Icelandic ID Photo

One Clear Portrait, Two Icelandic Identity-Card Options

Iceland issues two types of national identity card: one can serve as a travel document within the EEA, while the other is for identification without that travel function. Both are for Icelandic citizens and involve a personal photograph. Choosing the correct card is therefore about how you intend to use the document, not about choosing a different style of portrait.

The application can start with pre-registration on Ísland.is, followed by photography at a District Commissioner’s office. Bring the required identity documents so the office can connect the new image with your existing record. Where the applicant has no accepted identification, the official guidance describes a separate witness-based identity-verification process.

For the image itself, prepare a recognisable likeness with straightforward framing and facial expression. The detailed requirements below cover the visual criteria. Our portrait and photo quality guidance is useful before the appointment, especially if you are unfamiliar with how an identification photograph differs from an everyday picture.

Child applications require particular attention to the chosen card type. The official service distinguishes guardian-consent arrangements for travel cards from the identification-only option for children aged thirteen and over. Check those instructions before attending in Iceland. Our photo preparation instructions can help with photo preparation, while the District Commissioner handles the record and consent checks. If you plan to travel, also use the visa finder to explore destination requirements rather than assuming that either identity-card version substitutes for a passport everywhere.