Residence card photo: size, background and MOS requirements
Updated 24.10.2026
You attach one colour photo as a JPG file to your MOS application. The requirements for the picture and the file are set by a regulation of the Ministry of the Interior (MSWiA) (opens in a new window), and the time limit is strict: the photo must be taken no earlier than 6 months before you submit the application.
File requirements
- JPG format;
- at least 684×883 pixels (width × height), with the proportions of a 35×45 mm photo;
- no more than 2.5 MB.
Photo requirements
- in colour, sharp and undamaged;
- head and top of the shoulders in the frame, the face takes up 70 to 80% of the picture;
- plain light background;
- you look straight at the camera, eyes open and not covered by hair;
- mouth closed, natural expression;
- pupils clearly visible, the eye line parallel to the top edge of the photo;
- natural skin colour;
- no head covering and no dark glasses.
Dark glasses and head coverings
Dark glasses are allowed (opens in a new window) only if you have a visual impairment, and then you attach a scan of your disability certificate to the application, or if you don't have one, your own statement about the disability.
A head covering is allowed only for religious reasons, the face must still be fully visible, and you need to attach a statement that you belong to a religious community.
Where to get the photo taken
At a photo studio, ask for the JPG file straight away, not just printed photos. If you take the photo yourself, check it against every point in the list above.
Passport scan
Along with the photo, you attach a scan of your passport (opens in a new window) in MOS, and for that you need to scan all pages including the cover and save them as one PDF file of no more than 10 MB.
If MOS won't accept the photo
First check the format, the size in pixels and the file size, and if everything is fine and MOS still won't take the photo, UdSC asks you (opens in a new window) to report a technical error to si@udsc.gov.pl.
How EXPAT helps
Upload your photo and passport scan to the EXPAT dashboard, and it adjusts the files to MOS requirements and attaches them to the application itself. EXPAT only fixes the file size and format, though, while the background, lighting and expression depend on the picture itself.
