Foto de Pasaporte de Norway

Norway Passport Photo -- The Politiet Standard

Norway's passport system is administered by the Norwegian Police (Politiet) and the National Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet). Since 2020, Norwegian passport photos are captured digitally at the police station during your appointment using standardized equipment. You do not submit your own printed photos for a standard passport application in Norway -- the police take the photo themselves. This makes Norway unusual among European countries.

However, there are situations where you still need a compliant photo of your own: visa applications to other countries via the Norwegian UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet), emergency travel documents (nødpass), and applications made at Norwegian embassies abroad. Understanding the specifications remains important even for the in-station photo, because the police will ask you to adjust your appearance if you arrive wearing glasses, a hat, or anything else that violates the standard.

These specifications align with the ICAO 9303 biometric standard and apply to Norwegian passports (pass), national ID cards (nasjonalt ID-kort), and travel documents for refugees. The authoritative source is Politiet's passport guidance.

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

Background:

• Light grey -- not white, not medium grey, not blue-tinted
• Norway is one of a small number of countries that mandates grey rather than white. This is enforced at police stations using calibrated grey backdrop panels, and it must be matched if you prepare your own photo for visa or embassy use
• No shadows, patterns, gradients, or visible objects

Expression and pose:

• Neutral expression, mouth closed, no visible teeth
• Both eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• Face perfectly frontal, no tilting or rotation
• Full face visible from forehead hairline to chin, ear to ear

Glasses:

• Glasses are prohibited in Norwegian passport photos. No exceptions for clear prescription lenses. The Politiet removed the glasses exemption in 2020 when the in-station digital capture system was introduced.

Head coverings:

• Not allowed except for documented religious reasons
• Religious head coverings must leave the entire face visible and must not cast shadows
• No hats (lue), headbands (pannebånd), or decorative hair accessories

Recency: For self-supplied photos (visa, embassy), taken within the last 6 months.

Norway Document Photo Sizes

The In-Station Photo Capture Process

When you book a passport appointment through politiet.no, the photo is taken at the police station using a standardized digital camera and grey backdrop panel. The system captures your photo and fingerprints in one session.

What to expect:

• Arrive without glasses, hats, or head coverings (unless religious)
• The officer will position you in front of a calibrated grey background
• You will be asked to look directly at the camera with a neutral expression
• The system checks biometric compliance in real time
• If the photo does not pass, you retake it immediately -- there is no separate rejection process
• The photo is stored digitally and printed directly into the passport during production

Booking: Appointments are booked online at politiet.no. Processing time is typically 10 working days. The passport fee is 570 NOK for adults, 270 NOK for children under 16. Expedited processing (nødpass) costs 990 NOK and is available for urgent travel within 48 hours.

Baby and Child Passport Photos (Barnepass)

Norwegian children need their own passport (barnepass) for international travel, including within the Schengen Area. The Politiet captures child passport photos at the police station using the same in-station system, but applies age-specific accommodations.

Infants under 1 year (spedbarn): The police station has a support rig or flat surface where the baby is placed face-up. The officer photographs from above. Eyes do not need to be open -- Politiet accepts photos of sleeping newborns under 12 months. The baby must be the only subject in the frame. Parents may need to hold the baby's head steady, but their hands must be hidden from the camera's view. No pacifiers (smokk), toys, or coloured blankets are allowed.

Children aged 1 to 5 (småbarn): Eyes must be open. Neutral expression, though officers exercise practical leniency for toddlers. The child is seated or held by a parent in front of the grey backdrop, but the parent must not be visible in the final captured image. Some police stations have a child-sized chair for this purpose. Officers are experienced with uncooperative toddlers and will take multiple shots.

Children aged 6 to 15: Full adult photo rules apply. The child sits in front of the grey backdrop and faces the camera with a neutral expression. A parent or legal guardian (foresatt) must accompany the child and sign the application.

All children: Barnepass is valid for 2 years for children under 10 and 5 years for children aged 10-15, so parents return for new photos regularly. Both parents must consent to the passport application, or a court order must be presented if one parent does not consent. This dual-consent requirement is strictly enforced in Norway.

Tip for parents: Book the appointment at a time when your child is well-rested and fed. Early morning slots tend to produce better results with infants and toddlers. The Politiet does not charge extra for retakes during the same appointment session.

How to Take Your Norway Passport Photo at Home

Home photos are only needed for visa applications or embassy submissions. For a standard Norwegian passport, the photo is taken at the police station.

Camera setup: Use a smartphone rear camera (minimum 5 megapixels). Mount on a tripod at face height. Stand at least 1.2 metres from the lens.

Background: The grey background is the critical requirement. A plain grey wall works if it falls within the correct tone range. If your walls are white, use a medium-light grey fabric, poster board, or backdrop cloth. Norway's spec is similar to Denmark's grey requirement. Test by photographing a sample and comparing the tone.

Lighting: Norwegian indoor lighting tends to be warm-toned (2700K-3000K bulbs are common). This can cast a yellowish tint on both the background and skin. Use daylight-balanced lighting or natural light from a north-facing window. Position two lamps at 45-degree angles to eliminate shadows.

Framing: Center face horizontally. Head height 30-36 mm in the final 35x45 mm print.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Norway

Police station (in-station capture): For standard passports and national ID cards, the photo is taken at the police station during your appointment. Cost is included in the passport fee (570 NOK adult, 270 NOK child under 16). No separate photo fee.

Photo booths: Fotoautomat machines at Posten post offices, Narvesen kiosks, shopping centres (Oslo City, Aker Brygge, Bergen Storsenter), and some train stations. Cost: 59-199 NOK for a strip of photos. Select the "pass/ID" setting, which uses the Norwegian grey background standard.

Photo studios (fotobutikk): Professional studios charge 200-500 NOK for a set of passport photos with the correct grey background. Useful for visa applications where you need a physical print or digital file. Studios near UDI offices and police stations know the Norwegian spec.

Pharmacy and print shops: Some Apotek 1 and Boots Apotek locations offer passport photo services for 150-300 NOK. You can also print a compliant digital file at an Elkjop photo kiosk for 29-59 NOK.

Budget approach: Use a free online tool to validate your photo against Norwegian specs, then print at a photo kiosk for under 30 NOK.

Common Rejection Reasons for Norway Passport Photos

At the police station, the officer will ask you to reshoot immediately if the photo fails. For self-supplied photos (visa, embassy), these are the top rejection causes:

1. White background instead of grey -- The most common Norway-specific error. Many applicants use a white wall, not realizing Norway requires grey. This differs from most EU countries.
2. Glasses visible -- The Politiet banned glasses in passport photos when the in-station system launched. All eyewear must be removed.
3. Expression not neutral -- Smiling, raised eyebrows, or squinting are all flagged. Even a subtle closed-mouth smile is rejected.
4. Head tilted or turned -- The biometric system requires a perfectly frontal orientation.
5. Shadows on background -- Overhead lighting and insufficient distance from the wall create shadows that violate the uniform grey requirement.
6. Baby photos with visible parent -- At the police station this is managed by staff, but for embassy submissions, photos showing a parent's hands, arms, or clothing are rejected.
7. Background too dark or too light -- The grey must be light grey specifically. Medium grey and near-white are both outside spec.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to bring my own photo to the Norwegian police station for a passport? A: No. Since 2020, the Politiet takes your photo digitally at the police station during your passport appointment. You do not need to supply a photo.

Q: What size is the Norway passport photo? A: 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI). This applies to passports, national ID cards, and visa applications.

Q: Why does Norway require grey instead of white for the background? A: Norway mandates light grey to ensure adequate contrast between the background and the subject, particularly for fair-haired applicants who are common in the Norwegian population.

Q: Can I wear glasses in my Norway passport photo? A: No. The Politiet prohibits all glasses. Remove them before the photo session.

Q: How much does a Norwegian passport cost? A: 570 NOK for adults, 270 NOK for children under 16. Emergency passports (nødpass) cost 990 NOK.

Q: Do both parents need to consent for a child's passport? A: Yes. Norwegian law requires both parents or legal guardians to consent to a child's passport application. If one parent does not consent, a court order is required.

Q: My baby won't open their eyes at the police station. Will we be turned away? A: No. For infants under 12 months, the Politiet accepts photos with closed or partially closed eyes. The officer will work with you to get the best possible shot. For children over 12 months, both eyes should be open.