Spanish DNI photo requirements (2026): size and background

The requirements at a glance

Requirement	What the law says
Size	32 × 26 mm (32 mm high by 26 mm wide)
Colour	In colour, not black and white
Background	White, uniform and plain
Pose	Taken from the front
Head	Completely uncovered
Glasses	No dark lenses
Other items	Nothing that prevents or hinders identifying you
Age of the photo	Recent

These requirements are set out in article 6.2.d) 4.º of Royal Decree 255/2025, which has regulated the Spanish national identity card (DNI) since April 2025 and replaced the former Royal Decree 1553/2005. The same photo is required for a first DNI and for renewals (article 8.2).

What the decree says, word for word

The original Spanish text asks for:

«Una fotografía reciente del rostro de la persona solicitante en color, tamaño 32 por 26 milímetros, con fondo uniforme blanco y liso, tomada de frente, con la cabeza totalmente descubierta y sin gafas de cristales oscuros o cualquier otra prenda que pueda impedir o dificultar la identificación de la persona.»

In English: a recent colour photograph of the applicant's face, 32 by 26 millimetres, with a uniform plain white background, taken from the front, with the head completely uncovered and without dark glasses or any other item that could prevent or hinder identification.

The decree adds that the photo may be taken automatically at the issuing offices (Unidades de Documentación) that have the equipment. Some offices can take it on the spot, but not all of them. To be safe, bring your own or ask when you book your appointment.

Mistakes that get the photo rejected

A background that isn't plain white: coloured walls, textures, doors or shadows behind your head.
A black-and-white photo or filters that change the colours.
Sunglasses or tinted lenses. Normal prescription glasses are allowed.
Caps, hoods or scarves covering your head or part of your face.
A photo taken from the side or at an angle: it has to be taken from the front.
The wrong size: cropping by eye so it isn't 32 × 26 mm, or printing it stretched.
An old photo in which you're hard to recognise.

How to take your DNI photo at home

Find a plain white wall and stand about half a metre in front of it so your shadow doesn't fall on the background.
Use natural light from the front, for example facing a window. Avoid direct flash, which causes glare and hard shadows.
Ask someone else to take the photo at eye level from 1 to 1.5 metres away. An arm's-length selfie distorts your face.
Look at the camera with your head straight, with no cap or sunglasses.
Crop it to 32 × 26 mm with our ID photo tool (linked above): you frame your face with a guide and it prepares a 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 in) sheet with several copies.
Print it on photo paper at any photo shop or kiosk, at 100 % size and without "fit to page".

Your photo is never uploaded to any server: the tool runs entirely in your browser.

What about the Spanish passport?

The Spanish passport asks for the same size (32 × 26 mm), in colour and with a plain white background. The official DNIe portal adds for passports that the oval of the face (eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and chin) must be clearly visible, and that the photo must be high resolution on good-quality photo paper.

Other countries have their own passport photo rules. This guide only covers Spanish documents.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the DNI photo in pixels?

The law sets it in millimetres: 32 × 26 mm. Printed at 300 dpi, that's about 307 × 378 pixels (width × height).

Can I wear glasses in my DNI photo?

Yes, normal prescription glasses. What the law forbids is dark-lensed glasses and any item that makes it harder to identify you.

Is a grey or light blue background acceptable?

The decree explicitly asks for a white, uniform and plain background. Any other colour may get your photo rejected.

Do I need a photo to renew my DNI?

Yes. Article 8.2 of Royal Decree 255/2025 requires a photo with the same characteristics for renewals. Some offices can take it on site automatically; ask when booking your appointment.

Can I use the same photo for the DNI and the Spanish passport?

In principle yes: both ask for 32 × 26 mm, in colour, with a plain white background. Make sure it's recent and good quality.

Spanish DNI photo requirements