Maltese ID Card Photo

Maltese ID card photo guidelines

Malta is a popular tourist destination which requires citizens and residents who are there longer than 3 months to apply for an ID Card to prove their identity and to be able to travel to some places.

If you wonder where you can travel with Maltese ID card, how to take the right photo to the identity document at home, where you have to apply and what are general requirements regarding photos to Maltese ID cards as well as the Malta ID card application requirements you should follow this guide!

Maltese ID card photo requirements

Each country has its own rules regarding photos for documents. Maltese people are required to carry with them an identity card which is issued at 14, updated at 16 and compulsory at 18 years of age. Same concerns foreigners who are moving to Malta to take up residency, you will need to apply for a card as it is required on the island. 

Today, you will find out the specifications for Malta ID photos concerning photo size, quality, background, head position, facial expression, what you can wear and what you cannot wear and more.

Maltese ID card photo size

For the ID card is required to submit a passport size photograph in size of 40mm x 30mm (1.58 x 1.18 inch) in height and width.

Quality

The photos must be in colour and printed on photo-quality paper and in high resolution. 

Photographs cannot be older than six months. If two photos are required, these must be identical. The photos need to be in sharp focus and of high quality with no creases or ink marks.

Head & Face

The photos should portray a close-up of the applicant’s head and the top of his/her shoulders. The face should take up 70-80% of the vertical dimension of the photograph.

The head of the person being photographed should not be tilted up, down or to the side, but centred.In the case of minors under the age of fourteen years, they must be the only subject in the photograph. The portrait shall show the minor alone with no other people, chair backs or toys visible. No item or attire should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the face.

Eyes

The head should be upright so that an imaginary horizontal line drawn between the centres of the eyes may be parallel to the top edge of the picture. Both edges of the face shall be clearly visible.The applicant needs to look square facing the camera, not looking over one shoulder (portrait style). Red eyed photographs are not accepted.

Facial expression

Photos need to show the applicant looking directly towards the camera, portraying his/her neutral expression. Smiles, frowning, raised eyebrows or unusual expressions are considered to be not acceptable. Pictures should have the appropriate brightness and contrast, showing the person’s natural skin tone; shall show the applicant with their eyes open and clearly visible (with no hair obscuring the eyes) and the mouth closed.

Background

The background shall be plain and white. Photographs with dark, busy or patterned backgrounds will not be accepted.

Lighting

The lighting shall be uniform with no shadows and no reflection on the face.

Attire

The person should wear their casual clothes which will cover their shoulders. Neckline t-shirts, turtlenecks or strapless tops are not allowed.

Head coverings

Head coverings shall not be accepted except in circumstances specifically approved by the competent authority like religious, medical or cultural reasons. However, unless worn daily all hats or headgear should be removed for the photo. A signed statement from the applicant must be submitted with the application verifying that the item is worn daily for the specific reasons. A photo depicting a person wearing a traditional facemask or veil that does not permit adequate identification is not acceptable.

Glasses

The photographs shall show the eyes clearly with no light reflection off the glasses and no tinted lenses. If possible, avoid heavy frames. The frames shall not cover any part of the eyes. Dark glasses or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless they are needed for medical reasons, in which case a medical certificate is required. Sunglasses are not permitted. 

Contrast and editing

Photographs, where the face of the person is not focused, will not be accepted. Slot machine photographs, textured photos, inferior quality photographs and photographs subject to fading or sensitive to heat are not acceptable. Only original photographs are acceptable. Copied or digitally scanned pictures will not be accepted. They must not be digitally altered or retouched to change the person’s appearance in any way.

How to take Meltese ID card photo at home?

For the citizens of Malta, there is an opportunity to have the photo taken at the Maltese ID Card Office which is free of charge. Afterwards, the applicant is proceeded to another room where will electronically sign the card.

However, if you want to have the photo ready earlier or you just want to escape queues and crowds, you can try taking a photo to your Maltese ID document at home! Follow our guidelines below and take the perfect photo to your document!

5 steps guide how to take a photo to Maltese ID card:

1. Use a digital camera, tablet or smartphone. If you take photos by phone with iOS or Android, download a Photo Mobile App and make this process even easier!
2. Find a place with a good daylight (maybe a bright room) and plain background.
3. Wear something casual which will not blend in the background and will be allowed regarding the requirements which were described above.
4. Look straight into the camera with your head steady, not titled on any sides. The position of the camera should be at the same height as the head. Your facial expression should be neutral, try not to smile or wiggle your eyebrows.

Take a photo, upload it and crop to the required in Maltese ID card dimensions using the photo tool available on the Passport Photo Online or in the app.