Bangladesh passport photo rules from the Department of Immigration and Passports
The Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, sets the photo specification for Bangladeshi passports. The rules are published through the e-Passport portal at epassport.gov.bd and reinforced by Bangladesh diplomatic missions abroad, which process consular MRP renewals and applications for citizens living overseas.
The same 45×55 mm specification applies to consular passport applications and renewals handled through Bangladesh embassies and high commissions. A separate 35×45 mm size is used for Bangladesh visa photos submitted through visa.gov.bd, and applications for children under six require a 3R print with a gray background that DIP scans into its biometric system at the passport office.
DIP enforces its photo rules strictly. Submissions that fail on head size, pose, expression, eyewear, or clothing are rejected at intake, which delays the application and forces the applicant to provide a new compliant photo before processing can continue.
Bangladesh passport photo requirements set by the DIP
The Department of Immigration & Passports enforces a strict set of subject-side rules covering expression, pose, eyewear, hair, headwear, accessories, cosmetics, and clothing. Photos that fail any rule are rejected.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe applicant must hold a strictly neutral expression. Smiling is not permitted, including subtle closed-mouth smiles. Raised eyebrows and squinting are grounds for rejection.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be completely closed with no teeth visible. Open-mouth expressions are not accepted.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly into the camera. Infants under 1 year may be accepted with closed eyes when a sleeping pose is unavoidable.
- Square to cameraThe head must face the camera directly with zero yaw, pitch, or roll. Tilted, turned, or three-quarter poses are rejected. Automated facial-recognition checks on this requirement were tightened in 2025.
- Level shouldersShoulders must be level and square to the camera, with the top of the shoulders or collarbone visible in the frame.
Eyewear & lenses
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are permitted only under strict conditions and are heavily discouraged. A medical exception requires a signed doctor’s statement.
- Thick framesThick or heavy frames are prohibited. Only thin wire frames are acceptable, and frames must not cover any part of the eyes.
- Lens glareZero glare and zero reflection on the lenses is required. Any flash reflection on the lenses results in rejection.
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses, tinted lenses, and photochromic or transition lenses are prohibited without exception.
- Contact lensesClear prescription contact lenses are permitted. Colored or cosmetic contact lenses that alter natural eye color are prohibited.
Hair
- Forehead visibilityThe forehead must be visible. Bangs or fringes that fall over the eyebrows or eyes must be swept aside.
- Face coverageHair must not obscure the eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, jawline, or facial outline. Long hair should be tucked behind the ears or tied back.
- Hair accessoriesClips, bows, headbands, and other hair accessories are prohibited unless worn for a documented religious reason.
- WigsWigs are permitted only when they reflect the applicant’s normal everyday appearance.
Headwear
- General ruleHeadwear is prohibited except for religious or medical reasons.
- Facial oval visibilityAny permitted head covering must leave the full facial oval visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with the hairline landmarks unobstructed.
- Color and patternPermitted head coverings must be a plain solid color. Patterned or textured fabrics are not accepted.
- Shadows from headwearHead coverings must not cast shadows onto the face. Photos with hat-brim or fabric shadows across the eyes, nose, or chin are rejected.
Jewelry & accessories
- Earrings and studsSmall unobtrusive earrings and a small nose stud are tolerated provided they do not cause glare or obstruct facial features.
- Large and reflective itemsLarge or reflective jewelry that causes flash reflection or obscures the facial outline is prohibited.
- Headphones and earbudsHeadphones, wireless earbuds, and over-ear devices are prohibited in the photo.
Cosmetics
- Makeup levelOnly minimal, natural makeup is permitted. Heavy contouring, dramatic eyeliner, and painted-on features that alter the applicant’s appearance are prohibited.
- False eyelashesFalse eyelashes and heavy beauty enhancements are not accepted.
- Facial tattoosPermanent facial tattoos are acceptable when they represent the applicant’s everyday appearance.
Clothing
- Contrast with backgroundClothing must contrast with the background. Pure white tops are prohibited against the white background used for standard adult photos because they wash out the shoulders.
- UniformsCivil, military, and law-enforcement uniforms are prohibited. Everyday street attire is required. Official and diplomatic passport applicants are the only exception.
- Religious dressReligious dress is permitted provided the full facial oval remains visible and the fabric does not cast shadows on the face.
Photo quality issues to avoid
- Shadows on the faceHeavy shadows cast across the face, including shadows from a hat brim or from uneven side lighting, are grounds for rejection.
- Red-eyeRed-eye must be prevented at capture. Digital red-eye correction is not accepted, and a photo with red-eye must be retaken.
- Motion blurThe applicant must remain still during capture. Motion blur on the face, especially common with young children, results in rejection.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (roughly 65–71% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 24 mm and 29 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- Top margin (from the top of the head to the top edge): 2–4 mm.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame, with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Shoulders must be square to the camera and both visible. No three-quarter angles or rotated torso.
- The full face, from chin to crown, must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
Bangladesh accepts more than one size — we generate them all.
Bangladesh publishes more than one acceptable format depending on where you submit your application — domestic passport offices, the official online portal, and regional consulates abroad can each call for a different print or pixel size. We render every variant below from the same source photo, so the head sits at the same physical position across files, and each one arrives in your order email with a clear filename indicating which submission channel it's for.
Bangladesh Passport 40×50 mm
Primary · Print + DigitalBangladesh's official format — the same file works for both printed in-person submissions and the online portal upload.
Bangladesh Passport 25×30 mm
Print + DigitalAlternate accepted size — works as both an in-person print and an online-portal upload.
Bangladesh Passport 45×55 mm
Print + DigitalAlternate accepted size — works as both an in-person print and an online-portal upload.
Bangladesh Passport 35×45 mm
Print + DigitalAlternate accepted size — works as both an in-person print and an online-portal upload.
How recent the photo must be.
Your passport photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
The DIP applies additional rules to applications involving minors. Standard expression and pose rules still apply.
Children under 6 (e-Passport)
Children under six follow a distinct photo workflow because they cannot reliably complete live biometric capture at the passport office.
- 3R physical printA physical 3R print measuring 89 by 127 mm is submitted. DIP scanners extract the ICAO facial oval from this larger print.
- Gray backgroundThe under-6 3R print uses a plain gray background. This differs from the white background used for adult photos.
- Both ears visibleBoth ears of the child must be fully visible in the frame.
- Child alone in frameThe child must appear alone. No parental hands, arms, or clothing may be visible supporting the child.
- EyesThe child’s eyes should be open. Infants under 1 year may be accepted with closed eyes when a sleeping pose is unavoidable.
- Neutral expressionMouth closed and a neutral expression are required, the same as for adults.
Applicants under 15 (Parent Photo Rule)
For all passport applications by minors under fifteen, both parents or legal guardians must supply their own photos as administrative documentation.
- Parent photographs requiredBoth parents or legal guardians submit standard 35 by 45 mm passport-size photos of themselves alongside the child’s application. These parent photos are administrative documentation and are not used as the child’s biometric image.
Country-specific details to know.
A few Bangladesh-specific quirks sit outside the standard subject rules and are worth flagging.
Adult domestic capture
Adult applicants applying domestically for an e-Passport do not prepare a photo at all. Biometric capture is performed live at the passport office. The user-prepared photo workflow applies to consular renewals, MRP applications, visa applications, and under-6 e-Passport applications.
Infant eyes-closed leniency
For applicants under 1 year, Bangladesh accepts photos with closed eyes when an awake, eyes-open shot is not realistic. From the first birthday onward, eyes must be open.
Photo recency
Photos must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance. A significant change in appearance requires a new photo even if the previous one is under six months old.
Copies submitted
Two identical prints are the default submission for MRP and visa applications. Some consular offices require additional copies, so applicants should confirm the count with the specific submission office.
As easy as snap, upload, done.
You take a quick picture. We do the spec work and tell you immediately if anything needs a retake.
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Print & paper standards.
If you submit a printed photo with a paper application, the print itself has to meet acceptance-facility standards in addition to the rules above.
- Photographic paper (matte or glossy finish).
- Inkjet printing is not accepted. Use a professional photo lab.
- No visible pixels, banding, dithering, or printer artifacts.
- The print must be undamaged: no creases, holes, smudges, staples, or pinholes.
- Do not write on the back of the photo.
- 2 identical prints are required.