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Spanish DNI (ID card) photo
Spain's Interior Ministry and Royal Decree 1553/2005 state the DNI (national identity card) photo requirement: a recent colour photo of the face, size 32 x 26 mm, on a uniform plain white background, taken from the front, with the head fully uncovered, eyes open, and no dark glasses or any garment that hinders identification; religious or medical head coverings are allowed if the full face oval from hairline to chin is visible.
The official requirements
| Photo size | 32 x 26 mm (the regulation states the size without specifying which side is the width) |
|---|---|
| Background | Uniform, plain white |
| Pose | Front view, head fully uncovered |
| Eyes | Open; vision glasses must let the eyes be seen |
| Recency | Recent, in colour |
| Legal source | Interior Ministry DNI documentation page and Royal Decree 1553/2005, article 5.1.b, as amended by Royal Decree 869/2013 |
Checked against the official sources below on 7 Nov 2026.
Why this page does not crop your photo: neither the Interior Ministry nor the royal decree states whether the 32 mm side is the width or the height, and official consulate documents point different ways (one consulate's form lists 32 x 26 mm for passports; another consulate's passport normative requires a portrait frame 30-40 mm wide x 40-53 mm high). We will not guess the orientation on a legal document photo. Until an official source settles it, use a documentation office with automated photo equipment or a photo studio, and follow your office's written instructions.
How to do it
- Read the rules above and the two official sources linked below.
- If your documentation office has automated photo equipment, let it take the photo - the Ministry notes this option on the same page.
- If you use a photo studio, show them the exact wording: 32 x 26 mm, uniform plain white background, front view, head uncovered.
Common questions
What size is the Spanish DNI photo?
32 x 26 mm per the Interior Ministry and Royal Decree 1553/2005. The official texts do not state which side is the width, so we do not offer a crop frame here.
What background is required?
Uniform, plain white.
Can I wear glasses?
Vision glasses are fine if the eyes are visible; dark lenses only for permanently or long-term visually impaired applicants who use them habitually.
Is this also the passport photo?
Not necessarily - Spanish consulates publish their own passport photo rules and they differ between consulates; check your consulate's written instructions.