Peru visa photos issued under MRE consular rules
Peru’s visa photo standard is set by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MRE) and applied through its consular network abroad. The MRE delegates exact print dimensions to each consulate, so the same biometric composition (frontal pose, neutral expression, plain white background, no glasses) appears at every post, while the printed size shifts to fit the local convention of the country where the application is filed.
There is no global visa application centre for Peru and no tourist e-visa for foreign nationals. Applications are submitted directly to the Peruvian embassy or consulate, generally in person, with printed photographs attached to the dossier. The MRE pre-registration portal at visasonline.rree.gob.pe also requires a photo upload, and the Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones runs a separate digital channel for in-country status changes and visa extensions.
Consular officers apply the composition rules strictly, and the Transit Visa regime introduced by Supreme Decree 004-2025-RE reinforced the no-glasses standard from 1 February 2025 onward. A photograph that does not meet the published spec is grounds for the consulate to return the application or refuse intake until a compliant image is supplied.
Peru visa photo requirements at a glance
The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores and its consular network apply a consistent set of subject rules across every visa category. Here is what the consulate will check on the printed photo.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe Barcelona consulate explicitly requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed and no visible teeth. Smiling, even with a closed mouth, alters facial geometry and should be avoided.
- Frontal, full faceThe applicant must face the camera directly, with both sides of the face visible and the head upright. Profile and semi-profile poses are rejected.
- Eyes open and forwardEyes must be open and directed at the camera. Squinting or looking off to the side is not accepted.
- Shoulders squareShoulders must be square to the camera with a mid-torso framing. Tilted shoulders or twisted poses are rejected.
Eyewear & lenses
- Eyeglasses prohibitedGlasses of any kind are strictly prohibited across all Peruvian consulates. This rule was reinforced by the Transit Visa regime under Supreme Decree 004-2025-RE, effective 1 February 2025. No medical exception is documented in Peruvian sources; applicants who need one must contact the consulate directly before applying.
- Tinted or coloured lensesSunglasses, tinted lenses, and coloured contact lenses that alter natural eye colour are not accepted.
Hair & face visibility
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. The full face must be clearly visible from chin to forehead.
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be free of cast shadows. Shadows from hair, hats, or uneven lighting are grounds for rejection by the consulate.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHats, caps, and head coverings are not allowed. The Barcelona consulate permits head coverings only for documented religious or medical reasons, and the covering must not obscure any part of the face from chin to forehead or cast shadows on the face.
Jewelry & accessories
- Avoid reflective itemsLarge or reflective jewelry that obscures facial features or causes glare should be removed. The face and its natural contours must remain clearly visible.
Clothing
- Avoid white topsClothing is not formally regulated, but white or very light tops blend into the required white background and should be avoided. Everyday street clothing is acceptable.
- No uniformsMilitary, police, and other official uniforms are not appropriate for a visa photograph. Wear civilian clothing.
Cosmetics
- Light, natural makeupHeavy makeup that alters facial features or skin tone is not accepted. Migraciones explicitly prohibits filters and beautification effects, and the same principle applies to physical makeup that changes how the face is recognised.
Photo recency
- Six months maximumThe photograph must be recent. The Vancouver consulate explicitly caps recency at six months, and six months is the safe maximum across all Peruvian posts. The image must reflect the applicant’s current appearance.
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 19 mm and 24 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.
Peru accepts more than one size — we generate them all.
Peru 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.
Peru Visa 35×45 mm
Primary · Print + DigitalPeru's official format — the same file works for both printed in-person submissions and the online portal upload.
Peru Visa 2×2 in
Print + DigitalUS-style 2×2 in size used by US-based consulates and visa agencies.
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 quirks of the Peruvian visa channel are worth flagging before you submit.
Decentralized consular sizing
The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores does not publish a single national millimetre standard. Each Peruvian consulate adopts a local convention: Barcelona and New Delhi specify 35x43 mm, Vancouver specifies 35x45 mm, and the US posts (Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York) require 2x2 in. Confirm the size with the specific consulate handling your application.
No global VAC operator
Peru does not outsource visa intake to VFS Global, BLS, TLScontact, or any similar operator. Applications go directly to the Peruvian embassy or consulate, generally in person, after pre-registration on the MRE portal at visasonline.rree.gob.pe.
Number of prints varies by post
Consulates ask for different quantities of printed photos: one copy in Barcelona, Vancouver, Washington DC, and Los Angeles (tourist and business), two copies in New York and for the MRE generic checklist, and three copies for the tourist visa in New Delhi. Check the specific consulate’s checklist before printing.
Migraciones in-country channel
Visa extensions and changes of immigration status inside Peru go through agenciavirtual.migraciones.gob.pe instead of the consular network. The digital upload accepts JPG only, up to 3 MB, in colour. This channel is never used for first-time visa issuance from abroad.
Take your Peru 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.