The Zambian government has established specific requirements for passport photos to ensure uniformity and facilitate identification. This guide provides an overview of these requirements to assist you in submitting an acceptable passport photo for your Zambian passport application.
Adhering to the exact passport photo size in your Zambian passport application is crucial for two main reasons:
- Security and Verification: A passport serves as a critical identification document. Maintaining a standardized photo size ensures clear and consistent facial recognition during security checks and border crossings. This uniformity aids officials in accurately verifying your identity against the photo on your passport.
- Processing Efficiency: Passport applications with photos that deviate from the specified dimensions can cause delays. Following the size guidelines allows for a smoother application process and reduces the risk of your application being returned for a new photo.
The photo size and complete specifications of Zambia passport photo:1
General Requirements
- Size: 38 mm x 51 mm
- 3.8 cm x 5.1 cm
- 1.5 inches x 2 inches
- Number of Photos: Two (2) identical photos are required.
- Background: Plain white background with no patterns or shadows.
Facial Features
- Full face view: Your head must be centered and facing directly at the camera.
- Neutral expression: No smiling, frowning, or grimacing.
- Both eyes open: Your eyes should be clearly visible and looking directly at the camera.
- Mouth closed: No open mouth, chewing, or tongue sticking out.
- No headwear: Unless you wear religious headwear that you cannot remove for religious reasons. If you do wear religious headwear, it must not obscure your face.
Hair
- Natural hair style: Avoid elaborate hairstyles, hats, or scarves that cover your hair or face.
- For women with long hair: Hair should be tied back or secured in a way that does not cover your face.
Jewelry and Eyewear
- Minimal jewelry: Only small earrings and a simple necklace are allowed.
- No glasses: Glasses are not permitted in passport photos.
Clothing
- Solid color clothing: Avoid busy patterns or clothing that blends in with the background.
- Dark clothing: Dark colors like black, blue, or gray are generally recommended.
Additional Notes:
- The photo must be recent and taken within the last six months.
- The photo must be high quality, printed on high-resolution photographic paper.
- The photo must be unmounted and free from any creases or marks.
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 own 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, which will make 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.
Resolution and quality of the photo required for a Zambian passport
Resolution
- DPI: between 300 and 600 dots per inch (dpi).
- Pixels: 897 x 1204 Pixels.
Quality
- High quality: Clear, sharp image with good contrast and lighting.
- Printed on high-resolution photographic paper: Ensures durability and maintains quality.
Additional Tips
- Aim for a file size under 240 KB for online applications (not a strict requirement).
Passport-size Photo Dimensions in Pixels
The exact pixel dimensions for a passport-size photo can vary depending on the country issuing the passport and its specific requirements. However, there’s a general range you can use as a starting point:
- Minimum: 600 x 600 pixels (at 300 DPI)
- Maximum: 1200 x 1200 pixels (at 300 DPI)
Attire Guidelines for Zambian Passport Photo
Here are the specific attire guidelines for a Zambian passport photo:
Colors
- Solid colors: Avoid busy patterns or clothing that blends in with the white background.
- Dark colors preferred: Generally, dark colors like black, blue, or gray are recommended for better contrast with the white background.
Clothing style
- Professional and appropriate: Maintain a professional and respectable appearance.
- Shoulders and chest covered: Ensure your clothing covers your shoulders and chest appropriately.
- No low necklines or revealing clothing: Avoid wearing sleeveless shirts, clothing with low necklines, or anything revealing.
How do I get a passport photo that meets Zambia specifications?
Equipment
- Camera: Any camera that can capture a high-quality image will do. You can use a digital camera or smartphone camera or even borrow one from a friend or family member.
- Tripod (optional): Using a tripod can help ensure your camera remains steady and captures a clear, well-framed image.
- Plain white background: Find a plain white wall or sheet to use as your background. Make sure there are no shadows, patterns, or other distractions in the background.
- Lighting: Good lighting is crucial. Natural light from a window is ideal, but if needed, you can use artificial lighting as long as it is evenly diffused and doesn’t create harsh shadows on your face.
Steps
- Dress appropriately: Follow the attire guidelines mentioned earlier (solid colors, dark preferred, shoulders covered, no revealing clothing, minimal jewelry).
- Set up your background: Ensure your white background is wrinkle-free and evenly lit.
- Position yourself: Stand about 6 feet away from the background.
- Frame the shot: Ensure your head and shoulders are centered and fill the frame appropriately. Leave some space at the top of your head for cropping.
- Maintain a neutral expression: Look directly at the camera with a natural, non-smiling, non-frowning expression. Keep your mouth closed and lips together.
- Take multiple photos: Take several photos from slightly different angles to increase your chances of capturing a good one.
When taking your passport photo alone, it might not meet the requirements set by the Zambian government. To ensure your photo meets all the requirements, use our passport photo service here at Visas for Future.
Samples of Correct and Incorrect Zambia Passport Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2×2 the same as passport size?
No, “2×2” and “passport size” are not always the same. While some countries might use a 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) photo size for their passports, it’s not a universal standard.
How do I make a 2×2 photo for my passport?
While Zambia requires a 35mm x 45mm size photo for their passport, if you still desire to create a 2×2 photo for other purposes, you can use passport photo service here at Visas for Future.
Is the passport photo 2×2 or 4×6?
The size of a passport photo is not standard and varies by country.
1. 2×2 inches (51×51 mm): Some countries do use this size for their passports, but it’s not universally applicable.
2. 4×6 inches (10×15 cm): This size is typically used for printing multiple photos on a single sheet, not for individual passport photos.
Therefore, you cannot simply assume that a passport photo is either 2×2 or 4×6.
Can I take a 2×2 passport photo on my phone?
Yes, but you need to use the passport photo service offered here at Visas for Future to ensure your 2×2 passport photo meets all the requirements.
- Zambia High Commission Canada. Application Requirements For A Zambian Passport Or Travel Document Of Identity Passport Application Procedure. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from <https://zambiahighcommission.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/app_passport_guide.pdf> [↩]
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Cite this article
MLA Style
Gajes, Apple. "Zambia Passport Photo Size." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-size-photo-zambia-get-your-passport-photo-stress-free-and-plant-1-tree/. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Gajes, Apple. "Zambia Passport Photo Size." Visas For Future. September 25, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/passport-size-photo-zambia-get-your-passport-photo-stress-free-and-plant-1-tree/.