São Tomé and Príncipe visa photos and the Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras
The Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras (SMF), the migration authority under São Tomé and Príncipe’s Ministry of Internal Administration, oversees visa issuance for the country. SMF has not published a centralized photo specification, so each diplomatic mission applies the passport-type norm of its host country. Embassies in the Americas, including the consulate in Washington DC and the Permanent Mission in New York, follow the Brussels embassy application kit and request a 2×2 inch color print on white background.
Submission channels split cleanly. The SMF e-Visa portal at smf.st/evisa does not collect a standalone applicant photo; it ingests only a scan of the passport biodata page, and biometric capture is performed live on arrival at São Tomé International Airport. Travelers who need a sticker visa, including long-stay, work, and student categories, must instead supply printed photos directly to a sovereign embassy or consulate. There is no VFS Global or third-party visa application centre involved.
Consular officers reject prints that fail the host-country passport norm, that show tinted lenses or sunglasses, or that arrive on anything other than photographic paper with a clean white background. A rejected photo means a returned application and a fresh trip to the mission, so the print must match the embassy’s stated format on the first attempt.
São Tomé and Príncipe visa photo requirements
The Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras and São Toméan consular missions apply standard "passport-type" rules to the subject in every visa photo. Here is what your face, head, and clothing need to look like.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, or other exaggerated expressions are not accepted under the passport-type norm applied by São Toméan consulates.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking straight at the camera. Hair, glare, or shadows cannot obscure the eyes.
- Head straight to cameraFace the camera directly with the head level. Tilting, turning, or looking away from the lens is not accepted.
- Shoulders squareSquare the shoulders to the camera so the photo shows a full frontal view of the face and upper body.
Eyewear & lenses
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses and any tinted lenses are prohibited. The eyes must be clearly visible without coloured lenses obscuring them.
- Clear prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are tolerated provided there is no glare on the lenses and the frames do not cover any part of the eyes. Removing glasses entirely is the safest option.
Hair & face
- Face fully visibleThe entire face from the top of the forehead to the chin must be visible. Hair must not fall across the eyes or obscure the facial features.
- EarsEars may be covered or uncovered. The passport-type norm applied by São Toméan missions does not impose an explicit rule on ear visibility.
Headwear
- No casual hats or capsHats, caps, and other casual headwear are not permitted. The head must be uncovered for the photo.
- Religious or medical head coveringsHead coverings worn daily for religious or medical reasons are accepted, provided the full face from forehead to chin and from ear to ear remains clearly visible.
Clothing & accessories
- Everyday clothingWear normal street clothing in a colour that contrasts with the white background. Uniforms are not accepted.
- JewelryDiscreet jewelry is acceptable as long as it does not cover or cast shadows on the face. Avoid pieces that reflect light into the lens.
Photo quality
- Colour photographThe visa photo must be in colour, as specified in the Brussels embassy application kit. Black-and-white prints are not accepted.
- No heavy facial shadowsThe face must be free of heavy shadows, including shadows cast by hat brims or hair. Shadow-free framing is required for the photo to be accepted.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not acceptable. The pupils must appear naturally in the final photo.
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 25.4 mm and 35.1 mm (roughly 50–69% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28.4 mm and 35.1 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 São Toméan visa process are worth knowing before you apply.
E-visa needs no photo upload
The SMF e-Visa portal at smf.st/evisa does not ask for a standalone applicant photo. Only a scan of the passport biodata page is uploaded, and your biometric capture is performed live at the airport on arrival. A printed visa photo is only needed when you apply at a sovereign embassy or consulate.
Two regional print sizes
São Tomé and Príncipe has no centralised photo spec, so each embassy applies the host country’s passport-type norm. Missions in the Americas (Washington DC, New York) follow the 2 by 2 inch format documented in the Brussels application kit, while missions in Europe (Lisbon, Brussels) commonly accept 35 by 45 mm prints. Match the size to the mission where you are filing.
No VAC, direct intake only
São Tomé and Príncipe does not use VFS Global, BLS, TLS, or any other visa application centre. Applications are filed either online through the SMF portal or directly at a São Toméan embassy or consulate.
Two identical prints recommended
Most São Toméan consulates request two identical photographs with the application. The Brussels kit documents one as the minimum, but supplying two avoids delays at missions that ask for a duplicate.
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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.