Russian visa photo: size and print checklist
This page covers the Russian visa application photo, a printed photo measuring 35 × 45 mm. Its rules differ from the digital face photo used for a Russian e-visa, so check which application you are completing before you prepare a photo.[1][2]
Which photo do you need?
The Russian visa application photo is submitted as a print. The Russian consular guidance specifies a photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm, or 35 × 45 mm; it does not set an exact pixel size or file size for this printed photo.[1]
A Russian e-visa application uses a digital face photo in JPEG format and has separate image instructions, including rules for the background, expression, and face size in the image.[2] This page’s printed-photo checklist is for a visa application that asks you to provide a print, not a replacement for the e-visa upload requirements.
Prepare the 35 × 45 mm print
Use a color photo on good photo paper, with a clear, frontal view of your face. The photo should be recent: the consular guidance says it must have been taken no more than six months before you apply.[1][3]
The background should be plain white. Keep your face in the middle of the frame and show the top of your shoulders. The authority does not set a head-height measurement for this printed photo.[1][3]
The guidance permits a color or black-and-white photo, while the Denmark consular page describes a color photo on photo paper. Follow the instructions from the consulate or visa center where you will apply if they give you a more specific requirement.[1][3]
Glasses, head coverings, and expression
The Warsaw consular photo specification says the photo should show your face without a head covering.[1] The verified requirements allow a covering for religious or medical reasons only, with your face fully visible.
Remove glasses unless there is a medical reason. Check the instructions from the office handling your application about any medical exception.
Keep your face directed toward the camera, with a clear frontal view.[1] A neutral expression or a natural smile is allowed under the verified requirements.
Take a clean photo at home
Choose a plain white wall with even light. Face a window or another soft light source, and avoid direct flash, hard shadows, and bright spots on your face. These are practical ways to get a clear image; the source’s stated background rule is plain white or light-colored.[3]
Ask someone to take the picture if you can. Set the camera at eye level, about 1–1.5 m away, and keep it straight so your face is not distorted. Take a few frames and pick one where your face is centered and your shoulders are visible.
Crop and print carefully
The tool above can crop the photo to 35 × 45 mm and place copies on a 4 × 6-inch print sheet. The photo stays in your browser, and you can print the sheet as an ordinary 4 × 6-inch photo at a kiosk.
When printing, choose the full-size or actual-size option and turn off settings such as “fit to page” that may resize the sheet. After printing, measure one photo with a ruler: it should be 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Cut on the crop lines without trimming into the image.
Before you apply, check that the print is in focus, the background is plain, and your face and shoulders are fully visible. The authority decides whether a photo meets its requirements; a correctly sized crop alone does not guarantee acceptance.[1][3]
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Russian visa photo?
The printed Russian visa application photo is 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm).[1][3]
Can I smile in a Russian visa photo?
A neutral expression or a natural smile is allowed under the listed requirements for this printed photo.[1]
Can I wear glasses in my Russian visa photo?
Remove them unless there is a medical reason. Check the source’s conditions for the medical exception and confirm with the office handling your application.[1]
How old can my Russian visa photo be?
It must have been taken no more than six months before the date you apply.[1][3]
Does a Russian e-visa use the same photo rules?
No. The e-visa application asks for a digital JPEG photo and gives its own image requirements. Follow those instructions for an e-visa upload.[2]