Paraguay visa photo rules from the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Paraguay’s visa photo standard is set by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MRE) and published through the Visas en Línea portal. The portal requires a recent JPG showing the applicant on a plain white background, facing the camera straight on, with no accessories. The same subject standard is applied by Paraguayan embassies and consulates when physical prints are presented at interview.
Paraguay does not outsource visa intake to a third-party visa application centre. Non-resident visa applications start at the MRE Visas en Línea portal and are completed in person at the relevant embassy or consulate, where two identical printed copies of the photo are typically required. The print size varies by consular jurisdiction, so applicants submitting in the Americas, Europe, or Asia will encounter different physical formats while the digital upload itself stays at 30×40 mm.
The MRE enforces the accessory rule strictly. A photo that includes glasses, hats, or obstructive jewellery, or that fails the white-background and frontal-pose requirements, will cause the application to be returned or rejected at the consular interview.
What the MRE expects in your Paraguay visa photo
The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores instructs applicants to appear frontally, on a white background, and "sin accesorios." Consular officers read that phrase strictly, so the subject rules below matter.
Expression & pose
- Frontal orientationThe MRE portal requires the photo to be taken "de frente (no de perfil)." The head must be square to the camera with both ears, both cheeks, and the full chin-to-forehead area visible.
- Neutral expressionKeep a neutral expression with the mouth closed. No smiling with teeth, no frowning, no raised eyebrows.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open, looking straight at the camera, and clearly visible. Avoid red-eye and avoid hair falling across the eyes.
Eyewear & lenses
- No eyeglassesEyeglasses are prohibited under the MRE’s "sin accesorios" rule. Remove all prescription frames, reading glasses, and tinted lenses before the photo is taken.
- No sunglassesSunglasses and any tinted or coloured lenses are not accepted. The eyes and surrounding facial area must be fully visible to the consular officer.
Headwear
- No hats or capsHeadwear is not permitted. Hats, caps, hoods, and decorative head coverings fall under the prohibited "accesorios" category.
- Religious head coveringsCoverings worn for documented religious reasons are accepted only when the full face from chin to forehead remains visible and the covering casts no shadow across the features.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Long hair may rest naturally over the ears.
- Natural appearanceThe applicant must look as they normally do. Beards and moustaches are accepted when they reflect the applicant’s current everyday appearance.
Jewelry & accessories
- No visible jewelleryThe MRE’s "sin accesorios" instruction is read strictly. Remove earrings, necklaces, nose rings, lip rings, and any other piercings or ornaments that appear in the framed area.
- No decorative itemsHair clips, headbands, scarves worn as fashion, and similar accessories are not accepted in the photo.
Cosmetics
- Light, natural makeupMakeup should be minimal and must not alter the applicant’s natural facial features. Avoid heavy contouring or anything that changes the apparent shape of the face.
- True current appearanceNo retouching, smoothing, or beautification is permitted. The photo must depict the applicant as they currently look.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear ordinary day clothing. Uniforms and clothing resembling official or military dress are not appropriate.
- Avoid white topsBecause the background is white, a white top blends into the backdrop and weakens the outline of the head and shoulders. Choose a colour that contrasts with white.
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 32 mm and 36 mm (roughly 65–71% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 25 mm and 30 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 Paraguay-specific procedural points are worth knowing before you file.
No VFS or third-party VAC
Paraguay does not outsource visa intake. Applications go through the MRE "Visas en Línea" portal and then directly to a Paraguayan embassy or consulate. There is no VFS Global, BLS, or TLS channel to route through.
Print size varies by consulate
The 3x4 cm photo uploaded through Visas en Línea is the same everywhere, but the printed photo requested at the in-person step depends on the mission: 50x70 mm in the Americas, 50x50 mm or 51x51 mm at some Asian and Middle East posts, and 35x45 mm in Europe. Check the size your consulate requests before printing.
Two prints, paperclip only
Physical submissions require two identical prints on photographic paper. Attach them to the application with a paperclip. Staples and glue are not accepted.
Tourists from US, CA, AU, NZ
Under Law 7130/2023, citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand no longer need a tourist or business visa for short stays in Paraguay, so no visa photo is filed. Visa-on-arrival travellers at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport are photographed on site by immigration.
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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.