Mali Passport Photo (no photograph on the portal's document list; ICAO 35 x 45 mm reference): size and requirements
The Mali Passport Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Not published; 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 Service Public du Mali passport pre-registration portal (Direction de la Police des Frontières, Direction Générale de la Police Nationale, Ministère de la Sécurité et de la Protection Civile) - 'Information' page, with the ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 reference frame.
For a Malian passport (passeport malien) requested through the Service Public pre-registration portal and issued by the Direction de la Police des Frontières in Bamako or a consulate general abroad, as a reference only: the portal's document list names no photograph and no page we could read says who takes the picture, so the frame, head band and background here are the ICAO Doc 9303 defaults. Not for a Malian visa, the NINA card or a driving licence, for which no rule could be read either.
Ask the Direction de la Police des Frontières or your consulate before making a photo: Mali's portal lists no photograph for the passport file and publishes no photo rule, so our 35 x 45 mm ICAO print is a reference only. See all Mali documents.
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 photo rule published (the portal's document list has no photograph); ICAO Doc 9303 crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent of the 45 mm height applied as a reference)
- Background
- not published; 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
- CheckThe portal lists no photograph: under 'Document à fournir' it names the birth certificate (transcribed if born abroad), 'Carte d'identité Nationale ou ancien Passeport', a possible proof of profession, 'Carte Nina ou fiche descriptive individuelle sécurisée' and 'Autorisation parentale pour les enfants mineurs et un certificat scolaire pour les élèves'. Whether the counter captures your image or wants a print is exactly what no page says, so ask before paying for prints.
- CheckWhere to go: 'Bamako - ACI 2000 - Direction de la Police des Frontière ou Service Premium à MSN EXPRESS' inside Mali; abroad, 'Consulat Général du Mali à l'étranger'. The online request starts with your place of residence and continues behind the portal.
- CheckThe Police Nationale site (police.gouv.ml) publishes no passport sheet; its 'Venir au Mali' menu links the missions portal diplomatiemdc.gouv.ml, whose own visa link resolves to a bare IP address, and a stay-visa portal behind login, and the foreign ministry's site is suspended - so no Malian visa photo rule could be read either.
- 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 - use it only if the Direction de la Police des Frontières or a consulate asks you for a print.
- CheckICAO recency: 'A submitted portrait shall have been captured within the last six months before application', and portraits older than three months 'should not be accepted' where the issuer is strict.
Source and verification
No national rule published; ICAO 9303 standard applies. Last checked 2026-10-10 (archived copy dated 2024-09-12) at Service Public du Mali passport pre-registration portal (Direction de la Police des Frontières, Direction Générale de la Police Nationale, Ministère de la Sécurité et de la Protection Civile) - 'Information' page, with the ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 reference frame.
Bamako - ACI 2000 - Direction de la Police des Frontière ou Service Premium à MSN EXPRESS
Carte d'identité Nationale ou ancien Passeport
Carte Nina ou fiche descriptive individuelle sécurisée
Autorisation parentale pour les enfants mineurs et un certificat scolaire pour les élèves
Consulat Général du Mali à l'étranger
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.
Quotes 1-5 are from source.url (sources/ml/passeport-servicepublic-information.txt, read live via r.jina.ai on 2026-10-10; the page spells 'Frontière' in the singular). Quotes 6-8 are ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/icao-9303-part3-portrait-excerpt.txt, Wayback capture 2024-09-12). The officialWording is the last line of the portal's document list, quoted to show that the list ends without a photograph; eligibility 'restricted' because no page says who takes the picture. physical 35 x 45 mm, head 0.7-0.8, maxPhotoAgeMonths 6 from quotes 6-8; background 'white', dpi 300, glasses and headCovering are ICAO-style defaults. sources/ml/_probe-log.txt lists the other hosts tried.
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
