Libya visa photos for the evisa.gov.ly portal and Libyan consulates
Libya’s visa photograph standard is set by the General Directorate of Passports, Citizenship and Foreigners Affairs together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees the Libyan embassy network. Since the launch of the national e-Visa portal at evisa.gov.ly in March 2024, tourist and business applicants submit a digital JPEG with the head occupying 70 to 80 percent of the frame against a plain white background. The photograph must have been taken within the last six months.
Libya does not contract VFS Global, BLS, or TLS Contact for inbound visas. Applications run either through the e-Visa portal or directly through a Libyan embassy or consulate, and the print size for physical submissions follows the host country’s passport convention: 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) at the Washington D.C. consulate and 35 × 45 mm at the London and EU consulates. The 40 × 60 mm figure that circulates online is the Libyan passport spec for Libyan citizens and does not apply to foreign visa applicants.
Enforcement is strict at both channels. A photograph that fails the neutral-expression, open-eyes, mouth-closed, or unobstructed-face requirements is rejected at upload or returned with the application package, which delays the visa decision and, for e-Visa applicants, holds up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval reference required before travel.
What Libya requires in a visa photo
The General Directorate of Passports and the Libyan embassies enforce a single set of subject rules across the e-Visa portal and consular intake. Match them and your photo clears on the first pass.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe applicant must hold a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, and showing teeth are not accepted.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking straight at the camera. Red-eye is prohibited and is the only digital correction the e-Visa portal explicitly permits.
- Full-face, forward-facingThe embassy guidance is explicit: photos must be full-face shots with the applicant facing the camera directly. Side views and angled views are rejected.
- Recent likenessThe photo must have been taken within the last six months and reflect the applicant’s current appearance.
Eyewear & lenses
- Prescription glassesClear, non-tinted prescription eyeglasses are permitted only if the frames do not obscure any part of either eye. Glare on the lenses is not accepted.
- Tinted lenses and sunglassesTinted lenses, transition lenses, and sunglasses are prohibited in all channels.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair clear of the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or any part of the facial outline. Bangs that fall across the forehead and obscure features are not accepted.
- EarsEars may be visible or covered by hair. Libyan authorities do not require ears to be exposed.
Headwear
- Religious head coveringsHead coverings worn for religious reasons, including the hijab, are accepted provided the full face is visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead with no shadows cast on the face.
- Non-religious hatsCaps, hats, and other non-religious headwear are not accepted in Libyan visa photos.
Cosmetics & retouching
- Natural appearanceThe e-Visa portal permits red-eye correction only. Skin smoothing, spot removal, line softening, and any other alteration that changes appearance are prohibited.
- Heavy makeupCosmetics that materially alter the applicant’s features or skin tone are not accepted. Day-to-day makeup that leaves the face recognisable is fine.
Clothing & accessories
- Everyday clothingWear regular street clothes. Uniforms and clothing that resembles a uniform are not accepted.
- Face-obscuring jewelryJewelry that covers part of the face or casts shadows on it should be removed. Discreet earrings and small pieces are unrestricted.
Photo quality
- Shadows on the faceThe face must be evenly lit with no shadows cast across the features. Shadows from hat brims or strong side light cause rejection.
- Motion blurThe applicant must remain still during capture. Blurred or out-of-focus subjects are not accepted by the e-Visa portal or the consular reviewers.
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 36 mm and 40 mm (roughly 60–66% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 30 mm and 36 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 Libya-specific points worth knowing before you submit.
Print size depends on the consulate
Libyan embassies follow the host country’s passport size for physical submissions. Applications filed in the United States or Canada use 2 by 2 inch prints, while applications filed at London or other European embassies use 35 by 45 mm prints. The e-Visa portal accepts a square digital upload.
E-Visa portal launched March 2024
Tourist and business applicants now apply through evisa.gov.ly, which went live in March 2024. The portal accepts a JPEG upload and requires a Libyan tour-operator sponsor plus a Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval reference number on the application.
No VFS or BLS intake
Libya does not use VFS Global, BLS, or TLS Contact for inbound visas. Physical applications go directly to a Libyan embassy or consulate by mail or in person, and digital applications go through the official e-Visa portal.
Ignore the 40 by 60 mm figure
The 40 by 60 mm size that circulates on third-party sites is the Libyan passport spec for Libyan citizens. It does not apply to foreign nationals applying for a Libyan visa and should not be used for inbound applications.
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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.