Pet Passport Photo Requirements
An EU pet passport photo is optional in most member states and is not biometrically checked, so requirements are much looser than for a human document. It is there to help identify the animal alongside the microchip number, which remains the legal identifier.
Make a compliant european union pet passport photo now
Free, and your photo is processed in your browser — it is never uploaded.
Open the European Union photo toolThe official specification
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
| Pixel dimensions | 413 × 531 px |
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Head height | 50–85% of the photo height |
| Background | Plain, #ffffff |
Source: European Commission — EU Pet Travel Scheme. Requirements change — confirm there before you submit.
Rules that catch people out
The photo is usually optional
The microchip number and the vaccination record are what legally identify the animal. Many vets issue a pet passport with no photo at all, and a photo does not replace any part of the record.
The whole animal should be recognisable
A clear side or front view showing distinctive markings is more useful than a tight portrait, because the point is visual identification.
Plain background, good light
No formal specification applies, but a plain background and even light make the animal easier to identify and the photo easier to fit in the passport's small photo area.
It must physically fit the passport
The photo area in an EU pet passport is small. Size it correctly before printing rather than trimming a larger print to fit.
Why european union pet passport photos get rejected
- Assuming the photo is a legal requirement — usually it is not
- A photo so tightly cropped that distinctive markings are cut off
- Printing at a size that does not fit the passport's photo area
- A dark or motion-blurred image that identifies nothing
Printing and submitting
Your vet attaches and stamps the photo when issuing the passport. Bring a printed copy at the correct size to the appointment, and confirm with the practice beforehand whether they want one at all.
Ready to make yours?
The tool crops to 35×45 mm at 300 DPI and checks head height and background before it releases the file.
Open the European Union photo toolOther photo requirements
- US Passport Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- UK Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Schengen Visa Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- India Passport and OCI Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- Canada Passport Photo Requirements50×70 mm · 300 DPI
- Australia Passport Photo Requirements35×45 mm · 300 DPI
- Baby and Infant Passport Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
- Driver's License and State ID Photo Requirements51×51 mm · 300 DPI
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.