Passport & Document Photos in Portugal — English Guide
Whether you're an expat renewing a home-country passport in Portugal, a digital nomad applying for a D8 visa, or a resident getting your AIMA título de residência, the photo spec is almost always 35×45mm with a white background. Here's how the system works for English speakers.
What you need to know
Portugal uses 35×45mm biometric photos for most documents — NOT the US 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square format. Print cheaply at CTT post offices (~€0.30–0.50) or photo shops. For AIMA residence permits, D7/D8 visas, and Portuguese passports, the same 35×45mm JPEG works. Digital nomad visa applications accept digital upload.
Who This Guide Is For
- Portuguese citizens living abroad who need a passport renewal at a consulate
- Expats and digital nomads in Portugal applying for AIMA residence permits, D7/D8 visas, or Golden Visa
- Tourists who ran out of home-country passport pages and need a renewal while in Portugal
- Anyone confused about the 35×45mm standard vs US 2×2 inch
The 35×45mm Standard
Portugal — like most EU countries — uses the ICAO-compliant 35×45mm biometric photo. The specifications are strict:
| Photo size | 35×45mm (≈1.38×1.77 inches) |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 32–36mm (70–80% of frame) |
| Background | Plain white or light uniform colour |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open |
| Glasses | Not allowed (medical exemption requires doctor's certificate) |
| File format (digital) | JPEG, max 500KB |
| Recency | Less than 6 months old |
Portugal vs US: Not the same
If you’re American, do NOT bring a US 2×2 inch passport photo to a Portuguese consulate or AIMA appointment — it will be rejected. The Portuguese format is taller, narrower, and has different head-ratio rules. Our tool outputs the exact Portuguese 35×45mm format.
What Expats Get Wrong
1. Using a US-format photo
American expats often bring 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square photos from their home-country renewal. These are rejected at AIMA, at the Portuguese consulate, and at the IRN. Portugal uses the European rectangular format.
2. Assuming the Cartão de Cidadão size is universal
The Portuguese national ID card (CC) uses 30×40mm — smaller than passport/visa photos. If you’re a Portuguese citizen renewing both CC and passport, you need two different photo sizes. Our tool generates both from one source.
3. Not knowing about AIMA
SEF (the old immigration agency) was dissolved in October 2023. As of 2024, residence permits, D7/D8 visas, and renewals go through AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). Many older expat blog posts still reference SEF — the process has moved. Photo specs are unchanged (35×45mm, white background).
4. Trying to use a Photomaton for a non-Portuguese passport
Photo booth machines (Photomaton) in Portugal offer the 35×45mm Portuguese format by default. If you need a US 2×2 inch photo for an American passport renewal, a Photomaton probably can’t produce the right size. Safer to generate digitally.
5. Wearing glasses
Portugal does not permit glasses in passport or residence permit photos — even prescription glasses. This surprises Americans and Australians who are used to glasses being allowed (US banned them in 2016; Australia and Portugal don’t allow them at all). Remove glasses before shooting.
Where to Get Photos in Portugal
| Method | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Online tool + CTT print | ~€1.50 total | 3 min + shop visit |
| Photo shop (Fotosport, local) | €5–15 | 15–30 min |
| Photo booth (Photomaton) | €5–8 | 5 min instant |
| Professional photographer | €20–40 | 30–60 min |
CTT (Correios de Portugal) — Post Offices
The Portuguese post office chain has photo printing at most branches. Bring your JPEG on a USB stick or by email. Print cost: €0.30–0.50 per 10×15cm sheet (6 photos). They typically know the 35×45mm passport format well.
Fotosport and Independent Photo Shops
Cadena Fotosport and independent photo shops are in most shopping centres. Full service (photo + print) costs €5–15. Print-only (bring your own file) is €0.20–0.50.
Photomaton / Photo Booths
Shopping malls, train stations (Oriente, Santa Apolónia, São Bento), and some CTT branches have photo booths. Quick (€5–8, 5 minutes) but no retakes if the result is bad. Only makes sense if you don’t already have a digital file.
Our Tool
Upload a phone photo. We remove the background, crop to 35×45mm, verify face positioning and size. Output is a JPEG ready to upload (AIMA, visa portals) or print (Portuguese passport applications are in-person only). Works in English — no Portuguese needed. Cost: ~€1.
Useful Portuguese Terms
| Portuguese | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Fotografia (foto) | Photo | Generic term |
| Passaporte | Passport | Portuguese passport |
| Cartão de Cidadão (CC) | Citizen Card | National ID (30×40mm photo) |
| Título de residência | Residence permit | AIMA-issued, 35×45mm |
| IRN | Registry Institute | Issues passports |
| AIMA | Immigration Agency | Issues residence permits (replaced SEF in 2024) |
| sigaApp / siga.mj.pt | Appointment scheduling app/site | Book your IRN appointment here |
| Chave Móvel Digital | Digital Mobile Key | Authentication method for online services |
| Imprimir fotografias | Print photos | What to ask for at CTT |
| Fotomaton / Photomaton | Photo booth | Automated booth |
For Digital Nomads — D7, D8, Golden Visa
The D7 (passive income), D8 (digital nomad visa), Golden Visa, and other Portuguese residence visas all use the same 35×45mm biometric photo. Whether you submit through the Portuguese consulate in your home country or later at AIMA in Portugal, the specs don’t change.
A few tips specific to nomad/investor visa applications:
- Digital submission is accepted for most online pre-filings (consulate portals, AIMA). JPEG, 35×45mm, under 500KB.
- In-person appointments at AIMA require printed photos. Get them printed at CTT or Fotosport once you’re in Portugal.
- Photo validity is 6 months. If your visa application drags on past 6 months, you may be asked for a fresh photo at the AIMA appointment.
- Background must be plain white. Not cream, not beige, not pale grey — AIMA rejects anything not clearly white.
One photo, many documents
Our tool generates the correct format for each document type. Create once, export for Portuguese passport (35×45mm), Cartão de Cidadão (30×40mm), your home-country passport, and any Schengen visa or D-class residence visa.
Still Renewing a Home-Country Passport?
If you’re in Portugal but renewing a US, UK, Australian, or other home-country passport, you need your country’s format, not the Portuguese one. Select your country below:
- US passport photo requirements — 2×2 inch (51×51mm)
- UK passport photo requirements — 35×45mm with UK-specific rules
- Australian passport photo requirements — 35×45mm, dye-sublimation printing required
For Portuguese documents, see the Portuguese passport photo requirements guide (in Portuguese).
Sources
Portuguese passport specs: Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado. Residence permits: AIMA. Digital nomad visa (D8) requirements: consult the Portuguese consulate in your home country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What photo size do I need for Portuguese documents?
35×45mm for passports, visas, AIMA residence permits, and most government documents. The Portuguese Cartão de Cidadão (national ID card) uses 30×40mm — a smaller format. The Portuguese driving licence uses 35×45mm. If you're unsure, 35×45mm covers almost every document, and our tool generates both sizes from the same source photo.
Can I use a US passport-style photo (2x2 inch) in Portugal?
No. Portuguese documents require 35×45mm rectangular photos — the European biometric standard. US 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square photos are rejected outright by AIMA, the IRN, and consulates. The head-to-frame ratio is also different: Portugal wants 70–80% head height, while the US uses a different proportion.
Where can I get passport photos taken in Lisbon or Porto?
Photo booths (Photomaton or similar) in shopping centres and train stations charge €5–8 for a sheet. Independent photo shops charge €5–15. The cheapest option: shoot at home with your phone, process on our tool (~€1), and print at a CTT post office or photo shop for €0.30–0.50. Total cost: under €1.50.
Does Portugal's AIMA residence permit accept digital photo upload?
Yes — AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, the successor to SEF since 2024) accepts digital photo upload for most residence permit applications submitted online. The file must be JPEG, 35×45mm proportions, and under 500KB. Printed photos are still accepted at in-person appointments.
Can I use the same photo for my D7 or D8 visa?
Yes. The D7 (passive income), D8 (digital nomad), Golden Visa, and other Portuguese residence visas all use the 35×45mm biometric format. The same JPEG file works for the online application and for the in-person appointment at the Portuguese consulate in your home country. Photo must be less than 6 months old at submission.
I'm renewing my US / UK / Australian passport while living in Portugal. What do I do?
You still need the photo format of YOUR country, not Portugal. US passport = 2×2 inch (51×51mm). UK passport = 35×45mm but with different head size rules. Australian passport = 35×45mm with dye-sublimation printing required. Select your country on our tool and we generate the correct format — we don't assume Portuguese specs just because you're in Portugal.
Do photo shops in Portugal know the US / UK / AU specs?
Photomaton machines typically only offer the Portuguese 35×45mm option. Independent photo shops (Fotosport, local stores) usually know the main European formats but may not be familiar with US 2×2 inch or Australian dye-sublimation requirements. Safer to generate the correct format digitally and then print to the exact specs.
What's the difference between SEF and AIMA?
SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) was the old immigration agency — dissolved in October 2023. AIMA took over residence permit and asylum applications in 2024. If you see old guides referring to SEF, the process now runs through AIMA for residence-permit photo submission. Specs (35×45mm, white background) are unchanged.
Get a compliant photo in 3 minutes
Works for Portuguese passports, AIMA residence permits, D7/D8/Golden Visa applications, and home-country passport renewals in Portugal. Output in 35×45mm JPEG, ready to upload or print.
Create my photo — ~€1~€1 (~$1 USD). We never store or log your photos.