Belarus passport photo rules from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Belarus passport photo is regulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (МВД РБ) through its Department of Citizenship and Migration. The current rules sit in MVD Order No. 251 of 12 July 2024, which took effect on 15 September 2024 and replaced the older 2010 instrument. The underlying technical standard is STB 1696-2006.
Applicants for a non-biometric domestic passport submit four identical prints on a single uncut 40×50 mm sheet. Officers at the OGiM passport office trim each print down to the inner 35×45 mm biometric area using a physical stencil, so the photo must be composed for that inner crop while keeping the larger outer canvas intact. Biometric passports and ID cards are captured live at OGiM kiosks and do not accept submitted photos. The same MVD framing also governs visa photos issued through Belarusian diplomatic missions, which are printed directly at 35×45 mm.
Compliance is enforced strictly. Photos that miss the head-height window, show prohibited headwear, display unregistered symbols or logos on clothing, or arrive on the wrong paper format are rejected at the counter, which sends the applicant back to redo the shoot and resubmit the file.
Belarus passport photo rules from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
MVD Order No. 251 (effective 15 September 2024) defines what the applicant must look like in the frame. The rules below cover expression, pose, eyewear, hair, headwear, jewelry, cosmetics, and clothing.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must carry a natural, neutral expression. Smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, and squinting are not accepted.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be closed with no teeth visible.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera lens.
- Full frontal alignmentThe head must face the camera straight on (анфас) with no yaw, pitch, or roll. Equal amounts of each ear and cheek must be visible.
- Square shouldersShoulders must be square to the camera, with the upper chest framed in shot.
Eyewear & lenses
- Tinted and sunglassesDark or sun-protection glasses are prohibited. The sole exception is for citizens officially registered as visually impaired (инвалиды по зрению).
- Prescription glassesGlasses are not permitted in Belarusian passport photos. Medical exceptions require documentation; even then frames must not cover the eyes and lenses must show no glare.
- Cosmetic contact lensesColoured or pattern-altering contact lenses are not allowed. Clear prescription contacts are fine.
Hair
- Face oval visibleHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, or jawline. The full oval of the face must be visible.
- Bangs and fringesBangs are permitted only when they sit above the eyebrows and cast no shadow on the eyes.
- Wigs and hairpiecesWigs worn daily (for example, for medical reasons) are accepted provided they do not obscure facial features.
- Voluminous hairstylesVoluminous hair must still allow the chin-to-crown measurement to fall within the 32 to 35 mm range required by the MVD.
Headwear
- Hats and head coveringsHeadwear is prohibited for the domestic Belarusian passport (без головного убора). The MVD publishes no religious or medical exception for passport photos.
- Visa applicationsFor Belarusian visa photos handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ethnic or religious head coverings are permitted provided the full face oval remains visible.
Jewelry & accessories
- Standard and costume jewelryEarrings, necklaces, and costume jewelry (бижутерия) are explicitly exempt from the symbols rule and are permitted if they do not distract from the face.
- Facial piercingsSmall facial piercings are permitted provided they do not distort facial features or cause glare.
- Headphones and earbudsHeadphones and wireless earbuds must be removed before the photo is taken.
Cosmetics
- Makeup levelOnly light, natural makeup is allowed. Heavy contouring or any makeup that alters the apparent shape of facial features leads to rejection.
- False eyelashesFalse eyelashes are not permitted because they interfere with biometric eye detection.
- Facial tattoosPermanent facial tattoos are accepted as part of the applicant’s current appearance.
Clothing
- Uniforms prohibitedCivil, military, and law-enforcement uniforms are explicitly banned by MVD regulation.
- Outerwear prohibitedCoats, heavy jackets, and other outerwear must be removed. Everyday indoor attire is required.
- Unregistered symbols banAny visible logos, slogans, brand text, or graphic emblems that are not registered in the established manner cause automatic rejection. Plain solid-coloured clothing is the only guaranteed-safe option.
- Contrast with backgroundClothing must contrast with the white background so that the shoulders and neckline are clearly defined.
Photo quality
- Sharp, in-focus subjectThe image of the subject must be clear and sharp. Motion blur from the applicant moving during capture causes rejection.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted, and digital red-eye correction is not permitted. The photo must be retaken if red-eye occurs.
- True-to-life skin toneSkin tone must appear natural with no colour cast. Black-and-white photographs are prohibited; 24-bit colour is required.
- Current appearanceThe photo must reflect the applicant’s appearance at the time of submission. Significant changes in weight, hair, or facial structure trigger a new photo.
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.
- Top margin (from the top of the head to the top edge): 4.5–5.5 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.
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.
MVD Order No. 251 does not create a formal statutory carve-out for children, but passport officers apply practical leniency for infants.
Infants (under 12 months)
Officers apply discretion for the youngest applicants. The standard composition rules still drive the file, but small deviations in expression and gaze are treated as warnings rather than hard rejections.
- ExpressionSlightly parted lips and minor variations from a perfectly neutral expression are accepted for infants.
- Gaze and head angleDirect eye contact with the camera is preferred but not strictly enforced. Minor head tilts are tolerated.
- EyesClosed eyes are accepted for sleeping infants, in line with practical MVD officer leniency.
- Child alone in frameThe infant must appear alone in the photo. Parental hands, supporting arms, chair backs, pillows, and toys must not be visible.
Country-specific details to know.
A few features of the Belarusian spec stand apart from the standard requirement groups.
Unregistered symbols rule
Belarus enforces a specific ban on символика, не зарегистрированная в установленном порядке: any logo, slogan, brand text, or graphic emblem on the face, neck, or clothing causes automatic rejection. Standard jewelry and costume jewelry are explicitly carved out from this rule.
Submit uncut, officer trims
Photos are submitted as a 40 by 50 mm print and must not be self-trimmed. Authorised OGiM personnel trim each print to 35 by 45 mm using a physical stencil during processing.
Biometric documents use kiosk capture
Biometric passports and national ID cards issued since 2021 are captured live at OGiM biometric kiosks. Applicants for those documents cannot bring their own photos; bring-your-own prints apply only to the non-biometric domestic passport and to visa applications.
Back-of-photo signature
Each printed photo for the passport must carry the applicant’s surname and initials, written in Russian or Belarusian with a ballpoint pen on the back.
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.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
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 with a matte 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.
- 4 identical prints are required.