Obtaining a Ghanaian passport requires a specific photo format to meet official requirements. This guide provides clear and concise instructions to ensure your passport photo gets accepted on the first try, saving you time and frustration.
Here are the full rules for a Ghana passport photo:((Application For A Republic Of Ghana Passport (NLCD. 155, 1967). (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://ghanahighcom.org.au/files/ghana-passport-application-form.pdf))
- Dimensions and Framing
- Size: 35mm x 45mm (1.38 inches x 1.77 inches)
- Framing: Full face view with head and shoulders centered in the frame.
- Quality of Photo
- Recent color photograph (taken within the last six months)
- Sharp and clear with no blurring, pixelation, or damage
- High resolution (600 dpi recommended for online submissions)
- Quantity: Four (4) Identical copies.
- Lighting
- Even and consistent lighting (natural light preferred)
- No harsh shadows or reflections on the face
- Avoid overly bright or dark backgrounds
- Position and Background
- Position: Stand upright, facing the camera with head held straight
- Background: Plain white background, smooth and wrinkle-free, with no patterns or shadows
- Glasses:
- Not allowed unless medically necessary. A doctor’s note might be required.
- Frames must be thin and non-reflective.
- Glare on lenses is not acceptable.
Facial Appearance
- Hair is styled away from the face to avoid obscuring eyes or forehead.
- No headwear or scarves, except for religious purposes, with prior approval.
- Remove excessive jewelry and piercings.
- Neutral facial expression preferred, slight smiles tolerated.
Expression
- Adults and Children 6+: Neutral expression with both eyes open and looking directly at the camera
- Children under 6: Closed eyes are acceptable for newborns; strive for open eyes when possible. Slight smiles tolerated.
Exceptions for Religious Reasons
- Headwear for religious purposes is allowed with prior approval and if it doesn’t obscure the face.
- Provide a separate photo without headwear for identification purposes.
Exception for Children under the Age of 6
- May require gentle support to ensure proper head positioning.
- Closed eyes for newborns are acceptable but strive for open eyes when possible.
- Ensure the entire head and shoulders are visible in the frame.
Exception for Physical or Medical Reasons
- If glasses are medically necessary, a doctor’s note explaining the need might be required.
Attire, Clothing, and Dress Code
- Solid light-colored clothing: Opt for solid colors like light blue, light gray, or beige to ensure your face stands out clearly against the background. Avoid wearing white, as it can blend in with the background and cause issues.
- Clothing that covers shoulders: Ensure your shoulders are fully covered. Sleeveless shirts, tank tops, and other revealing clothing are not permitted.
- Avoid busy patterns and designs: Opt for plain clothing without any distracting patterns or large logos.
- Religious attire: Headwear for religious purposes is allowed, provided it doesn’t cover your face excessively. Ensure your full facial features are clearly visible from the forehead down to the chin.
Beard:
- Neat and well-groomed: Beards are permitted in Ghanaian passport photos as long as they are neat and well-groomed. Avoid excessively long or unkempt beards that might obscure your facial features.
Makeup
- Natural-looking makeup: While makeup is allowed, it should be applied subtly and maintain a natural appearance. Avoid excessive makeup, bright colors, or anything that significantly alters your natural features.
Earrings
- Small and conservative: Small and conservative earrings are permitted, but large, dangly, or flashy earrings are not recommended. Ensure they don’t cover any part of your face.
Following the Ghanaian passport photo guidelines is essential for a smooth and successful application process. Here’s why adherence matters:
1. Ensures Accurate Identification:
- A photo that adheres to the guidelines provides a clear and accurate representation of your features, facilitating easy identification by immigration officials.
- Deviating from the guidelines, like wearing distracting clothing or excessive makeup, can create discrepancies and lead to delays or even application rejection.
2. Expedites Processing:
- Photos that meet the requirements can be processed quickly and efficiently by officials.
- Non-compliant photos, on the other hand, might require resubmission, causing delays and potentially impacting your travel plans.
3. Minimizes Risk of Rejection:
- By following the guidelines, you minimize the risk of your application being rejected due to photo issues.
- This saves you time, effort, and potential additional fees associated with resubmitting the application.
4. Maintains Passport Integrity:
- Standardized passport photos ensure the integrity and security of the document itself.
- Consistent photo formats help officials quickly verify the authenticity of the passport holder and prevent potential misuse.
5. Promotes International Standards:
- Adhering to the guidelines aligns your passport photo with internationally recognized standards.
- This ensures smooth travel experiences across various countries without encountering issues due to non-compliant photos.
Following the Ghanaian passport photo guidelines is not merely a formality; it significantly impacts the efficiency and success of your application process. So, take the time to ensure your photo meets all the requirements for a stress-free and timely passport issuance.
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 photo 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 deliver your passport photos to your inbox, which you can print at home.
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 – we check your passport photo to make sure 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 easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
Tips for Taking a Perfect Ghana Passport Photo
Preparation
- Gather materials: You’ll need a camera (a phone camera can work), a white sheet of fabric, a tripod (optional), good lighting (natural light preferred), and a dark-colored top.
Setting Up
- Background: Hang your white sheet or fabric on a wall or doorway to create a smooth, wrinkle-free background. Ensure it’s well-lit and even without shadows.
- Lighting: Use natural light from a window if possible. Avoid direct sunlight, which can cause harsh shadows. If using artificial light, ensure it’s soft and even.
- Camera: Set your camera to the highest resolution setting available. Use the self-timer or have a friend help you frame the shot.
- Positioning: Stand about 1.5-2 meters away from the background. Position yourself so your head and shoulders are centered in the frame.
Taking the Photo
- Pose: Maintain a neutral expression with your eyes open and looking directly at the camera. Avoid tilting your head or slouching.
- Clothing: Wear a dark-colored top that contrasts nicely with the white background. Avoid busy patterns, white shirts, or anything revealing.
- Hair: Style your hair so it doesn’t obscure your face. Pull back bangs and secure loose hair if necessary.
- Glasses and jewelry: Remove glasses unless medically necessary. Avoid excessive jewelry and headwear (except religious attire with prior approval).
- Multiple shots: Take several photos from slightly different angles and expressions to choose the best one later.
Remember: Taking your passport photo alone might not meet the requirements set by the government and lead to rejection. To ensure your passport photo will be accepted, use Visas for Future passport photo service.
Ghana Passport photo for kids and babies
Obtaining a passport for your child involves following specific photo guidelines, even for the family’s youngest members. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements and some helpful tips:
General Requirements
- Size and Format: Same as adults – 35mm x 45mm (1.38 inches x 1.77 inches) in color and recent (within the last month).
- Resolution: 600 dpi for online submissions.
- Background: Plain white, smooth, and free of shadows or patterns.
Specifics for Kids and Babies:
Zero to six (6) months
- Position: Lay the baby on their back on a white blanket or sheet. Ensure their head is upright and centered. If needed, gently support their head with your hand (kept out of the frame).
- Eyes: Closed eyes are acceptable for newborns, but strive for open eyes when possible.
- Expression: Neutral expression is preferred, but slight smiles are tolerated.
6 months to 18 years
- Position: Sit the child upright in a chair with a white sheet/backdrop behind them. Ensure their head and shoulders are visible and centered.
- Eyes: Both eyes must be open and visible.
- Expression: Neutral expression is preferred, but natural smiles are allowed.
Additional Tips
- Lighting: Good natural light is best. Avoid harsh shadows and direct sunlight.
- Clothing: Dark-colored top that contrasts with the background. Avoid white, busy patterns, and revealing clothing.
- Hair: Style hair away from the face to avoid obscuring eyes or forehead.
- Headwear/Accessories: Not allowed unless for religious purposes with prior approval.
- Multiple Photos: Take several shots to ensure one meets all requirements and captures a natural expression.
- Avoid distractions: Keep pacifiers, toys, or other objects out of the picture.
- Patience and Practice: Be patient with young children. Take breaks and keep them comfortable to encourage cooperation.
Age Considerations
- Newborns: May require more patience and creative positioning due to limited head control.
- Infants: Gentle support might be needed to ensure proper head positioning.
- Toddlers: May require gentle guidance and breaks to maintain focus and cooperation.
- Older children: Explain the importance of the photo and encourage them to follow instructions for best results.
Correct and Incorrect Samples of Ghana Passport Photos
Steps to get a Ghana passport photo Online
1. Visit Visas for Future and click on “Get Passport photo now” button.
2. Prepare your photo: Take the photo with good lighting, not blurry.
3. Fill out the order form and pay the fee.
3. Upload your photo: Follow the tool’s instructions carefully and upload your picture.
4. Submit your application and wait for 24 hours to receive your passport photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color shirt should you wear for your passport photo?
For a Ghanaian passport photo, opt for a darker, solid-colored shirt to contrast the white background and prevent blending. Stick to black, navy blue, dark green, or brown classics. Avoid light colors, white, and busy patterns that might draw attention away from your face. Choose what makes you feel comfortable and confident if it adheres to these guidelines.
Why do passport photos get rejected?
Passport photos get rejected for various reasons, often related to incorrect format, blurry quality, or violation of presentation rules.
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Written by
Jenilyn Samortin 
Jenilyn Samortin is an Environmental Science graduate and a content writer at Visas for Future, a company that supports reforestation and urban forestry projects. She is an expert at e-visas and travel documents, such as India e-visa and Turkey e-visa, which she handles and assists customers every quarter. She loves helping people with their international travel needs and providing them with the latest information, tips, and guidance on how to apply online.
Managed by Glen Vidania
Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
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MLA Style
Samortin, Jenilyn. "Ghana passport photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/ghana-passport-photo-dimensions/. Accessed on 19 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Samortin, Jenilyn. "Ghana passport photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 19, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/ghana-passport-photo-dimensions/.