Senegal visa photos at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad
The Senegal visa photo is filed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad (Ministère des Affaires Étrangères et des Sénégalais de l’Extérieur), through the consulate that handles your jurisdiction. There is no active inbound e-visa portal. The SNEDAI online system was abolished in May 2015, so every applicant submits two identical physical prints on glossy photo paper alongside the paper dossier.
Print size follows the local passport standard of the issuing consulate. Most posts in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East work to 35×45 mm, while the embassies in Washington D.C. and Ottawa require the North American 2×2 inch format. Photos must be no older than six months (’récente de moins de 6 mois’), and submitting the wrong regional size to a given consulate is a documented rejection reason.
Consular officers review every photo against the embassy’s published rules before the file moves to Dakar. Non-compliant images result in the application being returned at intake, which means a second trip to the consulate or a delayed mail-in turnaround. Matching the right format the first time keeps the dossier moving.
What the Senegalese consulate expects in your visa photo
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad asks for a recent, neutral, frontal portrait. The rules below cover what you, the subject, must look like in the print.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a relaxed, neutral expression with no smile. The mouth must be closed.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera. Hair, frames, or glare must not obscure the eyes.
- Square to the cameraFace the camera head-on with shoulders square. Do not tilt or turn the head.
Eyewear & lenses
- No sunglasses or tintsSunglasses and tinted lenses are strictly prohibited by Senegalese consular guidance.
- Clear prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are tolerated only if the frames do not cover any part of the eyes and there is no glare on the lenses. Removing glasses is recommended.
Hair & forehead
- Face clear of hairHair must not fall across the face, eyes, or eyebrows. The chin must also be visible.
- Forehead visibleBangs or fringes that cover the forehead are not accepted. The forehead must be exposed.
- EarsEars should be visible where possible, in line with standard Francophone identity-photo practice.
Headwear
- No general headwearHats, caps, and other non-religious headwear are not permitted.
- Religious or medical exceptionHead coverings worn daily for religious or medical reasons are accepted provided the full face is visible from chin to forehead and from ear to ear, with no shadows cast on the face.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear ordinary street clothing. Uniforms are not permitted, with the exception of garments worn daily for religious reasons.
- Avoid white topsTops should contrast with the white background. Avoid wearing white or very pale clothing that blends into the backdrop.
Photo quality
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted. The eyes must appear in their natural color.
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be evenly lit with no heavy shadows cast across the features by hats, hair, or harsh side lighting.
- Full color portraitBlack and white photos are not accepted. Skin tones must look natural.
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 28 mm and 32 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 quirks of the Senegalese visa channel that catch applicants out.
No active e-visa portal
The SNEDAI visasenegal.sn biometric e-visa system was abolished in May 2015. There is no functioning online upload channel for foreign visa applicants. Physical prints submitted to an embassy or consulate are the only accepted route.
Two glossy prints required
Senegalese consulates require two identical prints on glossy photo paper. Do not staple or paper-clip through the image area, as damage to the photo is a documented rejection reason.
Print size depends on the consulate
Most Senegalese embassies (Paris, London, and posts across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East) accept the 35x45 mm format. The Embassy in Washington D.C., the Consulate in Ottawa, and other North American posts require the 2x2 inch (51x51 mm) format instead. Submitting the wrong size to the wrong post is a known rejection reason.
Six-month recency rule
The photo must be recent, defined by the Ministry as ’récente de moins de 6 mois’. Reusing an older photo, even one already in your passport, is grounds for rejection.
Take your Senegal 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.