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Specifications
Every measurable requirement, in the same order on every country page. Bracketed numbers point to the official source below.
| Printed photo | ||
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | [1] |
| Head height (chin to crown) | Not specified by the authority | |
| Eye position | Not specified by the authority | |
| Background | Plain light background | [1] |
| Print resolution | Not specified by the authority | |
| Paper | Not specified by the authority | |
| Copies required | Not specified by the authority | |
| Digital upload | ||
| Pixel size | Not specified by the authority | |
| File format | Not specified by the authority | |
| File size | Not specified by the authority | |
| Colour | High quality colour | [1] |
| Validity | ||
| Taken within | No more than 6 months old | [1] |
| Also specified | ||
| Face height (forehead edge to bottom of chin) — digital eVisa 'Upload ICAO Photo' step | 70 to 80% of the photo or one inch height | [1] |
| Colour and paper wording — digital eVisa 'Upload ICAO Photo' step | Photographs taken with a digital camera must be high quality colour and printed on photo-quality paper | [1] |
| Accepted image types — upload-widget helper text on the eVisa portal | Image type only (jpeg, jpg, png) | [1] |
| Face clarity and marks — digital eVisa 'Upload ICAO Photo' step | Face should be in sharp focus and clear with no ink marks, creases or lines; no lines are allowed | [1] |
| Other people or objects — digital eVisa 'Upload ICAO Photo' step | There must be no other people or object in the photo | [1] |
| Paper application — 9(A) Temporary Visitor's Visa (Philippine Consulate General, New York) | 1 colored photo, 1.77 × 1.37 in (3.5 × 4.5 cm), taken within six months, white background; no eyeglasses or sleeveless attire; digital photographs are not accepted | [2] |
| Paper application — 13(A) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa (Philippine Consulate General, New York) | 4 photographs, 2 × 2 in, white plain background | [2] |
| Paper application — 13(A) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa (Philippine Embassy, Berlin) | 9 passport-size photos, white background, taken within the last six months | [3] |
Rules
What is allowed and what is refused. Same ten rows on every page; “Conditional” means allowed only as described.
| Expression | Required | Straight-looking, centered, with a neutral expression and mouth closed [1] |
| Eyes | Required | Eyes open, not obscured by hair; red-eye photos are not allowed [1] |
| Glasses | Conditional | Prescription glasses, if worn, must be clear and thin-framed, must not have flash reflection, and must not obscure the eyes [1] |
| Head covering | Conditional | Head coverings, hair, head-dress or facial ornaments must not obscure the face; head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, and even then the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown [1] |
| Hair | Conditional | Hair must not obscure the face [1] |
| Ears | Not specified | — |
| Clothing | Not specified | — |
| Retouching / filters | Not specified | — |
| Shadows and objects | Not allowed | Lighting must be uniform with no shadows on the face or behind [1] |
| Infants and children | Not specified | — |
Notes and common mistakes
The eVisa portal’s own face-height wording states two different figures in one sentence
The eVisa portal’s “Upload ICAO Photo” note describes how much of the frame the face should fill, and in the same sentence gives that as a percentage of the photo on one hand and as a fixed measurement on the other, without saying which applies when the two do not agree [1]. Both figures are recorded exactly as published in the specification table rather than resolved into a single number.
The same note also carries a print-photo phrase into a digital upload step
The eVisa portal’s photo note, written for a step where the applicant uploads a digital image file, also states that the photograph should be printed on photo-quality paper [1]. That sentence is reproduced exactly as published; it is worth noticing because it reads like wording carried over from a printed-photo standard rather than one written for a digital upload.
A paper application at a mission is a separate requirement, not an alternate way to meet the eVisa spec
A paper application filed in person follows that mission’s own checklist for that specific visa category, not the eVisa portal’s ICAO photo note [2][3]. The size, background wording, and eyeglasses rule stated for a paper application are not interchangeable with the ones stated for the eVisa portal’s digital upload [1][2], and a paper checklist can vary between missions even for the same visa category [2][3].
Countries with the same photo size
2 × 2 in India Saudi Arabia United States
Questions
Do I upload a digital photo or bring a printed one?
It depends on how you apply. The eVisa portal's own application flow has an 'Upload ICAO Photo' step that takes a digital image file [1]. A paper application filed directly with a mission instead asks for a printed photo, and at least one mission's own checklist states plainly that a digital photograph is not accepted for that paper application [2].
Can I wear glasses in the photo?
The eVisa portal's own photo note allows prescription glasses if they are clear and thin-framed, with no flash reflection and without obscuring the eyes [1]. A paper application filed at a mission counter can be stricter: one mission's own checklist for a paper visa application states no eyeglasses at all [2]. Which rule applies depends on which application channel is used.
Does the number of photos I need stay the same everywhere?
No. The photo count for a paper application depends on the visa category and on which mission is processing it — the same category of paper application can call for a different number of photos at different missions [2][3].
Can I wear a head covering in the photo?
Under the eVisa portal's own note, head coverings, hair, a head-dress or facial ornaments must not obscure the face [1]. Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, and even then the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, and both edges of the face, must stay clearly visible [1].
Sources
Every value above is taken from the following official documents. If a source disagrees with this page, the source is right — tell us. Report an error.
- [1] Philippine eVisa System (evisa.gov.ph) — online application, 'Upload ICAO Photo' step ('Philippine Visa Photo Requirements')
https://evisa.gov.ph/_next/data/b63946282fd032b82fc53093a8761c122ef4f4a4/en.json - [2] Philippine Consulate General, New York — Visa (9(A) Temporary Visitor's Visa; 13(A) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa)
https://newyorkpcg.org/pcgny/consular-services/visa/ - [3] Philippine Embassy, Berlin — 13(A) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa Requirements (PDF, updated Nov 2023)
http://philippine-embassy.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023_13a-non-quota-immigrant-visa.pdf