South African Visa Photo (passport-size print for VFS / mission filing): size and requirements
The South African Visa Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Not stated for visas; we render a plain light grey background, which also satisfies the DHA passport template (light grey or plain cream).; head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Last verified 2026-10-08 against Department of Home Affairs (DHA), 'Types of Visas' page; ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 for the frame.
For the passport-size colour photographs listed among the documents for a South African visitor's or temporary residence visa lodged at a South African mission or a VFS Global centre. Not for a South African passport or ID, and not for the DHA's own Smart ID / live-capture channels.
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 (2 recent passport size colour photographs (no size or head rule is published for visas; ICAO Doc 9303 35 x 45 mm and crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent applied))
- Background
- Not stated for visas; we render a plain light grey background, which also satisfies the DHA passport template (light grey or plain cream).
- 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
- Prints needed
- 2
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckDHA publishes only a count, not a size: the visa pages say 'Two colour passport photographs' (visitor's visa) and '2 recent passport size colour photographs' (temporary residence). We render the ICAO 35 x 45 mm frame, which is also the DHA passport format.
- CheckVisa applications are lodged through VFS Global centres or missions, which may apply their own photo checklist; take the DHA passport template (35 x 45, head 29 to 34 mm, light grey or cream) as the safe reading.
- CheckPhotos must be recent; no month limit is stated for visas, but the DHA passport template allows only one month, so a fresh photo is the safe choice.
Good to know before you pay
Any recent passport-size colour photo you already have will satisfy the DHA visa document list; the page states no size or background.
Source and verification
No national rule published; ICAO 9303 standard applies. Last checked 2026-10-08 (archived copy dated 2024-09-12) at Department of Home Affairs (DHA), 'Types of Visas' page; ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 for the frame.
Two colour passport photographs, return or onward ticket if you are travelling by air
2 recent passport size colour photographs
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.
Quotes 1-2 are from the DHA Types of Visas page at source.url (sources/za/dha-types-of-visas.txt, direct curl, tag-stripped). Quote 3 is ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/, Wayback 2024-09-12); archiveSnapshot 2024-09-12 is the Wayback date of that ICAO excerpt, not of a capture of source.url, which was read live. DHA publishes no size, background, age or head rule for visa photos, so physical 35 x 45 mm, the 70-80 % head band and the light-grey background are ICAO defaults / our rendering choices (flagged in statedAs and backgroundStatedAs); glasses, headCovering, neutralExpression and mouthClosed are ICAO-style defaults. printsRequired 2 from 'Two colour passport photographs'. maxPhotoAgeMonths left undefined ('recent' only). child left undefined. VFS Global checklists were not read (not an official host).
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
