Chad Visa Photo Rules from the Ministry of Public Security and Immigration
Chad’s visa photo standard is set by the Ministry of Public Security and Immigration, working through the Directorate of Emigration and Immigration. The Embassy of Chad in New Delhi publishes the clearest numeric version of the rule: a square color print, two inches on each side, on a white background with a continuous-tone finish. Black-and-white photos are rejected outright.
Applications reach the authority through two channels. The eVisa Tchad portal at evisa.td accepts a digital upload as part of the online form, and Chadian embassies in Washington, Paris, London, New Delhi, Ottawa, and Brussels accept printed photos with paper applications. Chad does not outsource intake to VFS Global, TLScontact, or any other visa application centre, and missions do not capture biometrics on site. The applicant supplies the photo.
A photo that misses the spec stalls the file. Consular officers and the e-visa review team return applications when the face is not fully visible, when the background is not plain white, or when the print quality falls short of the continuous-tone standard. Following the published rule exactly is the difference between a visa issued on schedule and a file sent back for a fresh photo.
What the Ministry of Public Security and Immigration expects in a Chad visa photo
The Directorate of Emigration and Immigration applies a standard biometric look to every visa class. These are the subject-side rules that decide whether your photo clears review.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a relaxed, neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling with visible teeth is not accepted under standard biometric review.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking straight at the camera. Hair, glare, or shadow across the eyes is grounds for rejection.
- Head straight to cameraFace the camera squarely with the head neither tilted nor turned. Shoulders should be level and parallel to the frame.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses should be removed for the photo. If they remain on for a medical reason, lenses must be clear with no tint, no glare, and no frame covering any part of the eye.
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted or photochromic lenses are not accepted for any Chad visa photo.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must be arranged so that it does not fall across the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. The full facial perimeter from hairline to chin must be visible.
- Facial hairBeards and moustaches are accepted provided they reflect the applicant’s everyday appearance and do not obscure the mouth or jawline.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and any non-religious head covering are prohibited.
- Religious or medical head coveringsHead coverings worn for religious or medical reasons are permitted. The covering must leave the full face visible from the hairline to the chin and must not cast shadows on the face.
Jewelry & accessories
- Visible faceEarrings, piercings, and modest jewelry are acceptable as long as nothing covers or shadows any part of the face.
- Items in front of the faceRemove headphones, earbuds, masks, and any accessory that crosses the face or jawline before the photo is taken.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear ordinary street clothing. Uniforms and camouflage patterns are not accepted.
- Contrast against the backgroundChoose a top that contrasts with a white background so the shoulders and neckline read clearly. Plain, darker colours work best.
Photo quality
- Colour photographThe Embassy of Chad requires a colour photograph. Black-and-white prints are rejected outright.
- Continuous-tone printEmbassy guidance calls for a clear, continuous-tone print. Pixelated, banded, or visibly retouched photographs are not accepted.
- No shadows from the subjectAvoid heavy shadows cast by hair, hats, or head tilt across the face. The face must be evenly visible from forehead to chin.
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 mm and 35 mm (roughly 49–69% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28 mm and 35 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 practical quirks of the Chad visa channel are worth knowing before you submit.
Paris embassy size variant
The Embassy of Chad in Paris has historically requested a 40 by 40 mm square instead of the 2 by 2 inch standard used elsewhere. Applicants filing in Paris should confirm the current size with the embassy and produce that variant if asked.
No VFS or TLScontact intake
Chad does not outsource visa processing to VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS, or CGI. Applications go directly to a Chadian embassy or through the official eVisa Tchad portal at evisa.td, and no mission offers on-site biometric capture.
Print counts vary by visa class
Embassies that accept paper files ask for two prints for residence and diplomatic visas and one print for transit and dual-national visas. Order enough copies for the category you are filing under.
E-visa channel in transition
The eVisa Tchad portal accepts digital uploads of the same 2 by 2 inch image. Chad has signalled that the online channel will become the primary route for ordinary visas, so prepare both a print-ready file and physical copies until your embassy of jurisdiction confirms the channel.
Take your Chad 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.