Brazil ID Card Photo FREE AI Maker

Brazil ID card photo size

The standard Brazil ID card photo size is 3×4 cm, which is 30×40 mm. Locally this format is simply called a "3x4" photo, and it is the size the issuing offices ask for. Prints in other formats, such as 2×2 inches or 35×45 mm, are larger, so a photo made for another document is not the right size. In a correct photo the head is about 30 mm tall, from the chin to the top of the hair, with a gap of about 2.5 mm between the hair and the top edge. Our photo maker sets this size and these proportions for you, so you do not have to measure anything.

For printing, the photo is prepared at 600 DPI, which keeps the face sharp at the small 3×4 cm size. The official rules ask for the photo to be printed on photographic paper, so do not use plain office paper.

What the Brazilian ID card is

The Brazilian ID card, known as the Registro Geral (RG), is the main identification document for citizens and residents of the country. You use it to vote, open a bank account and access government services, and it works as proof of age because it shows your date of birth. Police and government agencies recognise it as legal identification. The RG is issued by the state governments and is valid throughout the country.

The card itself is made of durable plastic and usually measures about 85.60 × 53.98 mm. It carries your full name, date of birth, photograph, signature, the RG number, the issuing state and the date of issue. Holograms, microprinting, UV printing and a barcode or QR code protect it against forgery.

How to apply for a Brazil ID card

• Gather your documents: your birth certificate (original and a copy for minors), proof of residence such as a utility bill, a photo ID if you have one, such as a passport or a driving license, and a recent 3x4 photo.
• Go to the civil registry office (Cartório de Registro Civil) or the state identification service (Instituto de Identificação) in your area.
• Fill out the application form at the office; the staff will help you with it.
• Submit the form together with the originals and copies of your documents.
• Pay the fee if there is one. The amount varies by state, so check with your local office.
• Keep the receipt. It tells you when to come back, and processing usually takes a few weeks.
• Return to the office on that date with the receipt to collect your ID card.

Each state publishes its own instructions. For example, Minas Gerais explains the first issue of the card on its official service page. For general information you can also visit the Brazilian Federal Police and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Check the page of your own state before you go, to see how many printed photos you need to bring.

RG photo checklist

• Recent colour photo, 3×4 cm, taken from the front.
• Clean, plain white background without shadows.
• No scarf, hat or cap, and no sunglasses.
• A covering that is part of a religious habit worn every day is allowed.
• Head about 30 mm tall, with about 2.5 mm of space above the hair.
• Printed on photographic paper.

Head covers and religious clothing

The rules for the Brazilian ID card do not allow a photo with any kind of head cover, such as a scarf, hat or cap, or with sunglasses, because they hide the features that let an officer recognise you. There is one exception: coverings that are part of a religious habit you wear every day are accepted. Even then, the point of the rule is that the features needed to recognise you stay visible, so keep your face clear of the covering where you can.

Renewing the RG and updating the photo

The RG does not have an expiration date. Still, it is a good idea to renew the card when your personal information changes, for example after a name change, or when the photo no longer looks like you. A renewal needs a new, recent photo in the same 3×4 cm size, so you can use our maker again for it.

Using the RG abroad

The RG is mainly a document for use inside the country, although it may be accepted in some international contexts. For travel you need a passport; see our page on the Brazil passport photo for its own photo rules. Visitors who need a visa for Brazil can find the photo requirements on our Brazil visa photo page.

Digital photo for online forms

The country is moving toward digital identification, with projects such as the CNH Digital (the digital driver's license) that may one day connect with the RG. The photo you download from our tool is suitable for online submission, so you can upload the file directly when a form asks for one instead of scanning a print. A scan of a paper photo often loses sharpness and picks up shadows. Before you upload, check the photo size and file size the online form asks for, and follow its instructions if they differ from the print size.

How the head should sit in the frame

The proportions matter as much as the outer size. With a head height of about 30 mm on a 40 mm tall picture, your face fills most of the frame, and the 2.5 mm gap above the hair leaves just a thin strip of background at the top, with your head centred left to right. If you stand too far from the camera, the face ends up small; if you crop too tightly, the top of the hair or the chin gets cut off. Both make the picture harder to use for identification.

You do not need to get this right while you take the picture. Leave some space around your head, and the tool measures your face, scales it and places it at the right height in the 30×40 mm frame.

What our AI check looks at

After you upload a picture, the check goes through the same points an officer at the counter would look at. It finds your face and confirms that you look straight at the camera, with both eyes open and the whole face in view. It checks that the head is not tilted, that the light is even across the face and that nothing such as sunglasses or a cap covers your features. It replaces the background with plain white and removes the shadows behind you. If something cannot be fixed automatically, for example a blurry shot or a face turned to the side, the check tells you what to change, so you can take a new selfie right away instead of finding the problem at the office.

Getting a clean background at home

The rules ask for a clean background, which means plain, without patterns, furniture or other people. You do not need a white wall: the tool cuts you out and puts you on white. What helps most is a little distance between you and the wall behind you, so your shadow does not fall on it, and even light from the front. Stand facing a window during the day, turn off strong lamps above or beside you, and avoid flash, which makes the skin shine and creates hard shadows.

Before you go to the office

• Check your state's service page for the list of documents and any fee.
• Bring both the originals and copies of your documents.
• Take the receipt with you when you return to collect the card.
• Bring the printed 3x4 photos if your state asks for them, cut neatly along the edges.
• Keep the digital file on your phone in case you need another print.

Printing your 3x4 photos

To print, download the photo and take it to a photo shop or use a home photo printer at 600 DPI. Use photographic paper and choose the "actual size" option in the print dialog so the picture comes out at exactly 3×4 cm. Cut the photos along the edges and keep the digital file, so you can print more later if you need them.