Italy ID Card Photo FREE AI Maker

Get an Italy ID card photo in the correct 35×45 mm size in seconds. Take a selfie at home, and our online photo maker crops it, sets a plain light background and checks it against the Italian ID card rules.

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  • 35 × 45 mm
  • Light grey background
  • Free digital download

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Automatic formatting for compliance with official photo requirements

Before Original document photo
After Verified
Processed document photo

Italy ID card photo size and requirements

The Italian electronic identity card (Carta d'Identità Elettronica, CIE) uses a biometric photo. Our AI check validates your photo against each parameter below.

35 mm 45 mm
Photo size
35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
Head size
About 33.5 mm, chin to crown
Top margin
About 2 mm from the top edge to the hair
Background
Plain light grey (#eeeeee), no shadows or patterns
Resolution
600 DPI for printing
Max file size
500 KB
Photo type
Recent colour photo, no filters
Use
Printable, also suitable for online submission

What the Carta d'Identità is

The Italian identity card, the Carta d'Identità, proves the identity and citizenship of its holder. It is used for banking, public services and voting, and holders can travel with it within the Schengen Area. The card exists in a paper format and in the modern electronic format, the CIE: a polycarbonate card of 85.60 × 53.98 mm with a chip that stores biometric data, including fingerprints and a digital photograph. That is why the photo has to follow strict rules.

Italy ID card photo size explained

The photo for an Italy ID card is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, or 3.5 × 4.5 cm. The head takes up about 33.5 mm from chin to crown, with roughly 2 mm of space between the top of the hair and the upper edge. If you print, use 600 DPI so the photo stays sharp at this small size. A digital file should stay under 500 KB.

How the municipality gets your photo

You apply at the Ufficio Anagrafe (registry office) of your comune, and many offices ask you to book an appointment. Recent passport-sized photos are on the list of documents to bring, and for the electronic card your photograph and fingerprints are recorded at the office. The official CIE portal has a page on how the photo is acquired. Ask your comune what it expects before your visit, so your photo is ready in the right form.

Photo checklist

  • Correct size: 35 × 45 mm, head about 33.5 mm.
  • Plain light grey background, no shadows or patterns.
  • Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
  • Head straight and centred, looking into the camera.
  • Full face visible, no hair over the eyes.
  • Sharp, recent colour photo with no filters.

Who can apply

An Italian ID card is issued to citizens and to foreign residents of the country. Minors need the consent of a parent or guardian. Along with the photo, bring proof of identity such as a passport or your previous card, and proof of residence. The fee depends on your municipality, and you may get a temporary document while the new Italian ID card is produced.

Validity and renewal

An Italian ID card is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors. To renew it you follow the same process and need a new photo, so start a few months before the expiry date. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the police and apply for a replacement Italian ID card at your municipality office.

Other documents with a photo

The Italian passport photo is also 35 × 45 mm, but it has its own rules, such as a white background. See our Italy passport photo page and the Italy driving licence photo page if you need those too.

How to take the photo at home

Woman taking a selfie with her arm stretched out, phone at eye level

A selfie is enough

Hold the phone at arm's length, camera at eye level. Our tool crops the photo to the right size and straightens it.

Woman facing the camera straight on with a neutral expression, no glasses or hat

Face and pose

Look into the lens with a neutral face and your mouth closed. Keep your hair away from your eyes.

Top-down diagram: daylight from a window falls on the face of a person who faces the window, phone held between them

Light

Face a window for even daylight and avoid direct sunlight, which leaves hard shadows. The AI replaces the background for you.

Make your Italy ID card photo now

A 35×45 mm photo made online, checked in seconds.

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Common photo mistakes

Our AI check catches these mistakes before you download the photo.

Wrong size
A passport photo from another country, such as a 2×2 inch print, is not the 35×45 mm photo the comune asks for.
Head too small or too large
The head should fill about 33.5 mm of the 45 mm height, with a small gap above the hair.
Shadows on the background
Side or overhead light casts shadows on the wall. Use soft frontal light.
Smile or closed eyes
A biometric photo needs a neutral face with both eyes open.
Blurry or filtered photo
A soft or filtered photo may be refused. Use the original photo from the camera.

Italy ID card photo examples

How the online Italy ID card photo maker works

  1. Take or upload a photo

    Use your phone camera or a photo you already have. Everything runs online in your browser.

  2. AI edits and checks the photo

    The tool crops the photo to 35×45 mm, sets a light background and checks every requirement.

  3. Download or print

    Download the digital file, or print the photo at 600 DPI and take it to your comune.

Get a photo that passes the check

Size, crop and background in one step.

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Italy ID card photo price

Digital photo

Free

  • 35×45 mm photo with a light background
  • AI photo check
  • Instant download

Professional retouch

$5.99

  • For a photo that fails the check
  • Fixes lighting and shadows
  • One-time payment

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Italy ID card photo FAQ

What size is an Italy ID card photo?

The photo is 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm), with the head about 33.5 mm from chin to crown.

What background does the Italian ID card photo need?

A plain light grey background without shadows or patterns. Our photo maker sets it automatically.

Can I use my passport photo for the Italy ID card?

Both are 35×45 mm, but the passport photo uses a white background and the ID card photo a light grey one, so make a separate photo for each and check with your comune.

Can I take my Italy ID card photo with a phone?

Yes. Use daylight, keep a neutral face, and let the tool fix the size and crop.

Do I bring a print or a digital file?

Recent printed photos are on the document list, and the office records your photograph for the electronic card. Ask your comune what it needs; the official CIE portal explains how the photo is acquired.

Is the photo free?

Yes. The digital photo and the AI check are free; only the optional retouch costs $5.99.

Make your Italy ID card photo

A 35×45 mm photo with a light background, made online and checked in seconds.

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