Photo requirements

Those who are granted a work permit, residence permit, settlement permit or visa will have a sticker put in their passport. This sticker must carry a photo of the applicant.

The photo must be submitted along with the application. The approved photo will be scanned by the police or foreign service mission which receives the application, and will be incorporated into the sticker before it is printed out.

Who must provide a photo?

Everyone granted a visa or a permit must have a sticker with a photo. When a child on a parent/guardian’s passport is granted a visa, two stickers are placed in the passport. This means that a photo must also be provided for any children covered by the application.

What are the rules regarding the quality of the photo?

Photographs which are to be used on the stickers must meet certain requirements in terms of layout and quality. If the requirements listed below are not met, you will be asked to provide a new photograph which does meet the requirements. The photograph must be:

In sharp focus, clear and with good contrast
Printed on good quality photo paper at a high resolution
Taken from the front, against a light background
In colour
35-40 mm wide
Maximum six months old, and a true likeness of the applicant

Other requirements for the photo

An approved photo will show the whole head (the face must take up 70-80% of the photo), and the top of the shoulders. Eyes must be open and clearly visible, and not obscured by hair.