Cuba visa photo rules from MINREX
Cuban visa photographs are governed by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MINREX) through its Directorate of Consular Affairs. The published standard is a square 45 × 45 mm colour print on a plain white background, used for consular categories such as business, student, journalist, family, and resident visas. Black-and-white prints are rejected outright, and the photo must be recent.
Cuba does not operate visa application centres and does not capture biometrics on site. Every photo is self-supplied by the applicant and submitted in person or by post directly to a Cuban embassy or consulate, where it is affixed to the paper application form. Some posts in the Americas accept the local 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) passport format, and several European, UK, and Oceania posts accept the local 45 × 35 mm format, but the MINREX 45 × 45 mm square remains the safe default.
Consulates enforce the print spec strictly. A photo that is the wrong size, faded, marked, or printed in black and white will cause the application to be returned, delaying the visa. The tourist eVisa issued through evisacuba.cu, mandatory since 1 July 2025, does not collect a photograph at all; the requirements on this page apply only to consular visa categories that still use a paper file.
What the Cuban consulate expects in your visa photo
MINREX consular pages set out a short list of subject-side rules for consular visa photos. Get these right and the rest is handled before you print.
Expression & pose
- Frontal alignmentMINREX consular guidance requires the applicant to face the camera directly ("de frente"), with the head level and shoulders square. Tilting, turning, or looking off-axis is not accepted.
- Neutral expressionKeep a relaxed, neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, or any exaggerated expression is rejected under standard consular practice.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking at the camera. Hair, lashes, or eyewear frames must not cross the pupils.
Eyewear & lenses
- No dark glassesDark glasses ("espejuelos oscuros") are explicitly prohibited on MINREX consular pages. Tinted, photochromic, or sunglass lenses will cause rejection.
- Clear prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are tolerated provided the eyes are fully visible with no glare on the lenses and no frame obstructing the eyes. Removal is recommended to avoid reflection issues.
Hair & face
- Hairline visibleThe full face and hairline must be visible. Hair should not fall across the eyes or obscure the edges of the face.
- Color photo onlyThe photo must be in color ("a color"). Black-and-white prints are rejected by Cuban consulates.
Headwear
- Head bareMINREX consular guidance requires the head to be uncovered ("sin la cabeza cubierta"). Hats, caps, and decorative headwear are not accepted. Religious head coverings are accommodated at consular discretion provided the full face from forehead to chin is visible.
Print quality
- Recent photoMINREX requires a recent ("reciente") photograph. Standard consular practice is no older than six months, reflecting the applicant’s current appearance.
- Clean, undamaged printSubmit the print on photographic paper, free of creases, marks, stamps, or staples through the face. Damaged prints are returned with the application.
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 26 mm and 28 mm (roughly 57–63% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 20 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.
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 things about Cuba’s visa photo channel are unusual and worth flagging before you apply.
Tourist e-visa needs no photo
Since 1 July 2025, the mandatory tourist e-visa issued through evisacuba.cu is tied to passport data only and does not collect a photograph. The photo requirements on this page apply to consular visa categories such as business, student, journalist, family, and resident.
No VAC, no on-site capture
Cuba does not use VFS Global, BLS, TLScontact, or any other visa application centre, and consulates do not photograph applicants on site. Every consular visa photo is self-supplied as a physical print submitted in person or by mail.
Consulate-specific size variants
MINREX consular pages cite 45 × 45 mm as the primary size, but posts in the Americas commonly accept the local 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) print, and posts in Europe, the UK, and Oceania often accept the local 35 × 45 mm. Check the size requested by the specific consulate handling your file.
Washington DC asks for multiple copies
The Cuban consular service in Washington DC has requested up to four identical prints with the application. Most other posts ask for one. Confirm the copy count with the specific consulate before printing.
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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.