Mexico passport photo rules from the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores
The Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) sets the photographic standard for the Mexican passport. The Reglamento de Pasaportes y del Documento de Identidad y Viaje requires a recent color photograph on a plain white background, taken from the front, with the head uncovered, without glasses, and showing a neutral expression. The same parameters appear in consular requirement sheets used by Mexican consulates worldwide.
The spec also governs the printed photograph accepted for the Matrícula Consular and, with minor consulate-specific size variations, for Mexican visa applications. Although most domestic applicants now have their photo captured on site by SRE staff, the printed 35×45 mm format remains the reference for consular exceptions, system outages, applicants whose names contain characters the live-capture system cannot process, and certain minors.
SRE enforcement is strict. Photographs that show smiling, visible teeth, eyeglasses, earrings, covered ears or forehead, a non-white background, or an image older than 30 days are rejected, which delays issuance until a compliant photograph is presented.
Mexican passport photo requirements
The Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores enforces strict rules on how the subject must appear. Meeting every point below is what separates an accepted photo from a rejected one.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must be relaxed with no smiling, frowning, or exaggerated expression. The Frankfurt consular guide specifies ’sin sonreír’.
- Mouth closedThe mouth must be fully closed. Teeth must not be visible.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be open and looking directly into the camera lens.
- Frontal poseThe applicant must face the camera straight on (’de frente’). Profile, three-quarter, and tilted poses are rejected.
- Shoulders squaredShoulders must be level and parallel to the camera, with the head upright and centered.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses of any kind are prohibited. The SRE requirement ’sin lentes’ applies to prescription, clear, thin-wire, tinted, and anti-reflective lenses, with no medical exceptions stated.
- Cosmetic contact lensesColored or decorative contact lenses that alter the natural iris appearance must not be worn. Clear corrective contacts are acceptable.
Hair
- Forehead uncoveredThe forehead must be fully visible (’frente descubierta’). Bangs or fringes falling over the forehead are not accepted.
- Ears uncoveredBoth ears must be uncovered and visible (’orejas descubiertas’), as codified in the Calexico consular requirements.
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or jawline. Long hair should be arranged behind the ears.
Headwear
- Head uncoveredThe head must be uncovered (’cabeza descubierta’) under Article 14 of the Reglamento de Pasaportes. Hats, caps, bandanas, and hoods are not allowed.
- Religious head coveringsReligious headwear is accepted only when it leaves the full facial oval, from chin to forehead, completely visible and does not cast shadows on the face.
Jewelry & accessories
- EarringsEarrings must be removed (’sin aretes’). The prohibition is codified in consular requirements and applies to studs and larger pieces alike.
- NecklacesNecklaces are prohibited (’sin collares’) under SRE consular guidance issued in Montreal and the United Kingdom.
- Facial piercingsVisible facial piercings, including nose rings, septum jewelry, lip studs, and eyebrow studs, must be removed for the photo.
Cosmetics
- Natural makeup onlyMakeup must remain minimal and resemble the applicant’s everyday appearance. Heavy contouring, glitter, and transformative cosmetics are not accepted.
- False eyelashesFalse eyelashes that alter eye shape or cast shadows are not permitted.
- Face paintTemporary face paint must be removed. Permanent facial tattoos do not need to be covered.
Clothing
- Uniforms prohibitedMilitary, police, airline, and other uniforms are not accepted in civilian passport photos.
- Neck and jaw visibleClothing must not obscure the neck or jawline. High collars and scarves that hide the chin are non-compliant.
- Avoid white topsWhite and very light tops blend into the required white background and should be avoided. Solid mid-tone or dark colors work best.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be evenly lit. Shadows across the cheeks, under the nose, or cast by a hat brim are grounds for rejection.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted. The SRE expects a natural, unaltered photo, so the image must be retaken rather than digitally corrected.
- Sharp and in focusMotion blur from the subject moving during capture is non-compliant. The face must be sharp and clearly defined.
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 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 19 mm and 24 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- 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 one month. 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 SRE does not publish formal age-based relaxations, but consular practice recognizes that the youngest applicants cannot always meet adult posing standards.
Infants (0–12 months)
No formally codified relaxation exists in Mexican regulation, but consular staff exercise discretion for newborns who cannot hold a neutral adult pose.
- Child alone in frameOnly the infant may appear in the photo. Supporting hands, arms, or props must not be visible.
- Eyes and expressionEyes should be open and the mouth closed where possible. Manual review is applied when a newborn cannot meet the adult standard.
- Posing surfaceInfants may be placed on a plain white sheet to maintain the white background and keep the face centered.
Country-specific details to know.
A few Mexican rules sit well outside the global passport-photo norm and deserve special attention.
Photo recency window
The photo must have been taken no more than 30 days before the application (’no mayor a 30 días de anterioridad’). This is far stricter than the six-month window used by most countries and is codified in Article 14 of the Reglamento de Pasaportes.
Live capture default
Since 2018 most SRE offices and modern consulates capture the passport photo on the spot during the appointment. Printed photos are required mainly for consular exceptions, visa applications, the Matrícula Consular, and cases where the live-capture system cannot process a name containing hyphens, diacritics, or numbers.
Ears codified, not just face
Mexico explicitly requires both ears to be uncovered alongside the forehead. Many ICAO-aligned countries focus only on the facial oval, but Calexico’s OP-5 sheet makes ear visibility a written rule.
Absolute glasses ban
There is no medical or prescription exception for eyeglasses in Mexican passport photos. All frames and lenses must be removed before the photo is taken.
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 (matte or glossy finish).
- 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.