Bhutan visa photos and the Department of Immigration
Bhutan’s visa photograph is set by the Department of Immigration (DOI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with parallel guidance published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. The same 35 × 45 mm portrait specification applies across every category the country issues, including tourist e-visas, entry permits for regional travellers, business and guest visas, student and employment permits, and diplomatic or official visas submitted through an embassy.
Bhutan does not work with VFS Global, BLS, or any other third-party visa application centre. Applications flow through the DOI e-visa portal at visit.doi.gov.bt, through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator who uploads on the traveller’s behalf, or in person at a Bhutanese embassy or port of entry. The portal is strict about how the image is presented, and oversized or non-conforming uploads commonly fail with a generic server error rather than a helpful message.
A photo that does not meet DOI requirements stalls the file at upload or, for walk-in and port-of-entry channels, is returned for replacement before the visa can be issued. Travellers should also expect on-arrival biometric capture (fingerprints and an on-site photograph) under section 38 of the Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023, which sits alongside the submitted visa photo rather than replacing it.
Bhutan visa photo requirements
The Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade set a single photo standard across every Bhutanese visa category. These are the subject-side rules you control on the day of the shot.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe applicant must hold a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling, showing teeth, raised eyebrows, and squinting are not accepted.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open, looking directly into the camera, and clearly visible. Hair, frames, and shadows must not cross the eyes.
- Head straight to cameraThe face must be square to the camera with the head upright. Tilted, turned, or portrait-style angles over one shoulder are rejected by the Department of Immigration.
Eyewear & lenses
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are permitted only if there is no glare on the lenses and the frames do not cover any part of the eyes. Removing glasses is the safer option.
- Tinted lensesTinted, photochromic, or coloured lenses are not accepted. The eyes must read as natural colour.
- SunglassesSunglasses are prohibited in every Bhutanese visa category.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Voluminous styles must still leave the chin-to-crown head height within the framing the spec requires.
- Natural appearanceThe photograph must reflect the applicant’s current appearance. Significant changes such as a new beard, shaved head, or facial surgery require a fresh photo even within the six-month window.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHeadwear is prohibited unless worn for genuine religious or medical reasons. When worn, it must not cast any shadow on the face.
- Full face visibleThe full face from the point of the chin to the top of the forehead must remain unobstructed. Hairlines and facial outlines must read clearly.
Jewelry & accessories
- Discreet jewelryEarrings, studs, and small piercings are permitted provided they do not obscure any facial feature or cast reflections.
- Face coveringsScarves, masks, and any accessory that covers part of the face are not accepted.
Cosmetics
- Natural makeup onlyMakeup must not significantly alter the applicant’s natural appearance. Heavy contouring, theatrical makeup, and anything that changes facial features is rejected.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingOrdinary everyday clothing is required. Uniforms are not accepted, with the narrow exception of religious attire worn daily.
- Avoid white topsLight or white clothing that blends into the white background should be avoided so the shoulders and neckline remain defined.
- No Bhutanese national dressForeign visa applicants must not wear the Gho or Kira. Bhutanese national dress is reserved for Bhutanese citizens on domestic identity documents.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be free of shadows, including any cast by headwear or hair. Shadowing under the chin, around the eyes, or across one cheek is grounds for rejection.
- No red-eye or flash glareRed-eye and flash reflections on the skin or on glasses are not accepted. The eyes must render in their natural colour.
- Recent likenessThe photograph must be no more than six months old 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 31 mm and 36 mm (roughly 70–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 25 mm and 29 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
Photos for infants and young children.
Bhutan does not publish minor-specific photo rules. The tier below follows widely accepted international practice for infant captures, which Bhutanese officers apply in practice.
Infants (under 1 year)
For applicants under 12 months, the neutral-expression and direct-gaze rules are relaxed in line with international ICAO convention. The framing and background standard still applies.
- ExpressionAny expression is acceptable. The infant does not need to hold a neutral face, and a slightly open mouth is tolerated.
- EyesThe eyes-open requirement is waived in practice. A closed-eye photo of an infant will not, on its own, cause rejection.
- Head positionA small amount of head tilt and turn is tolerated for infants. The face should still read as essentially front-facing.
- No supporting hands or propsHands, pacifiers, toys, and other people must not appear in the frame. Lay the infant on a plain white surface to capture the shot.
Other things to know.
A few details of Bhutan’s visa process sit outside the standard requirement groups and are worth flagging.
No third-party VAC
Bhutan does not use VFS Global, BLS, TLS, or any other visa application centre. All applications run through the Department of Immigration e-visa portal at visit.doi.gov.bt, through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, or directly at a Bhutanese embassy or Port of Entry.
Portal upload quirk
The DOI portal frequently returns a generic 500 error on oversized or non-conforming uploads. The platform ceiling is 2 MB, but staying well under that threshold avoids the issue.
Biometrics on arrival
Under section 38 of the Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023, fingerprints and an on-the-spot photograph are captured at the Port of Entry. This is in addition to, not a replacement for, the visa photo submitted with the application.
Paste, do not staple
When the photograph is submitted on a paper application form for a diplomatic, official, guest, or on-arrival visa, it must be glued to the form. Stapling or pinning is not accepted.
Take your Bhutan 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.