Indonesia visa photos and the Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi standard
Indonesia’s visa photo rules are set by the Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi (Directorate General of Immigration) under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, with embassy and consulate operations coordinated by Kemlu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The canonical specification lives on the official e-Visa portal at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, and the same 40×60 mm, 2:3 frame underpins printed photos accepted at consulates and at VFS Global intake centres in the limited jurisdictions where they handle Indonesian visas.
The dominant channel is the e-Visa portal itself, which covers the eVoA, single and multiple-entry visit visas, and limited-stay categories including KITAS and the Golden Visa. Diplomatic and official visas filed at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. follow a separate printed-photo standard with a larger head, and stay-permit extensions, since 29 May 2025, require on-site biometric capture at an immigration office rather than a self-supplied photo. Initial visa applications remain a self-supplied upload.
Indonesian officers review every submission against the published rule set, and non-compliant photos are rejected outright at the portal or returned by the consular desk. The most common cause of rejection is a coloured background carried over from Indonesian citizen photos; foreign applicants must always submit on plain white, with a neutral expression and modest dress, or the application will not advance.
Indonesia visa photo requirements
The Directorate General of Immigration enforces these subject-side rules for every foreigner visa photo submitted through the e-Visa portal, an embassy, or a VFS Global centre.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe face must be relaxed with the mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, and raised eyebrows are listed by the e-Visa portal as rejected expression types.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera. The gaze must not drift to the side or downward.
- Square to cameraThe head and shoulders must face the camera straight on with no tilt or rotation. Both edges of the face must be visible in the frame.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses are not permitted in Indonesian visa photos. Tinted lenses and sunglasses are rejected outright, and clear frames must be removed before capture.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Both face edges must remain visible from the hairline to the chin.
Headwear
- No hats or capsHeadwear is prohibited for all visa applicants. The only exception is a head covering worn daily for religious reasons, which must leave the full face visible from chin to forehead and across both cheeks.
- Religious coveringsA hijab or equivalent religious covering is accepted when it does not cast shadows on the face and does not obscure any facial features.
Jewelry & accessories
- Minimal jewelrySmall, non-reflective jewelry is acceptable. Large earrings or pieces that catch the light and create glare on the face should be removed before the photo is taken.
Cosmetics
- Natural makeup onlyEveryday makeup is fine. Heavy contouring or any cosmetic effect that materially changes the applicant’s appearance is not permitted.
Clothing
- Covered shouldersIndonesian consular reviewers apply a cultural modesty standard. Sleeveless tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, and low-cut necklines are routinely rejected, so shoulders must be covered.
- No uniformsMilitary, police, and airline uniforms are not permitted unless the application is for a diplomatic or service visa.
Photo recency
- Taken within six monthsThe photo must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance. A new photo is required after significant changes such as major weight change, facial surgery, or new visible piercings.
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 34 mm and 38 mm (roughly 57–63% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 31 mm and 37 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.
Indonesia accepts more than one size — we generate them all.
Indonesia 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.
Indonesia Visa 40×60 mm
Primary · Print + DigitalIndonesia's official format — the same file works for both printed in-person submissions and the online portal upload.
Indonesia Visa 35×45 mm
Print + DigitalAlternate accepted size — works as both an in-person print and an online-portal upload.
Indonesia Visa 30×40 mm — online
Print + DigitalPixel-exact format required by the official online portal upload.
Indonesia Visa 2×2 in
Print + DigitalUS-style 2×2 in size used by US-based consulates and visa agencies.
Indonesia Visa 400×600 px — e-Visa
Digital uploadSized for Indonesia's e-Visa online application.
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.
Indonesian immigration does not publish separate photo rules for children, but in practice the youngest applicants are reviewed with some leniency.
Infants (under 12 months)
Infants under one year are not held to the adult expression and gaze rules in practice. Framing and background standards still apply.
- Expression and eyesInfants are not required to keep their eyes open or maintain a neutral expression. A natural resting expression is accepted.
- Head positionMinor head tilt and small rotation are tolerated, provided the full face remains visible to the camera.
- Child alone in frameThe infant must appear by themselves. Supporting hands, arms, toys, pacifiers, and other people must not be visible anywhere in the photo.
Other things to know.
A few channel-specific quirks are worth knowing before submitting an Indonesian visa photo.
White background for foreigners
Indonesian citizens use a red or blue background for domestic ID and passport photos based on birth year. That rule does not apply to foreign visa applicants, who must always submit a plain white background. A red background is the single most common cause of e-Visa rejection.
North American embassy size
Indonesian embassies and consulates in the United States and Canada accept the local 2 by 2 inch (51 by 51 mm) square format for walk-in visa submissions, instead of the 40 by 60 mm Indonesian global standard. Check with the specific post before printing.
Diplomatic visas in Washington D.C.
Diplomatic and service visas processed at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. require the head to occupy 80 percent of the image height, rather than the 50 to 60 percent used for the e-Visa portal.
Stay-permit extensions
Since 29 May 2025, every stay-permit extension requires in-person biometric photo capture at an Indonesian immigration office. Self-supplied photos are no longer accepted for the extension step, although initial visa applications are unaffected.
Take your Indonesia visa photo at home in three steps.
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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.