Yes, you need passport photos for a Vietnam visa, regardless of the application method. However, the specific requirements and number of photos vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for:
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA)
- Requirements: You will need two recently taken (within six months) identical passport-sized photos (4×6 cm or 2×2 inches).
- Format: Photos must be in color, printed on professional photo paper, with a plain white or light-colored background.
- Additional details: Photos must show your full face without sunglasses, hats, or headwear (unless for religious reasons), with your hair pulled back (if applicable). It would help to have a neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes open.
2. E-Visa
- Requirements: You must upload one digital photo directly while completing the online application form.
- Format: The photo must be in .jpg, .jpeg, or .gif format, less than 5MB, and meet the exact specifications as the VOA photos (recent, color, plain background, etc.).
- Additional details: The face needs to cover at least 70% of the photo, with the head occupying roughly 3.2cm to 3.6cm from the top of the head to the chin.
3. Visa Application at Embassy/Consulate
- Requirements: Submit two identical passport-sized photos along with your completed application form.
- Format: The photo requirements match those for the VOA (recently taken, color, plain background, etc.).
To apply for a passport or visa for Vietnam, it is crucial to confirm that the photograph complies with the following standards.1
- The photo must be 4×6 cm or 2×2 inches in size.
- The head in the photo should be centered and take up approximately 70-80% of the photo.
- The photo should be taken against a plain white background.
- The person in the photo should face forward with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- The photo should be taken within the last six months.
Background Color and Lighting Requirements
When taking your passport or visa photo for Vietnam, pay attention to the background color and lighting to ensure that your photo meets the requirements.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- The background color should be white or off-white.
- The lighting should be even and not too bright or too dark.
- Avoid shadows or reflections in the photo.
- The photo should be clear and in focus.
- Make sure that your face is well-lit and not obscured by shadows.
- Avoid wearing hats or head coverings that obscure your face, unless worn for religious reasons.
Clothing and Facial Expression Guidelines
Adhering to specific clothing and facial expression guidelines is crucial when capturing your passport or visa photo for Vietnam.
- Clothing: Wear plain-colored clothing, preferably in darker shades such as black, navy, or dark gray. Avoid wearing clothing with patterns or logos that could obscure your face.
- Hair: Keep your hair away from your face and ears to ensure your features are visible. Avoid wearing hats or headbands that could cast shadows on your face.
- Glasses: If you wear glasses, ensure no glare or reflection on the lenses. Remove any tinted glasses or sunglasses for the photo.
- Facial Expression: Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes looking directly at the camera. Avoid smiling, frowning, or raising your eyebrows.
Source: Vietnam Socialist Republic of Vietnam Website.2
Additional Information
- When applying for a Vietnam e-Visa, you must upload clear, high-quality images of your passport’s bio page and portrait photo (4x6cm) in .jpg format.
- You must include your photo when applying for a Vietnam visa at a Vietnam embassy.
- In case you are entering Vietnam on an on-arrival visa, you must prepare two (2) passport-sized photos for online procedures.
Visas for Future is an online service that provides passport photos that meet the requirements set by the Vietnamese government. If you want to ensure the approval of your passport photo, consider getting it from Visas for Future. We are a reliable and efficient service that can help you obtain a passport photo that meets all the necessary standards.
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Use the Visas for Future passport photo service to get a passport photo that’ll work for your application. Simply take a picture of yourself using our guidelines, send it in, and we’ll edit it. We’ll send you your passport photos by post with free shipping. We deliver to Canada, the EU, the US, and the UK. For individuals outside of those countries, we can provide your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home. For every product sold, we plant a tree!
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred, but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits of using an online passport photo service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo, but here are reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate your photo and check your passport photo to ensure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why choose us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process more manageable.
- Speed: Your photos will be emailed within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Vietnam passport photos and visa photos
| Vietnam passport photos | Vietnam visa photos |
| Refer to the photographs that must be submitted and a passport application in Vietnam. These photos must meet specific criteria in size, quality, and format. These photos are an essential part of the passport application process in Vietnam and must be taken carefully to ensure they meet the Vietnamese authorities’ requirements. | They are to identify the visa applicant and ensure that the person applying for the visa is the same person traveling to Vietnam. The images verify the applicant’s identity and prevent fraud and identity theft. The Vietnamese authorities require that the photos meet specific requirements to ensure they are clear and accurate representations of the applicant’s face. By having a consistent set of requirements for visa photos, the authorities can more easily compare and verify the identity of visa applicants. |
Vietnam visa and passport photo sample
Source: Visa Vietnam Website.3
Correct and Incorrect Vietnam Visa Photo
Source: Vietnam Immigration Organization website.4
Photo requirements for different Vietnam visa types
The Vietnamese government is much more relaxed on guidelines for visa or passport photos than other countries. This should allow for a more manageable task when completing an application and taking these photos.
Vietnam e-Visa Photos
- The Portrait photo size is 4 x 6 cm (standard length of Vietnamese photography) or 2 x 2 inches in .jpg format, and the maximum file size is 1024Kb.
- The photos were taken within the last six months.
- The photo must capture your entire face, viewed directly with a bright, solid background.
- Hats or head scarves cannot be worn for religious purposes.
- No laughing. Just keep a neutral facial expression.
Vietnam Visa at Embassy or Visa On Arrival Photos5
- The photo size (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm).
- The photos must be identical and taken within the last six months.
- Photos must be in color and printed on professional photo paper.
- The photo must capture your entire face, viewed directly with a bright, solid background.
- Hats or head scarves cannot be worn for religious purposes.
- Black or over-the-counter glasses with tinted lenses are not accepted unless requested for medical reasons.
- In some exceptional cases, consistent items like prescription glasses, hearing aids, wigs, or similar items are still acceptable.
- No laughing. Just keep a neutral facial expression.
- Quantity needed in application: Two (2) identical passport photo.
Things to remember when preparing a photo for your Vietnam visa application
Aside from the specifications of the Vietnam visa photos, there are a few other things to remember when preparing a photo for your Vietnam visa application:
1. Dress appropriately: You should dress appropriately for your photo as if you were taking a passport photo. Avoid wearing hats, sunglasses, or anything that covers your face.
2. Keep your facial expression neutral: Keep a neutral facial expression when taking your photo. Avoid smiling or making any exaggerated facial expressions.
3. Don’t edit or retouch your photo: Do not edit or retouch your image in any way. This includes removing blemishes or wrinkles, as well as changing the background or lighting of the photo.
4. Submit a physical copy of the photo: You must submit a physical copy when submitting your visa application. Ensure the image is printed on high-quality photo paper and meets all the size and resolution requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents do I need for a Vietnam visa?
Do I need a photo at Vietnam airport?
If you obtain a visa on arrival at the airport, you will need two passport-sized photos. However, you won’t need a physical photo at the airport if you receive an e-visa (electronic visa) online. Your passport information and photo submitted during the online application process are already linked to your visa.
Do I need a photo to apply for a visa?
Yes, you will need a photo to apply for a Vietnam visa.
How do I upload a photo to a Vietnam visa?
If you apply for a Vietnamese e-visa online, you must upload your required photo.
- Mofa.gov.vn.(n.d). Retrieved February 13, 2024, <https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/NewsDetail.aspx?type=Guide&id=32> [↩]
- Vietnam Visa Online. (2021). Guidelines for Vietnam Passport / Visa photos requirement. Retrieved February 19, 2024.<https://vietnam-e-visas.com/guidelines-passport-photos/> [↩]
- Vietnam-Visa. (2020, February 7). Vietnam Visa Photo Size, Requirements and Guidelines. Retrieved February 20, 2024.<https://www.vietnam-visa.com/vietnam-visa-photo-requirements-size/ [↩]
- Vietnam Immigration Org. (2020). Retrieved February 20, 2024.<https://www.vietnamimmigration.org/all-you-ought-to-know-about-the-vietnam-e-visa-photo-requirements/> [↩]
- Government, N. (2024). Visa exemption. Vietnam.gov.vn. Retrieved February 13, 2024<https://vietnam.gov.vn/visa-exemption-68946> [↩]
- Vietnam, U. S. M. (2022, July 6). Vietnamese Visas and Entry/Exit. U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam. Retrieved February 13, 2024.<https://vn.usembassy.gov/vietnamese-visas-and-entry-exit/#:~:text=E%2Dvisas%20are%20issued%20with> [↩]
- Vietnam E-visa Photo Requirements & Size – Updated Regulations in 2023. (n.d.). Vietnam Embassy in Norway. Retrieved February 13, 2024. <https://vietnamembassy-norway.org/visa-for-vietnam/e-visa/photo-requirements/> [↩]
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Written by
Apple Gajes 
Apple is a skilled content writer of Visas For Future who had a bachelor's degree in Education. She does well at producing high-quality visa articles and continuously upgrading her skills by actively engaging herself to various courses and training opportunities. She also contributes to travel forms and visa fulfillment in Turkey and India. Committed to writing exceptional visa articles, she performs real visa orders and provides customer support quarterly to stay abreast of the visa processing process.
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MLA Style
Gajes, Apple. "Do I need passport photos for a Vietnam visa?." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/do-i-need-passport-photos-for-vietnam-visa/. Accessed on 24 September 2023.
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Gajes, Apple. "Do I need passport photos for a Vietnam visa?." Visas For Future. September 24, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/do-i-need-passport-photos-for-vietnam-visa/.