Lao Passport Photo (no readable national rule; ICAO 35 x 45 mm reference): size and requirements
The Lao Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Not read; white is our rendering choice for the reference frame; head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-10 against ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (Eighth Edition, 2021), Section 3.9 displayed portrait, standing in for the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport rule we could not read.
For a Lao PDR ordinary passport (ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນທົ່ວໄປ) applied for through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a reference only: the ministry's passport page offers downloadable forms whose text could not be read, and no Lao page states a photo size, count or who takes the picture, so the frame, head band and other values are the ICAO Doc 9303 defaults. Not for the Lao eVisa, which has its own 4 x 6 cm rule on laoevisa.gov.la.
Check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport office or a Lao embassy before buying: we could not read the Lao passport photo rule, so treat our 35 x 45 mm ICAO print as a best guess, not an official format. See the Laos documents we can prepare.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height (no national rule read; ICAO Doc 9303 crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent of the 45 mm height applied)
- Background
- not read; white is our rendering choice for the reference frame
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- We deliver
- 413 x 531 px (300 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckNo Lao rule was read. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mofa.gov.la) has a page 'ດາວໂຫຼດແບບຟອມໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ' listing three downloads - a guardian's permission, the diplomatic / official passport form and 'ຟອມໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນທົ່ວໄປ' (ordinary passport form) - and the ordinary form is a 45 KB image-only PDF from which no text could be extracted. Everything on this page is the ICAO Doc 9303 reference, flagged as such.
- CheckThe Department of Immigration site (immigration.gov.la) is the arrival / departure declaration service ('All foreigner are required to submit within 3 days before Arrival and Departure') and says nothing about passports; mps.gov.la and consular.gov.la did not answer on 2026-10-10.
- CheckWhether the passport office photographs you or wants prints - and in what size - is exactly what we could not confirm. The eVisa portal's 4 x 6 cm rule is for foreign visitors, not for Lao passports; do not assume it applies.
- CheckICAO reference frame: 'Submitted portraits should be 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) in dimension.' with the head 70 to 80 per cent of the height and a plain light background; 'A submitted portrait shall have been captured within the last six months before application'.
- CheckIf a print is wanted, ICAO asks for photo-quality paper with a smooth, non-structured surface and no folds, creases or ink marks.
Source and verification
No national rule published; ICAO 9303 standard applies. Last checked 2026-10-10 (archived copy dated 2024-09-12) at ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (Eighth Edition, 2021), Section 3.9 displayed portrait, standing in for the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport rule we could not read.
Submitted portraits should be 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) in dimension.
The crown-to-chin portion of the facial image shall be 70 to 80 per cent of the longest dimension defined for Zone V, maintaining the aspect ratio between the crown-to-chin and ear-to-ear details of the face of the holder.
A submitted portrait shall have been captured within the last six months before application, as outlined in [ISO/IEC 39794-5]. Portraits with a capture time dating back more than three months should not be accepted.
Where the portrait is supplied to the issuing authority in digital form, the requirements specified by the issuing authority must be adhered to.
ຟອມໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນທົ່ວໄປ
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
