About the Seychelles Travel Authorization photo standard
Seychelles does not issue a traditional visa. Foreign nationals clear entry through an Electronic Travel Authorization (e-TA) administered by the Department of Immigration and Civil Status (ICS) via the Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS). Applications are filed at seychelles.govtas.com or through the Seychelles e-Border mobile app. There is no Visa Application Centre, no consular interview, and no physical photo to hand over on arrival.
ICS and SEBS do not publish numeric pixel or millimetre photo rules for the e-TA. The portal runs an automated biometric crop engine and matches the uploaded image against the passport biometric chip, so subject-side compliance (neutral expression, eyes open, no tinted lenses, no filters) is what determines whether a photo passes. Every traveller, including infants, must hold their own Travel Authorization with their own photo.
A photo that fails biometric matching causes the e-TA to be rejected and the trip delayed at boarding, because airlines verify Travel Authorization status before issuing a boarding pass to Seychelles. Beauty filters, social-media filters, and any retouching are explicitly prohibited by SEBS and remain the single most common cause of rejection.
Seychelles Travel Authorization photo requirements
The Seychelles Department of Immigration and Civil Status enforces these subject rules on every e-TA photo submitted through the Electronic Border System.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionHold a neutral expression with the mouth closed. The Seychelles Electronic Border System matches the submitted photo against the passport biometric chip, so smiles and exaggerated expressions cause the authorization to fail.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera. Hair, glare, or shadows that obstruct the eyes are a documented rejection trigger.
- Square to the cameraFace the camera straight on with the head upright. The mobile app overlays an oval guide that effectively enforces a near-frontal pose during live capture.
Eyewear & lenses
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted lenses are prohibited on every Seychelles e-TA photo. There is no medical exception.
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are tolerated only if the frames do not cover the eyes and there is no glare on the lenses. Removing glasses is strongly recommended because the biometric matcher works more reliably without them.
Hair & facial features
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes or obscure the outline of the face. Fringes are acceptable provided both eyes remain fully visible.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHead coverings are prohibited except when worn for religious or medical reasons. When permitted, the full face from chin to forehead must be visible and the covering must not cast any shadow across the face.
Digital alteration
- Filters and retouchingSocial-media filters, beauty filters, skin smoothing, eye enlargement, and any feature alteration are explicitly prohibited. The Department of Immigration and Civil Status cites filtered photos as the single most common cause of e-TA rejection.
- Photos of photosDo not photograph an existing printed photograph. The submission must be an original capture of the applicant.
Photo quality
- Sharp focusThe image must be sharp enough for the biometric engine to match against the passport chip. Motion blur from the subject moving during capture causes the authorization to be refused.
- No red-eyeRed-eye from on-camera flash is not accepted and must be avoided at capture time.
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 36 mm (roughly 70–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 24 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
Photos for infants and young children.
Every traveller needs their own Travel Authorization, regardless of age. The rules ease slightly for infants, where live selfie capture is impractical.
Infants (under 12 months)
Infants require their own e-TA submitted by a parent or guardian. The Seychelles e-Border app permits a still photo upload in place of a live selfie for this age group.
- Eyes open, awakeThe child must be awake with eyes open and looking toward the camera. Photos of sleeping infants are not accepted by the biometric matcher.
- Expression relaxedA strictly neutral expression is not required for infants. A relaxed mouth, whether open or closed, is acceptable.
- Subject alone in frameNo other person, no hands, and no supporting props such as cushions or toys may appear anywhere in the frame.
- Head angle toleranceA small amount of natural head tilt is tolerated for infants, but the face must remain oriented toward the camera.
Other things to know.
A few things about the Seychelles channel set it apart from a conventional visa.
No visa, just an e-TA
Seychelles is visa-free. Foreign nationals obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization through the Seychelles Electronic Border System rather than a stamp or sticker from an embassy. There is no consular interview and no Visa Application Centre.
Digital-only intake
The e-TA is submitted exclusively through seychelles.govtas.com or the Seychelles e-Border mobile app. Physical prints are never presented for short-term travel, including on arrival in Mahé.
Filters are the top rejection cause
The Department of Immigration and Civil Status identifies social-media and beauty filters as the leading reason e-TA photos are refused. Submit an unedited capture.
Local permits use a 35x45 mm print
Gainful Occupation, Student, and Residence Permits are lodged in person at ICS headquarters in Victoria, Mahé, and require physical 35x45 mm prints attached to the form. These permits are separate from the e-TA flow used by visitors.
Take your Seychelles (Travel Authorization) visa photo at home in three steps.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
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.