Jordan visa photos and the Ministry of Interior standard
Jordan’s visa photo is governed by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (MFA). The same likeness is used across visit, transit, study, work, and residency applications, and it must have been taken within the last six months. The Jordan Embassy in Washington D.C. confirms the recency rule and the requirement for a plain white background.
Submission channels differ in a way most applicants do not expect. There is no VFS, BLS, or TLS network handling standard Jordanian visas; intake is direct. Restricted-nationality applicants upload the photo to the MOI e-services portal at eservices.moi.gov.jo, while mail-in and walk-in applicants submit a physical print to a Jordanian embassy or consulate. Visa-on-Arrival travellers and Jordan Pass holders do not supply a photo at all, since biometric capture is performed at the border.
Print size is decentralised to the local consulate. The 35×45 mm format is the default applied by Jordanian missions outside North America and on the MOI e-visa portal, while the Embassy in Washington D.C. requires the 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square print for North American applicants. A photo that does not match the channel’s stated size, background, or recency window is grounds for the application to be returned.
What Jordan requires in your visa photo
The Ministry of Interior and Jordanian consulates expect a recent, neutral, ICAO-style portrait. The rules below cover how you must appear in the frame.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a neutral face with the mouth closed. No smile and no visible teeth.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking directly into the camera lens. Hair must not fall across the eyes.
- Square to cameraFace the camera straight on with the head level. No tilt, turn, or chin-up pose.
- Photo recencyThe photo must have been taken within the last six months, per the Jordanian Embassy in Washington D.C., so the image reflects your current appearance.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses are not permitted. Jordanian consulates tolerate clear prescription lenses only when medically necessary, and only if the eyes are fully visible with no glare and no tint.
- Sunglasses & tinted lensesSunglasses and any tinted, coloured, or photochromic lenses are strictly prohibited.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other non-religious head coverings are not allowed.
- Religious head coveringsHead coverings worn daily for religious reasons, such as a hijab, are permitted. The full face must remain visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with both edges of the face clearly shown.
Hair & facial features
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Long fringes should be swept aside.
Clothing
- Everyday civilian dressWear ordinary civilian clothing. Uniforms are not accepted except for diplomatic or official-category applicants.
- Colour contrastDarker tops photograph best against the required white background. Avoid white or very pale clothing that blends into the backdrop.
Photo quality
- No red-eyeRed-eye from flash reflection is not acceptable in the final photo.
- Sharp and stillThe subject must be still and in focus. Motion blur from movement during capture will cause rejection.
- Accurate likenessThe photo must be a true likeness of the applicant. Beauty filters, skin smoothing, and feature reshaping are not permitted.
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 35 mm (roughly 70–77% 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.
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 Jordan-specific quirks are worth flagging before you submit.
Print size varies by consulate
Jordan does not enforce a single global print size. The Embassy in Washington D.C. and US consulates require 51 by 51 mm (2 by 2 inches), while the Embassy in London and most other consulates worldwide use 35 by 45 mm. Match the size stated by the specific post handling your application.
Visa-on-Arrival needs no photo
Travellers eligible for Visa-on-Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport and land borders do not supply a photo. Border control captures the biometric image on the spot.
Jordan Pass bypasses the photo
Tourists who buy the Jordan Pass online before arrival, with a minimum two-night stay, are exempt from the visa photo requirement entirely. Only passport details are submitted.
No VFS or VAC network
Jordan does not outsource visa intake to VFS, BLS, TLS, or any other visa application centre operator. Applications go directly through the MOI e-services portal or a Jordanian embassy or consulate.
Take your Jordan 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.