Timor-Leste visa photos and the Serviço de Migração
Visas for Timor-Leste are administered by the Serviço de Migração de Timor-Leste under the Ministry of Interior, with overseas issuance handled by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. A single passport-style photograph against a plain white background is required across every visa class, from tourist and business visas through study, work, and residence categories.
There is no automated e-visa portal and no commercial visa application centre. Pre-approval is sought through the Visa Application Authorization process, where a fillable PDF is returned by email to the Serviço de Migração with the photograph embedded. Walk-in and mail-in applications are handled directly by Timor-Leste embassies and consulates, and Visa-on-Arrival is available at Dili airport and seaport for eligible nationalities, where carrying spare prints is sensible in case on-site capture fails.
Because human officers review every photograph, the enforcement focus is on the subject: neutral expression, mouth closed, both ears visible, no tinted lenses, and a clean white field behind the head. Photographs that fail these subject rules are returned and the application is delayed until a compliant image is supplied.
What the Serviço de Migração looks for in your Timor-Leste visa photo
The Immigration Service publishes only a brief "passport-style photo" rule, so consular officers apply standard international consular norms when reviewing your application.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionHold a neutral expression with the mouth closed. No smiling, no teeth showing, and no raised eyebrows.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking directly into the camera. Avoid squinting.
- Head square to cameraFace the camera straight on with the head level. An equal portion of each cheek and ear should be visible, with no tilt or rotation.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesEyeglasses are not permitted in the photograph. Remove all prescription and reading glasses before the photo is taken.
- Tinted or dark lensesSunglasses and any tinted lenses are prohibited. The eyes must be fully visible in their natural colour.
Hair & ears
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes or obscure the edges of the face.
- Both ears visibleBoth ears must be shown in the photograph. Pull long hair back so the ears are not covered.
Headwear
- No hats or capsHeadwear is not accepted except when worn for religious or medical reasons. The full face from the chin to the forehead must remain visible.
- Religious head coveringsWhere a head covering is worn for faith-based reasons, it must not cast a shadow on the face or conceal any facial features.
Clothing
- Everyday attireWear ordinary, non-distracting clothing. Avoid uniforms and anything that resembles official dress.
Photo quality
- Recent likenessThe photograph must be taken within the last six months and must be a true likeness of the applicant.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not accepted. The eyes must appear in their natural colour.
- No facial shadowsThe face must be free of harsh shadows, including any shadow cast by hair, eyewear, or a religious head covering.
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 31 mm and 36 mm (roughly 70–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 24 mm and 30 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 points are specific to how Timor-Leste accepts visa photos.
No e-visa portal
Timor-Leste does not operate an automated e-visa upload portal. Pre-approval is requested by emailing a fillable PDF (the Visa Application Authorization) to the Serviço de Migração, where a human officer reviews the embedded photograph.
Per-consulate size variants
Most Timor-Leste consulates use the 35×45 mm international standard, while the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Washington D.C. requests 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) prints. Check which size your specific mission requires before printing.
Visa-on-arrival fallback
Visa-on-arrival is available at Dili airport and seaport for most nationalities, with biometric capture performed by immigration officers on the spot. Carrying one or two spare physical photos is sensible in case the on-site system is unavailable.
No VAC operator
Applications are not routed through VFS Global, BLS, or any other commercial visa application centre. All submissions go directly to a Timor-Leste embassy, consulate, or the Serviço de Migração.
Take your Timor-Leste 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.