Burundi visa photos and the Commissariat Général des Migrations
Burundi visas are issued by the Commissariat Général des Migrations under the Ministry of Interior, with overseas applications routed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation. The same photograph standard applies across tourist, business, transit, student, and resident visa categories. Photo sizing is determined by the embassy that receives the application rather than by visa type, so applicants filing in Washington D.C. and other Americas missions follow the 51×51 mm (2×2 in) format, while applicants filing in London, Berlin, Paris, or Brussels follow the 45×35 mm European format.
There is no genuine Burundi e-Visa portal. Applications are filed in person or by mail at a Burundian embassy or consulate, or in country at the CGM office on Avenue de l’OUA in Bujumbura. Each submission requires two identical printed photographs on photographic paper, taken within the last six months, with a plain white background and no eyeglasses. Recent guidance from the U.S. Embassy in Burundi confirms that photos showing applicants in glasses are no longer accepted, and that policy is applied consistently across embassy channels.
Photographs that fail to meet the embassy’s standard are returned with the application, which delays issuance and forces a resubmission. Visa on Arrival is a separate process available at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport and at land borders, where border officials handle the entry photograph directly and no self-supplied print is required.
What the Burundi Embassy expects in your visa photo
The Embassy of Burundi follows standard biometric passport-photo conventions across its missions. The rules below cover what the applicant must look like in the printed image.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a relaxed, neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiles that show teeth are not accepted by the Embassy of Burundi.
- Face the camera squarelyHold the head straight and face the camera directly. The full face must be visible from the front with no tilt or turn.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking directly at the lens. Hair, glare, or shadows must not obscure either eye.
Eyewear & lenses
- Eyeglasses prohibitedPer recent guidance referenced by the U.S. Embassy in Burundi, photos showing applicants in eyeglasses are no longer accepted. Remove all prescription and reading glasses before the photo is taken.
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses and any tinted or coloured lenses are not permitted. The eyes must be clearly visible.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not cross the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Long fringes should be swept aside.
Headwear
- Religious head coverings onlyHats and other headwear are not accepted. Head coverings worn daily for religious reasons are permitted provided the full face from the hairline to the chin remains visible.
- No brim shadowsIf a religious head covering is worn, it must not cast shadows across the forehead, eyes, or cheeks.
Jewelry & accessories
- Minimal jewelrySmall, everyday jewelry is acceptable provided it does not obscure facial features. Remove any item that covers part of the face or reflects light into the camera.
- No earphones or visible cordsHeadphones, earbuds, and similar accessories must be removed before the photo is taken.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear normal street clothing. Uniforms (other than worn daily by religious order) are not accepted.
- Shoulders in frameThe top of the shoulders should be visible. Avoid clothing that blends entirely into a white background.
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 25 mm and 35 mm (roughly 49–69% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28 mm and 35 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa 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
Other things to know.
A few quirks set Burundi visa photo submissions apart from a typical biometric workflow.
Embassy-specific size variants
Burundi delegates photo sizing to the host country of the embassy receiving the application. Missions in Washington D.C. and the Americas accept the 51 by 51 mm (2 by 2 in) format. Missions in London, Berlin, Paris, and Brussels accept the 35 by 45 mm European format. Match the size to the embassy you are filing with.
No genuine e-Visa portal
Burundi does not operate a centralized online visa portal. Sites advertising a Burundi e-Visa are intermediaries that forward physical paperwork to an embassy on the applicant’s behalf. Plan to submit printed photos either by mail or in person.
Two printed copies required
Burundian embassies require two identical physical photo prints with the visa application. A single print is not sufficient.
Six-month recency rule
The photo must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance. Older prints will be refused at intake.
Take your Burundi visa photo at home in three steps.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.