recency rule is enforced. Officers may compare your photo against your appearance at the counter.
4. Background not pure white -- Off-white, cream, and yellowed walls produce a tinted background that fails the white-only requirement.
5. Head tilted or expression not neutral -- Even a slight smile, eyebrow raise, or head tilt is flagged by the biometric screening system.
6. Baby photos with visible props -- Pacifiers, patterned blankets, visible parent hands, and car seat straps cause immediate rejection for child passport applications.
7. Digital retouching -- Skin smoothing, filter effects, and AI enhancements are detected by the biometric system and rejected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What size is the Greece passport photo? A: 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI) for the current biometric passport. Older formats used 40 x 60 mm, but that size is no longer accepted for new applications.

Q: Can I take my Greece passport photo at home? A: Yes. Use a smartphone with a plain white background and soft, even lighting. The main challenge in Greece is managing harsh natural light that creates shadows.

Q: What background color is required for Greece passport photos? A: Pure white only. No off-white, grey, cream, or patterned backgrounds are accepted.

Q: Can I wear glasses in my Greece passport photo? A: The Hellenic Police recommends removing them. If worn, lenses must be clear, glare-free, and frames must not cover the eyes. Removing glasses avoids the most common rejection cause.

Q: How recent does my Greece passport photo need to be? A: Taken within the last 6 months. It must match your current appearance at the time of application.

Q: Do babies need their own passport to leave Greece? A: Yes. All Greek children, including newborns, need their own παιδικό διαβατήριο (child passport) for international travel. Children can no longer be added to a parent's passport.

Q: My infant won't open their eyes for the photo. Is that acceptable? A: For babies under 12 months, the Hellenic Police accepts photos with closed or partially closed eyes. For children over 12 months, both eyes should be open.