Turkey passport photo rules from the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ)
Turkey’s passport photograph standard is set by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, NVİ) under the Ministry of Interior. NVİ publishes the biometric photo guidance on nvi.gov.tr and aligns the format with ICAO Doc 9303, the international biometric travel document standard. The same 50×60 mm biometric photograph is used for the Turkish passport, the T.C. Kimlik Kartı national identity card, and the Sürücü Belgesi driver’s licence, so a compliant image serves every major Turkish identity document.
NVİ enforces the rules strictly. Photographs must have been taken within the last six months and must show the applicant’s current appearance, with a neutral expression, closed mouth, and open eyes against a plain white background. Photos that fail the biometric checks at the counter or at studio upload are rejected on the spot, which delays the application and forces the applicant to return with a new photograph.
Overseas applicants going through Turkish consulates fall under guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which applies the same biometric standard with slightly stricter consular interpretations on accessories. Perfect Passport produces a file that satisfies both the domestic NVİ specification and the consular reading, so the same photo works whether the application is filed in Turkey or at a Turkish mission abroad.
What NVİ requires in a Turkish passport photo
The General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ) enforces a strict biometric standard. The rules below cover what the subject must look like in the final photo.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must carry a neutral expression. Smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, and any exaggerated expression are not permitted.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be fully closed. Teeth must not be visible.
- Eyes openBoth eyes must be open and clearly visible, looking directly at the camera.
- Head straightThe head must be upright and squared to the camera with no tilt, turn, or rotation. NVİ requires a fully frontal pose.
- Shoulders squareBoth shoulders must be visible and squared to the camera. Looking over the shoulder or angling the torso is not accepted.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesEyeglasses should be removed. Turkish consulates explicitly prohibit glasses in the photo, and this is the safest standard for any Turkish travel document.
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted or colored lenses are prohibited in every case.
- Coloured contact lensesDecorative or coloured contact lenses are strictly prohibited. NVİ requires the natural iris colour to be visible. Clear prescription contact lenses are permitted.
Hair
- Hair over the eyesHair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows. The full eye area must remain visible.
- Fringe and bangsForehead bangs are permitted as long as the eyes stay fully visible.
- Shadows from hairHair must not cast shadows across the face.
Headwear
- General headwearHats, caps, beanies, and headphones are prohibited.
- Religious head coveringsReligious headwear is permitted provided the full facial oval from the tip of the chin to the forehead remains uncovered and no shadows are cast on the face.
- Headwear colourHeadwear must contrast with the white background. Pure white headwear is explicitly prohibited because it cannot be distinguished from the background (Başörtüsü rengi ile arka plan rengi aynı olmamalıdır).
Jewelry & accessories
- EarringsEarrings should be removed. Turkish consular guidance lists earrings among the accessories that must not be worn for the photo.
- Necklaces and facial piercingsVisible necklaces and facial piercings are not accepted. Items that could cause glare or obscure facial features must be removed.
- Hair accessoriesLarge headbands, clips, and decorative hair ornaments are not permitted.
Cosmetics
- Heavy makeupOnly natural, minimal makeup is permitted. Heavy contouring that alters the apparent shape of the face is prohibited.
- Distinguishing marksScars, moles, and other distinguishing marks must not be concealed with makeup. NVİ treats these as biometric identifiers that must remain visible (Leke ve izler kapatılmamalıdır).
Clothing
- Top colourClothing must contrast with the white background. Pure white and very pale tops are not acceptable because they blend into the backdrop.
- UniformsCivilian clothing is expected. Military and service uniforms are not appropriate for a civilian travel document.
Subject-side photo issues
- Shadows on the faceThe face must be evenly lit with no shadows cast by hair, headwear, or the subject. Heavy facial shadows lead to rejection.
- Red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted. NVİ does not allow digital red-eye correction, so the photo must be captured without the effect.
- Motion blurThe subject must remain still during capture. Movement that softens the facial features causes rejection.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (roughly 54–60% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28 mm and 34 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- Top margin (from the top of the head to the top edge): 4–6 mm.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
NVİ applies the same 50 by 60 mm biometric standard at every age. The note below covers infants, where domestic enforcement remains strict.
Infants (0–11 months)
NVİ does not publish relaxed rules for infants. The standard biometric photo is required.
- Eyes openInfants must have their eyes open and looking toward the camera. NVİ does not document leniency for closed eyes.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be closed with a neutral expression. Pacifiers are not permitted in the frame.
- Alone in frameNo supporting hands, arms, toys, props, or other people may appear in the photo.
- Same biometric formatThe 50 by 60 mm size and white background apply to infants exactly as they do to adults.
Country-specific details to know.
A few rules in the Turkish spec catch applicants by surprise.
White headwear ban
Religious head coverings are welcome, but the fabric cannot be pure white. NVİ requires a colour that contrasts with the mandatory white background, so a coloured, patterned, or dark scarf is needed.
Coloured contacts forbidden
Decorative or tinted contact lenses are rejected outright. The iris must appear in its natural colour so that biometric matching works correctly.
Preserve identifying marks
Scars, moles, and birthmarks must remain visible. Covering them with concealer or foundation is treated as obscuring biometric data and causes rejection.
Six-month recency
The photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required if appearance has changed significantly since then.
As easy as snap, upload, done.
You take a quick picture. We do the spec work and tell you immediately if anything needs a retake.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- High-quality photographic paper (matte or glossy finish).
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.
- Do not write on the back of the photo.
- 2 identical prints are required.