Åland Islands Passport Photo Guide
Get your Åland Islands passport photo right by following the official size, lighting, and head positioning rules. This guide helps you prepare a correct photo for your application.
Official Size and Head Dimensions
A 36 × 47 mm crop is commonly used for this passport photo, but the cited police instructions do not give paper-photo width and height[1]. For electronic submission, the image must be exactly 500 × 653 pixels[1].
Your head must measure 32 to 36 mm from crown to chin, with 4 to 6 mm above the crown[1].
Background and Lighting
The police instructions require a monochromatic, flat, light, neutral background, without shadows. Light grey is the best background colour, and your face, hair, and clothes must stand out clearly[1].
To get good lighting, face a bright window or use even indoor light. Keep shadows off your face and off the wall behind you. A plain wall works well if it is light and flat.
Expression, Glasses, and Headwear
The police instructions require a neutral expression and a closed mouth[1].
Glasses are allowed if the frames and reflections do not obscure your eyes; frames should not be so thick that they hide your facial structure. Tinted glasses are allowed only for medical reasons. Head coverings are allowed for religious, established-tradition, health, or medical reasons, but must not cover the face too much or cast shadows[1].
Rules for Children
The same size and positioning rules apply at all ages[1].
For very young babies, the neutral-expression and closed-mouth rules are flexible; the mouth may be slightly open[1].
Digital Files and Paper Prints
The police say a photo studio usually sends the image electronically to the police photo server. A paper photo can be used when you apply at a police service point. An electronically submitted photo must be no larger than 250 KB[1].
If you decide to print a paper copy, you can arrange it on a standard sheet. You can use the tool above to format your cropped photo into a sheet that fits on an ordinary 4 by 6-inch print for a kiosk.
How to Take Your Photo at Home
Stand about 1 to 1.5 meters away from the camera. Ask someone else to take the picture instead of taking a selfie, because holding the camera at arm's length distorts your facial features.
Keep the camera lens at your exact eye level. Look straight into the lens with your shoulders square and your head straight. Take several shots so you have options to choose from.
Common Reasons Photos Are Refused
The photo instructions require a head height of 32 to 36 mm, even lighting, and a light, neutral background without shadows[1].
Before submitting the photo, check that your face and eyes are clearly visible, your expression is neutral, and your mouth is closed. The mouth rule is flexible for very young babies[1].