San Marino stay permits and the Gendarmeria Ufficio Stranieri
San Marino does not issue tourist or business entry visas of its own. Stays longer than 30 days, residence applications, study permits, and the Working Holiday Programme are administered by the Dipartimento Affari Esteri and the Corpo della Gendarmeria, with paperwork lodged in person at the Ufficio Stranieri in San Marino City. The photo specification follows ICAO 35×45 mm, the same format used for Italian Schengen and Sammarinese identity documents.
There is no e-visa portal, no external visa application centre, and no embassy-based intake for Sammarinese permits. Applicants present physical prints at the Gendarmeria counter, four identical copies for an initial application and two for a renewal. Photos must be no older than six months and printed on professional photographic paper; inkjet output, copy-paper prints, and snapshots showing significant changes in appearance are turned away at the desk.
Because the Gendarmeria reviews each file by hand, a photo that misses the ICAO geometry, shows tinted lenses, or carries soft shadows from a hat brim is grounds for the application to be set aside until a compliant set is supplied. Rebooking the Ufficio Stranieri appointment and reprinting on photo stock typically delays the permit by days or weeks, which matters when the 30-day reporting deadline is already running.
San Marino permit photo requirements set by the Gendarmeria Ufficio Stranieri
San Marino applies ICAO subject rules through the Gendarmeria Ufficio Stranieri. Prints that fail any of the following are rejected at the counter.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe mouth must be closed with no smile, no frown, and no visible teeth. Eyebrows stay relaxed and the face stays still.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking straight into the lens. Hair, fringe, or frames cannot cross the eye line.
- Square to cameraThe head faces the camera directly. Profile, three-quarter, and over-the-shoulder poses are refused, as is any visible tilt or turn.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses must be removed. The Gendarmeria and the Italian consular guidance that San Marino follows treat any frame or lens over the eyes as a rejection risk.
- Tinted or coloured lensesSunglasses, photochromic lenses, and any tint over the eyes are prohibited in every case, including medical claims.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows and must not obscure the outline of the face. Volume is acceptable provided the facial geometry stays clear.
- Forehead and hairlineThe full hairline must be visible above the forehead. Bangs that fall across the brow line are not accepted.
Headwear
- No hats or capsHeadwear is prohibited. The only exceptions are garments worn for documented religious or medical reasons, and even then the full face from chin to forehead must remain visible with no shadow cast across the features.
Jewelry & accessories
- Discreet jewelry onlySmall, non-reflective pieces are tolerated. Large or shiny jewelry that distracts from the face or causes glare should be removed before the photo is taken.
Cosmetics
- Natural appearanceMakeup must keep skin tones authentic. Heavy contouring, dramatic eye makeup, and anything that alters the natural shape of the features is not accepted.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingDay clothes are required. Uniforms are prohibited unless worn for religious reasons.
- Contrast with backgroundTops must contrast with the light background of the photo. White and very light grey garments blend into the backdrop and are refused.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be free of shadows, including those cast by religious or medical headwear when an exception applies.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is a rejection. It must be avoided at capture and cannot be corrected after the fact.
- Recent likenessThe photo must be no more than six months old. A fresh photo is required sooner if appearance has changed significantly, for example through major weight change, facial surgery, or new prominent piercings or tattoos.
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 71–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 14 mm and 20 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.
San Marino relaxes a small number of subject rules for the youngest applicants. All other requirements still apply.
Infants (under 12 months)
Infants are photographed lying flat on a plain surface, with the camera looking straight down. The Gendarmeria accepts a softer reading of the adult rules at this age.
- ExpressionA strict neutral expression is not enforced. Eyes should ideally be open, but a closed or partially open mouth is accepted.
- Head positionSmall deviations in head turn and tilt are tolerated provided the face is broadly square to the camera.
- No hands or propsSupporting hands, arms, cushions, toys, and pacifiers must not appear anywhere in the frame.
Other things to know.
A few features of the San Marino process sit outside the usual photo rulebook and catch applicants off guard.
No entry visa exists
San Marino does not issue tourist or business entry visas. Applicants reach the country on Italian Schengen entry rights, and this photo spec applies only to the stay, residence, study, and working-holiday permits issued inside San Marino.
In-person intake only
There is no e-visa portal and no external visa application centre for San Marino documents. Applications are filed in person at the Gendarmeria Ufficio Stranieri in San Marino City, by appointment.
Physical prints required
Bring four identical prints for an initial application and two for a renewal. The Gendarmeria does not accept digital files.
Professional photo paper
Prints must be produced on professional photographic paper at 600 DPI or higher. Inkjet output and copy paper are refused on sight.
Take your San Marino 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.