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Spanish passport photo: what is required and what to bring

A Spanish passport is applied for in person, by appointment. Many comisarías take the photo there and then — but not all of them, and the one that comes out of the counter camera stays with you for ten years.

The format

A recent passport-style photograph, 32 × 26 mm, in colour, on a light uniform background, taken from the front, without sunglasses and with nothing covering the face. It is the same format as the DNI, from which the passport inherits its requirements, and the same one that works for the TIE and the driving licence.

“Light background” sometimes appears instead of “white background”. In practice uniform white is the only one nobody argues with, and that is what we produce.

Why bring your own photo

The counter camera fires once, with overhead light and no room to retake. If you come out with your eyes half closed, that is your passport until the next renewal. Bringing a photo that already meets the format puts you back in control: you choose it, with the light and the expression you want. If your comisaría insists on taking its own, you are out three euros.

What to take to the appointment

  • A valid DNI
  • A recent passport-style photo, in colour on a light background
  • Your previous passport, if this is a renewal
  • The appointment confirmation
  • The fee, paid on the day

For minors you also need the family book or birth certificate and the authorisation of both parents. If it is a baby, the photo has a difficulty of its own: we cover it in the baby ID photo guide.

Booking the appointment

Appointments are booked through the National Police electronic office, under DNI and passport appointments: choose your province, the procedure and a comisaría with availability. In high season slots disappear fast, so it is worth checking several comisarías in the same province rather than only the nearest one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I smile?

Neutral expression, mouth closed. Biometric systems compare distances between features, and a broad smile changes them.

What about prescription glasses?

Accepted if there is no glare and the eyes are clearly visible. Sunglasses are not.

How long does a Spanish passport last?

Five years up to age thirty, ten years after that, and less for children under five. The photo must be recent at each renewal.