Spanish DNI photo rules explained
The Ministerio del Interior and the Policía Nacional set the rules. The photo is 26x32 mm (width x height), or 32x26 mm if you write it as height x width, at 300 DPI. It is a recent colour photo, not 35x45 mm.
- Background: uniform, plain white.
- Pose: front-facing, with a bare head.
- Glasses: allowed with no glare, but no dark glasses.
- Head covering: religious or medical covering is allowed if the face oval from hairline to chin is visible.
- Head height: not specified officially.
- Copies: one.
The size trap
Most passport photo templates are 35x45 mm. A Spanish DNI uses a much smaller print, so a photo cut from a standard template will be too large. The tool crops it directly to 26x32 mm.
How to take it at home with a phone
Find a plain white wall and face it in soft daylight. Stand slightly away from the wall to avoid shadows. Ask someone to hold the phone at eye level and look straight at the lens. Keep a neutral expression, with both eyes visible and no hat.
If you wear glasses, make sure the lenses are clear and there are no reflections. Because the finished picture is small, a sharp, well-lit shot matters more than a close one.
Processing
The photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded. It is cropped to 26x32 mm, the background is made white and the face is checked for position.
Common reasons for rejection
- Using the 35x45 mm size.
- A background that is off-white, shadowed or textured.
- Dark or tinted glasses.
- A head that is turned, tilted or covered by a hat.
- A head covering that hides the face oval from hairline to chin.
- A blurry or old picture that does not look like you now.
Printing
This is a printed-photo submission. Print one copy at 300 DPI on photo paper at 26x32 mm. Choose actual size in the print dialog, and measure the photo with a ruler before cutting it out.
If an authority rejects the photo, you get a full refund.
Practical advice for a small print
At 26x32 mm, small flaws become obvious. Make sure the face is evenly lit, that the white is clean, and that there is no reflection on the lenses if you wear glasses. If you print at home, use good photo paper and check that the printer does not add a margin or shrink the image. A copy shop that can print at actual size, without scaling, is often the easier choice.