Preparing Your Swedish European Firearms Passport Photo
Get the right photo for your Swedish European firearms passport by following official size and quality rules.
Official Size Requirements
For a Swedish European firearms pass, send or deliver one good-quality photo with your application. It must show your face clearly, be 35 by 45 mm, and may be colour or black and white. The police prefer a photo taken in a booth or by a photographer[1].
The police require a clear, good-quality photo but do not give a head-height measurement[1].
Background and Lighting
The official guidelines published by the Swedish Police Authority state that no background colour is specified for your firearms pass photo[1]. Even though the exact background color is not restricted by a rigid rule, the authority explicitly requires that the photo must clearly show your face and remain of good quality[1].
To meet this quality standard easily, stand in front of a plain, neutral wall if possible, and avoid any busy patterns, textures, or distracting objects behind you. Good lighting is essential so your facial features stand out clearly without dark shadows or overexposed bright spots. Facing a soft natural light source like a large window can greatly improve the clarity of your photo.
Headwear and Glasses
When preparing your appearance for the photo, you must follow the strict rule that headwear is not permitted[1]. You cannot wear hats, caps, hoods, or other head coverings when the picture is taken[1].
The police say not to wear dark glasses in the photo[1]. The source does not give a general rule about other glasses, nor does it say that reflections or thick frames cause rejection.
Taking Your Picture at Home
You can prepare your photo at home before printing by following simple steps to get the right angle, lighting, and framing. Stand about one to one and a half meters away from the camera lens, and keep the camera at your exact eye level to prevent facial distortion. Ask a family member or friend to take the picture for you instead of holding the device yourself, because a hand-held selfie often distorts your facial proportions.
You can use the tool above to crop your raw picture to the correct 35 by 45 millimeter size right in your web browser safely. The tool above helps you align your face properly before you create a printable sheet for your home printer or local kiosk.
Professional Options and Booths
The police prefer that the photo be taken in a photo booth or by a photographer. Both colour and black-and-white photos are accepted[1].
If you decide to make your own photo at home using a digital camera or phone, you must still meet all the visual clarity rules set by the police[1]. Using a professional studio or a reliable photo booth remains a popular way to satisfy the police preference for high quality likeness photos[2].
Printing and Submitting Your Print
Submitting your photo correctly means paying close attention to physical print quality and cutting dimensions. Your finished photograph must be printed out because the Swedish firearms pass requires a physical submission rather than a digital file upload[1].
The printed photo must be trimmed to 35 by 45 mm and included with the application[1]. The source does not specify a 4 by 6 inch sheet, a printing method, or that the photo must be “unblemished.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the official photo size for a Swedish European firearms passport?
Can I submit a black-and-white photo?
Yes, both colour and black-and-white photos are fully accepted by the Swedish Police Authority[2].
Are hats or head coverings allowed in the photo?
No, headwear is not permitted in the photo according to the official rules[1].
Do I need to submit a digital file or a printed photo?
You must submit a physical, printed photo because digital file uploads are not used for this document[1].
Should I take the photo at home or use a professional?
The police state that applicants preferably take their photo in a photo booth or with a professional photographer, though home preparation is also an option[2].