Mozambique visa photos under SENAMI and the evisa.gov.mz platform
The Serviço Nacional de Migração (SENAMI), under Mozambique’s Ministério do Interior, sets the photo standard for every visa category, from tourist and business to investment, work, student, transit, and the ETA registration that visa-exempt travellers must complete before arrival. The dominant format is a 35×45 mm colour portrait on a plain white background, taken within the last six months, with the face square to the camera and a neutral expression.
Most applicants now submit through evisa.gov.mz, the official eVisa and ETA portal, which was relaunched on 11 February 2026 with VFS Global as the platform operator. There is no walk-in visa application centre; applicants either upload through the portal or hand in printed photos at a Mozambican embassy or consulate. United States based missions, including the embassy in Washington D.C. and the Mozambique Mission to the UN in New York, require two identical 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) prints instead of the 35×45 mm format used by posts in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Enforcement is strict at the upload stage and at the consular counter. Photos that fall short of SENAMI’s framing, background, or expression rules are rejected outright, which delays the application and, for travellers arriving without an approved e-Visa or ETA, can mean being turned away at the border. Every applicant, including infants, must supply their own dedicated photograph; shared or family photos are never accepted.
What SENAMI expects in a Mozambique visa photo
The Serviço Nacional de Migração (SENAMI) accepts photos that meet uniform consular standards across every visa category. The rules below cover what the subject must look like in the frame.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionHold a relaxed, neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiles that show teeth are rejected.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be fully open, clearly visible, and looking directly at the camera. Red-eye is not accepted.
- Frontal alignmentFace the camera squarely with the head level. Profile and three-quarter views are rejected by SENAMI and every Mozambican mission.
Eyewear & lenses
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses and any tinted or photochromic lenses are prohibited without exception.
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are tolerated only if the lenses produce no glare and the eyes remain fully visible. Removing glasses before the photo is the safer option.
Hair & facial features
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Fringes that fall across the forehead and obscure features are rejected.
- EarsEars should preferably be visible. Hairstyles that frame the face without hiding it are accepted.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHats and head coverings are prohibited except when worn daily for religious or medical reasons. In those cases the full face, from chin to forehead, must remain visible with no shadows cast on the features.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- Minimal jewelryKeep jewelry small and non-reflective. Pieces that obscure facial features or cast reflections onto the face are not accepted.
- Natural appearanceHeavy makeup and beautification effects that materially alter the applicant’s natural appearance are rejected. Standard everyday makeup is fine.
Clothing
- Everyday civilian clothingWear ordinary civilian clothing. Uniforms are discouraged unless the visa category specifically requires them. Religious attire is permitted.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be evenly lit with no harsh shadows falling across the features, including shadows cast by a hat brim or by hair.
- Sharp and stillThe subject must hold still during capture. Motion blur on the face or eyes is grounds for rejection.
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 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% 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
Photos for infants and young children.
SENAMI does not publish a separate biometric template for children, but consular practice relaxes a few rules for the youngest applicants.
Infants (under 12 months)
Every applicant, including newborns, requires their own dedicated photo. Family or shared photos are never accepted.
- Photographed aloneThe infant must appear alone in the frame. Supporting hands, arms, pacifiers, toys, and any other person must not be visible.
- ExpressionA neutral expression is not required. Consular officers apply discretion when an infant cannot hold a still or composed face.
- EyesEyes should ideally be open and facing the camera, but SENAMI accepts photos of infants whose eyes are not fully open when this cannot reasonably be achieved.
- Head positionSmall deviations in head tilt and rotation are tolerated for infants who cannot yet hold their head straight.
Other things to know.
A few features of the Mozambican visa channel are worth knowing before you submit.
Mission-specific print sizes
Most Mozambican posts (Tokyo, London, Lisbon, Berlin) require 35x45 mm prints, but the Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Mission to the UN in New York require 2x2 inch (51x51 mm) prints instead. Match the format of the mission you are applying to.
VFS Global runs the eVisa platform
Since 11 February 2026, evisa.gov.mz has been operated by VFS Global as the technology partner. There are no walk-in VFS centres for Mozambique visas; the platform handles digital uploads only.
ETA registration for visa-exempt nationals
Citizens of the roughly 28 visa-exempt countries (including the US, UK, Canada, and most EU states) still must register on evisa.gov.mz at least 48 hours before travel and upload a compliant photo as part of the ETA / Visa Waiver process.
Visa on Arrival backup prints
Visa-on-arrival travellers have their photo captured live at the border, so no photo upload is required. SENAMI advises carrying two spare 35x45 mm prints in case the biometric kiosk is offline.
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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.