Bahamas visa photo standards from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas sets the photograph standard for every Bahamian visa category, including Visitor, Business, Sponsored Visitor, Transit, and Seaman’s visas. The canonical reference is the eVISA Photograph Specifications published by MOFA, and the same square 2 x 2 inch format is reused by the Department of Immigration for work permits and Permits to Reside.
The Bahamas does not use a commercial visa application centre. Most applicants submit through the eVISA online portal at evisa.mofa.gov.bs, while Seaman’s Visa applicants email MOFA directly and Department of Immigration permits are filed either through the Immigration online portal or as paper applications with two physical prints carrying the applicant’s name on the back. Bahamian missions in London, Washington, and New York handle traditional consular cases against the same visual standard.
Review at the Visa Office is fully manual and discretionary, with the explicit notice that all photographs are subject to officer approval. Photos that miss the neutral expression, exposed hairline, visible ears, covered shoulders, or coloured (non-white) clothing rule are returned, which delays processing and can require the entire application to be resubmitted.
What the Bahamas Visa Office requires in your photo
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviews every eVISA photograph manually. These are the subject-side rules you need to meet before submission.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must carry a neutral expression. Smiling is not permitted under the eVISA Photograph Specifications.
- Mouth closedKeep the mouth closed. Open mouths and visible teeth are grounds for rejection.
- Full face to cameraFace the camera squarely with a full-face view. Tilted, turned, or profile poses are not accepted.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking directly at the lens.
Hair & ears
- Hairline visibleThe hairline must be visible in the photograph. Bangs or fringe that cover the forehead are not permitted.
- Ears visibleBoth ears must be visible. Style or tuck longer hair so the ears are not obscured.
Eyewear
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses, tinted lenses, and dark glasses are not acceptable. The eyes must be clearly visible.
- Prescription glassesIf prescription glasses are worn they must have clear lenses with no glare or reflection across the eyes, and the frames must not obscure any part of the eye.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other head coverings are not permitted in Bahamas visa photographs.
- Religious or medical exceptionsHeadwear worn for religious or medical reasons is allowed only with advance written approval from the Visa Office. Applicants must email the Visa Office before submitting the application, and the head covering must not cast shadows on the face or obscure the hairline, ears, or facial features.
Clothing
- Coloured clothingClothing must be in colour. White tops are not acceptable because they blend into the required white background.
- Shoulders coveredShoulders must be covered. Strapless tops, tank tops, and bare-shoulder garments are not acceptable.
- No uniforms or insigniaMilitary uniforms, civil-servant uniforms, and any badges, ornaments, or insignia tied to those services are not permitted in the photograph.
Cosmetics & jewelry
- Neutral makeupMakeup should be neutral. Heavy or theatrical cosmetics that alter the natural appearance of the face are not acceptable.
- Modest jewelryJewelry should be modest. Avoid large pieces that obscure facial features, the ears, or the jawline.
Recency
- Six-month ruleThe photograph must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance.
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 21 mm and 25 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.
Bahamas accepts more than one size — we generate them all.
Bahamas 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.
Bahamas Visa 35×45 mm — e-Visa
Primary · Print + DigitalBahamas's official format — the same file works for both printed in-person submissions and the online portal upload.
Bahamas Visa 2×2 in
Print + DigitalUS-style 2×2 in size used by US-based consulates and visa agencies.
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 Bahamas-specific procedural quirks worth flagging before you submit.
Manual consular review
The eVISA portal has no automated photo validator. Every photograph is reviewed by hand at the Visa Office, and the published rules state that all submissions are subject to the approval of that office. Borderline submissions are decided at the reviewer’s discretion.
Headwear pre-approval by email
Religious and medical headwear is the only exception to the no-hats rule, and it is not automatic. Applicants must email the Visa Office in advance and receive written approval before uploading a photograph that includes any head covering.
Channel-specific file formats
Format requirements vary by channel. The general eVISA portal accepts the photograph inside a PDF, the Seaman’s Visa channel requires JPG, and the Department of Immigration online portal accepts JPEG, PNG, or BMP. Choose the correct output for your application type.
Paper permits need two prints with name on back
Paper-based Department of Immigration applications (Short Term Work Permit, Annual Work Permit, Permit to Reside) require two physical 2x2 inch prints, and the applicant’s name must be printed on the back of each photo.
Take your Bahamas 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 600 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.