CUKR card photo: 2026 requirements (684×883 px, JPG) and how to take it at home
The CUKR card is an ordinary Polish residence card with an annotation, so the photo follows the same rules as any MOS photo. One difference: the application is filed online only, so no prints are needed — just the file.
The CUKR residence card (annotated “Poprzednio posiadacz ochrony czasowej”, former holder of temporary protection) is for Ukrainian citizens who had PESEL UKR status on 4 June 2025, have held it without a break for at least 365 days and still have it when applying and when the card is issued. Applications are filed exclusively through the MOS portal, from 4 May 2026 until 4 March 2027, and one of the mandatory attachments is a digital biometric photo. Paper prints are not needed — only the file counts.
Technical requirements for the file
- Format: JPG/JPEG. The portal will not accept PNG, HEIC or PDF.
- Dimensions: at least 684 × 883 pixels, 35 × 45 mm proportions.
- File size: 2.5 MB at most.
- Age: taken no more than 6 months before the application.
More on the resolution in the “684 x 883 pikseli” guide. A photo that does not meet the requirements is a formal defect: the voivode’s office asks you to send a new one, and if you don’t, the application is left without consideration.
Requirements for the photo itself
- Face straight to the camera, from the top of the head to the upper shoulders, the face taking up 70–80% of the photo.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the lens.
- Light, even background with no shadows or patterns.
- No headwear, unless worn for religious reasons with the whole face visible (you then attach a statement that you belong to a religious community).
- Eyes clearly visible and not covered by hair; clear glasses are fine. Dark lenses only with an eye condition, confirmed by disability documents or a statement.
- In colour, sharp, with natural skin colour, without filters or retouching that changes your appearance.
How many photos, and for whom
One photo per application. Every family member, children included, has a separate MOS application and a separate photo taken by the same rules. The under-5 relaxation that applies to Polish ID and passport photos (closed eyes, open mouth) is not part of the residence-permit rules: a child also needs open eyes, a closed mouth and a natural expression. A photo with closed eyes or an open mouth is accepted only when there is an objective reason, for example a health condition.
How to take a CUKR card photo with a phone
- Face a window in daytime, about a metre from a white or light wall, so you cast no shadow on it.
- Phone at eye level, roughly 50 cm from your face. Ask someone to take it or use the timer.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, no hat, preferably no glasses.
- Upload the photo below: it is framed to 684×883 px, the background is replaced with white and the MOS checks run. Then download the JPG.
Frequently asked
Can I reuse the photo from my PESEL UKR registration?
Only if it is less than 6 months old and you have it as a digital file. In practice, photos from 2022–2024 are too old — take a new one.
Do I need a photographer?
No. The portal needs a file, not prints. A phone photo in good light, cropped to 684×883 px, meets the technical requirements. A photographer is convenient if you have no light wall at home.
What else do I need for the CUKR application?
Confirmations of two separate payments: the 340 zł stamp duty and the 100 zł card fee (440 zł in total, no exemption). For a child, possibly a scan of the birth certificate. A passport scan is not needed. You sign with Profil Zaufany, a qualified e-signature or podpis osobisty. The full list and the order of steps are in the CUKR card guide.