Türkiye visa photos follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sticker-visa standard
The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sets the photo standard for all sticker visas, including tourist, business, work, student, and transit categories. The same 50×60 mm biometric template is reused by the Directorate General of Migration Management for residence permit (ikamet) applications. Türkiye’s print size is unusual, and photos sized to Schengen or US dimensions are routinely rejected at the appointment window.
Sticker-visa applicants face a two-step photo submission. A digital copy is uploaded during pre-application at visa.gov.tr, which generates the appointment barcode, and two identical printed copies are then handed over in person at the Gateway, Anatolia, VFS Global, or consular visa application centre handling the file. The standard e-Visa issued through evisa.gov.tr is data-driven from the passport and does not accept a photo upload at all, so the spec on this page applies only to sticker visas and to ikamet.
Non-compliant photos are the leading cause of rejection at Turkish visa application centres. A photo that fails the MFA size, background, or framing rules will be refused on the spot, forcing a retake at the centre and risking a missed appointment slot.
Türkiye visa photo requirements
The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs enforces these rules at every sticker-visa appointment. Get the subject right and the rest of the photo falls into place.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a relaxed, neutral expression with the mouth closed. No smiling, no teeth showing, no raised eyebrows.
- Head straightFace the camera squarely with the head level and shoulders parallel to the frame. No tilt, turn, or chin lift.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the lens. Hair must not fall across the eyes.
Eyewear & lenses
- Glasses discouragedGlasses should be removed where possible. The MFA enforcement trend is toward bare eyes for sticker-visa applications.
- Tinted lensesSunglasses, transition lenses, and any tinted prescription lenses are not accepted. The full eye and iris must be visible.
- Frames and glareThick frames that obscure any part of the eye are prohibited, and any reflection or glare on the lens will trigger a rejection.
Hair & facial features
- Hair off the faceHair may fall naturally but cannot cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face from cheek to cheek.
- EarsEars should be visible where the hairstyle allows. Naturally covered ears are not a hard rejection so long as the facial oval is clear.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHats, caps, and decorative head coverings are not permitted. Head coverings worn for religious or documented medical reasons are accepted.
- Full face visibleNiqabs and burqas are not accepted. The face must be fully visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and from cheek to cheek.
- No shadows from coveringsAny permitted head covering must not cast shadows on the face or obscure the hairline contour.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- JewelrySmall, non-reflective items are acceptable. Large or highly reflective jewelry that distracts from the face or causes glare should be removed.
- MakeupLight, natural makeup is permitted. Heavy makeup that alters the apparent shape of facial features is not.
Clothing
- Avoid white and very light topsBecause the background is plain white, white or very pale clothing will blend into it. Wear a colour that contrasts clearly with the background.
- No uniformsMilitary, police, and other official uniforms are not accepted. Everyday clothing is required. Religious garments worn daily are permitted.
Photo quality
- No shadows on the faceThe face must be evenly lit with no shadows cast by hair, headwear, or jewelry.
- No red-eyeRed-eye is not correctable after the fact for Turkish visa submissions. If it appears, the photo must be retaken.
- Recent likenessThe photo must have been taken within the last six months and reflect the applicant’s current appearance.
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 54–60% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28 mm and 34 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.
Türkiye relaxes a small number of rules for the youngest applicants. Every other requirement, including the white background and the 50×60 mm size, still applies.
Infants (under 12 months)
Babies under one year get limited flexibility on expression and gaze, but they must still appear alone in the frame on a clean white background.
- EyesEyes do not need to be fully open. A relaxed or partially closed gaze is accepted for infants under one year.
- ExpressionA strictly neutral expression is not required. Slight variations in the mouth and expression are tolerated.
- Alone in frameNo parental hands, arms, toys, pacifiers, blankets, or car-seat edges may appear in the photo. The infant must be the only subject visible.
- Lay on a white sheetAn infant may be photographed lying on a plain white sheet so the background stays uniform behind the head.
- Head positionSmall deviations in head tilt and turn are accepted, but the face must still be oriented toward the camera with both eyes visible.
Other things to know.
A few Türkiye-specific quirks catch first-time applicants out at the visa application centre.
Unusual 50×60 mm size
Türkiye does not use the Schengen 35×45 mm format or the US 2×2 inch format. The 5×6 cm print is country-specific and is the single most common cause of rejection at the visa application centre.
E-Visa needs no photo
The standard Turkish e-Visa issued through evisa.gov.tr is generated from passport data and does not include a photo upload step. The rules on this page apply to sticker-visa applications submitted through visa.gov.tr and at VAC or consulate appointments.
Submit the photo twice
Sticker-visa applicants upload the photo digitally during pre-application on visa.gov.tr and then bring two identical printed copies to the in-person appointment. The same image must satisfy both submissions.
Residence permit needs four prints
The 50×60 mm template is reused for e-ikamet residence-permit applications, but the provincial migration directorate requires four printed copies in addition to the digital upload.
Take your Türkiye 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.