ID photos in Romania: what size you need and what gets rejected
4 min read
The two formats used in Romania are not interchangeable, and five millimetres is enough for a file to be refused. It is worth knowing exactly what to ask for before you get to the counter.
| Document | Photo size |
|---|---|
| Identity card | 30 × 40 mm (3 × 4 cm) |
| Passport | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
What gets a photo rejected
- A background that is not plain white — a cream wall or a shadow cast behind you are common reasons for refusal.
- A head too small or too large in the frame: the face is usually expected to fill about 70–80% of the image height.
- Glasses with reflections or tinted lenses that hide the eyes.
- A broad smile, an open mouth or a tilted head — the expression must be neutral, looking straight into the lens.
- A fringe or accessories covering the outline of the face.
- Photos cropped at home from an ordinary picture: the proportions come out wrong almost every time.
Why it does not work with a phone at home
The problem is not the phone camera, which is more than good enough. The problem is light and distance. A photo taken close up distorts the face — the nose looks larger, the ears disappear. Overhead light from a ceiling bulb leaves shadows under the eyes and on the background. In a studio the lights are placed specifically so the background stays white and the face is evenly lit.
We take ID photos in the shop, cut to the required format, and you get the set on the spot. Official requirements are updated from time to time — if you are filing something with special rules, tell us which document it is for.