Zambia Passport Photo (DNRPC: two 38 x 51 mm prints, white background, one endorsed): size and requirements
The Zambia Passport Photo size is 38 x 51 mm (1.5 x 2.01 inches). Two (2) passport size photos with white background (the second list says 'clear background not mounted'); head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Last verified 2026-10-10 against Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Zambia - Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship service page ('Passports': short description, full description, supporting documents / requirements).
For the two printed photographs the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship lists for a Zambian passport - first issue or renewal, applicants over 16 and children under 16 - filed in person at a passport and citizenship office, a Zambian mission or consulate: 38 x 51 mm (the sheet also allows 51 x 64 mm), recent, white or clear background, not mounted, one copy endorsed by a recommender. The head band is the ICAO reference because the sheet gives no face measurement. Not for the National Registration Card, where the office photographs you, nor for a Zambian e-Visa (separate page here).
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 38 x 51 mm (1.5 x 2.01 inches)
- Head height
- Head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height ('passport photographs of 38mm x 51 mm or 51mm x 64mm' with no face measurement; ICAO Doc 9303 crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent of the height applied and flagged)
- Background
- Two (2) passport size photos with white background (the second list says 'clear background not mounted')
- 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
- 449 x 602 px (300 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckTwo prints, one endorsed: the over-16 list asks for 'Two (2) passport size photos with white background' and, further down, 'To attach (2) passport size photographs of 38mm x 51mm x 64mm or recent photographs with a clear background not mounted of which one must be endorsed by a recommender' - the under-16 list spells the sizes out as '38mm x 51 mm or 51mm x 64mm'. We render 38 x 51 mm; ask for 51 x 64 mm instead if your office insists on the larger size.
- CheckThe recommender must have 'known the applicant for a period of not less than (2) years' and be a Minister of Religion, medical or legal practitioner, established civil servant, senior bank official or a Zambian of similar standing; family members are not allowed. Do not glue the photos to the form ('not mounted').
- CheckIn person only: 'Applicants for Zambian National Travel document are required to come in person to passport and citizenship offices.' or the nearest Zambian mission or consulate, to complete forms, pay, be interviewed and submit; 'The service is not online'.
- CheckFees and validity: '32-page ordinary passport (320.00)', '48-page national passport (520.00)', diplomatic free, and 'Note: There is a fee of K200.00 for express service'. 'Passports are National Travel Documents with five (5) years expiration period for children due to rapid facial changes and ten (10) years for adults.'
- CheckPaperwork beside the photos: the Bar Code Form, Form A and affidavit form N (Form B and affirmation form M for under-16s), a photocopy of the National Registration Card, birth certificate, marriage certificate where relevant and details of the previous passport; all photocopies must be certified by a Commissioner of Oaths. Lost passports add a police report, a sworn affidavit and, for children, lost-passport description form L.
- CheckNo face measurement, age limit or expression rule is published; the 70-80 per cent head band, the no-glare glasses rule and the religious-only head-covering rule here are ICAO-style defaults.
Good to know before you pay
Any Lusaka studio printing two 38 x 51 mm white-background photos meets the list; use our file to print two copies from a phone photo and get one endorsed.
Source and verification
Read from the official page. Last checked 2026-10-10 at Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Zambia - Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship service page ('Passports': short description, full description, supporting documents / requirements).
Two (2) passport size photos with white background
To attach two (2) passport photographs of 38mm x 51 mm or 51mm x 64mm of recent photographs with clear background not mounted
Applicants for Zambian National Travel document are required to come in person to passport and citizenship offices.
Passports are National Travel Documents with five (5) years expiration period for children due to rapid facial changes and ten (10) years for adults.
32-page ordinary passport (320.00)
Note: There is a fee of K200.00 for express service
The service is not online
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 1-7 are from source.url (sources/zm/mohais-dnrpc-1610.txt, read live via r.jina.ai on 2026-10-10; bold markers dropped). Quote 8 is ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/icao-9303-part3-portrait-excerpt.txt, Wayback capture 2024-09-12) and supplies only the head band. physical 38 x 51 mm from quote 2 (the under-16 list; the over-16 list prints the same sizes as '38mm x 51mm x 64mm'), printsRequired 2 and background 'white' from quote 1; head 0.7-0.8, dpi 300, glasses, headCovering, neutralExpression and mouthClosed are ICAO-style defaults, not Zambian figures; no maxPhotoAgeMonths is set because the sheet says only 'recent'. 51 x 64 mm is the sheet's alternative size and is not rendered.
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.
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