Syria visa photos for MOFAEX and the evisa.sy portal
Syrian visa photos are governed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (MOFAEX) and the Immigration and Passports Department under the Ministry of Interior. The standard print size used by Syrian embassies is 40 by 40 mm on pure white background, and applicants are typically asked to submit two identical copies with the application.
Since May 2024 most tourist applications run through the official e-Visa portal at evisa.sy, where a square JPEG of the same image is uploaded directly. Syria does not use VFS Global, TLS Contact, or any other external visa application centre, so files go either to the portal, to a Syrian embassy by walk-in or mail, or through an authorised Damascus tour operator acting as a proxy.
MOFAEX and its consular posts enforce the basics strictly: a recent photo taken within the last six months, a true likeness with no digital beautification, and a clean white backdrop. Photos that fail these checks are returned and the visa is held until a compliant image is supplied, which is the most common cause of avoidable delay on Syrian applications.
What MOFAEX requires in a Syria visa photo
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates enforces a short list of subject-side rules. Compliance is checked at the embassy counter and at evisa.sy intake.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe applicant must face the camera directly with a neutral expression and mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, or squinting is not accepted.
- Eyes openEyes must be fully open and clearly visible. Hair must not fall across the eyes.
- Straight head positionThe head must be level, with no tilt or rotation. Both sides of the face must be visible to the camera.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses are prohibited, including prescription frames. An applicant who cannot remove prescription glasses must attach a medical certificate to the application.
- Tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted lenses are always prohibited, with no medical exception.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHats and other head coverings are not permitted unless worn for religious or medical reasons. When worn for those reasons, the covering must not cross the face or cast shadow onto the features.
- Full face visibleThe forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, and chin must remain fully visible inside the head covering.
Hair
- Hair off the faceHair must be arranged so it does not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face.
Accessories
- Headphones and earpiecesHeadphones, earbuds, and wireless devices must be removed before the photo is taken.
- JewelryEveryday jewelry is acceptable provided it does not obscure facial features or reflect light back into the lens.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingNormal street clothing is required. Uniforms are not accepted. Daily religious dress is permitted.
Photo currency
- Taken within six monthsThe photograph must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance. Older photos are rejected on sight.
- True likenessBeautification filters, slimming, and other alterations to the applicant’s appearance are not accepted. The face in the photo must match the face presented at the border.
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 36 mm and 40 mm (roughly 60–66% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 30 mm and 36 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.
MOFAEX does not publish formal child or infant photo rules, but the following convention is applied at Syrian consulates and on evisa.sy.
Infants (under 1 year)
Infants are photographed against the same plain white background as adults. A relaxed expression is accepted and the eyes do not need to be fully open.
- Photographed aloneNo other person may appear in the frame. Supporting hands, arms, straps, pacifiers, and toys must all be out of shot.
- Lying flat is acceptableInfants may be laid on a plain white sheet and photographed from directly above when they cannot sit upright unsupported.
- Expression and gazeA neutral or relaxed expression is acceptable. Eyes should be open where possible, but a closed-eye photo of a young infant will not be rejected on that basis alone.
Other things to know.
A few quirks of the Syrian visa channel are worth flagging before submission.
Two identical prints
Embassy and consulate submissions require two identical photographs attached to the application. A single-print variant is accepted only by the Syrian Embassy serving US applicants; submit two unless your specific mission states otherwise.
No VFS or TLS channel
Syria does not use VFS Global, TLS Contact, BLS, or any other external visa application centre. Applications are filed directly through evisa.sy, at a Syrian diplomatic mission, or through an authorised Syrian tour operator.
Overseas embassy size variant
Syrian embassies in jurisdictions where the local passport standard is 2 by 2 inches (51 by 51 mm) accept that size in place of the 40 by 40 mm default. The syriaembassy.org office for US-based applicants is the most common example.
Visa fees now apply at land borders
Since July 2025, visa fees apply at every Syrian entry point, including land crossings. Travellers should clear the e-Visa on evisa.sy with a compliant photo before arrival rather than relying on on-the-spot processing.
Take your Syria 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.