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The Italian electronic identity card (carta d'identità elettronica, CIE) uses an ICAO-standard 35 x 45 mm photo — the same format and framing as the Italian passport, on a plain white background, face square to the camera with a neutral expression.
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Italian ID Card Photo (Carta d'Identità Elettronica) requirements
| Photo size | 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels (print) | 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI · 827 x 1063 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height | 32–36 mm from chin to crown — typical ICAO guidance (not separately published for this document). |
| Background | Plain white. |
| Glasses | Allowed if there is no glare, no tint, and the frames do not cover the eyes. |
| Editing | Keep edits minimal; most authorities reject retouched photos even where no explicit rule is published. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on. |
| Official source | Official photo requirements ↗ |
Good to know
The Italian Foreign Ministry publishes the ICAO photo guidelines for travel documents; the CIE is issued by your comune (or consulate) and follows the same ICAO standard rather than a separate national one. If your comune publishes its own sheet, follow that — municipal offices occasionally add local instructions.
The CIE photo is usually handed over digitally or scanned at the counter during the appointment, so bring the file as well as a print where possible.
The head-height band shown here is the ICAO convention rather than an Italian published figure, and is labelled as a guide for that reason.
How to make it in 3 steps
- Take or choose a photo. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even light with no shadows, camera at eye level about 2 m away, head and shoulders in frame with space around your head.
- Crop with the head guides. The maker opens preset to the 35 x 45 mm standard with the official 32–36 mm head range marked. Drag and zoom until the crown of your head and your chin sit on the guides, then run the built-in photo check.
- Download. Save the single photo (for online uploads) or the 4 x 6 in print sheet, and print it at any photo shop, pharmacy photo kiosk or at home for the price of a regular photo print.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Italian ID Card Photo (Carta d'Identità Elettronica)?
35 x 45 mm — 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI. The head must measure 32–36 mm from chin to the top of the head.
What background color does a Italian ID Card Photo (Carta d'Identità Elettronica) need?
Plain white.
Can I take a Italian ID Card Photo (Carta d'Identità Elettronica) at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight, have someone take a sharp, front-facing photo from about 2 m away, then crop it to the exact 35 x 45 mm standard with the free maker — the head guides show you the official head-height range.
Is this Italian ID Card Photo (Carta d'Identità Elettronica) maker really free and private?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no watermark and no signup. Unlike photo-booth apps and paid services, your photo is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
Where can I print my Italian ID Card Photo (Carta d'Identità Elettronica)?
Download the 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) sheet and print it as an ordinary borderless 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) photo at actual size (100%, no scaling) at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo kiosk, an online print service or on a home printer, then cut along the guide lines. You pay only for an ordinary photo print, not a photo-booth service fee. More detail: Printing passport photos in Italy.
What size photo is needed for an Italian electronic ID card?
35 x 45 mm, the ICAO standard format, on a plain white background with the face square to the camera and a neutral expression — the same photo used for an Italian passport.
Is the CIE photo the same as the Italian passport photo?
In practice yes: both follow the ICAO 35 x 45 mm standard. The passport specification is published by the Foreign Ministry and the CIE is issued by your comune, so if your comune publishes its own instruction sheet, follow that.