Tuvalu visa photo rules from the Department of Immigration
Visa photos for Tuvalu are governed by the Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs. The binding text is the Immigration Regulations 2014, which require two passport-size photographs of the applicant’s head and shoulders for a Permit to Enter and Reside. The dimensional anchor sits in the older Passports Regulations 1980, which fix passport-size at roughly 2 × 1½ inches, full face and without a hat. The same photograph standard is used for in-country visa extensions handled at Immigration HQ in Funafuti.
Tuvalu operates no e-visa portal, no visa application centre, and no biometric capture at its missions. Applicants supply two physical prints, either through a Tuvalu diplomatic mission (Suva, Wellington, Taipei, or the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York), by email pre-clearance to the Principal Immigration Officer, or in person at Funafuti. Tourist visitors arriving for stays of 30 days or less receive a Visitor’s Permit at the border and submit no photograph at all.
Because intake is manual and qualitative, officers review each print against the head-and-shoulders, full-face standard and reject photos that fail to clearly identify the applicant. A non-compliant photo returns the file to the applicant and delays issuance of the permit, so the safer course is to match the legal anchor of 2 × 1½ inches and present two clean prints with the application.
What Tuvalu’s Department of Immigration expects in your visa photo
Tuvalu’s Immigration Regulations 2014 call only for "head and shoulders, full face" photographs. The points below reflect the consular practice applied at Tuvaluan missions and at Funafuti Immigration HQ.
Expression & pose
- Full face to cameraThe Passports Regulations 1980 require a full-face view. Square your shoulders to the camera and look straight at the lens so both sides of the face and both ears region are visible.
- Neutral expressionConsular practice at Tuvaluan missions follows the standard biometric expectation: a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Avoid smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows.
- Eyes open and visibleKeep your eyes open and directed at the camera. Hair must not fall across the eyes.
Eyewear & lenses
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are accepted provided the frames do not cross the eyes and there is no glare on the lenses. Removing glasses is the safest choice.
- Sunglasses & tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted or photochromic lenses are not accepted. The eyes must be fully visible.
Headwear
- No hats or capsThe Passports Regulations 1980 state the photograph must be taken without a hat. Caps, sun hats, hoods, and decorative head coverings are not accepted.
- Religious & medical head coveringsHead coverings worn daily for religious or medical reasons are accepted as long as the full face is visible from the bottom of the chin to above the forehead and across both edges of the face.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair should be arranged so it does not cover the eyes, eyebrows, or the outline of the face. Long hair worn behind the shoulders is acceptable.
- Beards & moustachesBeards and moustaches worn as part of your everyday appearance are accepted. They should match how you usually look at the border.
Jewelry & accessories
- Everyday jewelrySmall, everyday earrings, nose studs, and necklaces are accepted as long as they do not obscure any part of the face or cast shadows on it.
- Face coveringsScarves, masks, and any accessory that hides the mouth, nose, or chin are not accepted. The full face must be visible.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear ordinary day clothes. Uniforms, including military and airline uniforms, are not accepted. Shoulders should be visible in frame.
- Avoid very light topsBecause Tuvaluan missions expect a light background, choose a top that contrasts with white or light grey so the head and shoulders are clearly defined.
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 26.7 mm and 30.5 mm (roughly 70–80% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 20.9 mm and 24.8 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 things about Tuvalu’s visa photo regime that differ from most countries.
No photo for Visa on Arrival
Tourists staying up to 30 days receive a Visitor’s Permit at the port of entry and are not asked for a photograph. Photo rules apply only to the Permit to Enter and Reside and to in-country visa extensions.
No e-visa portal or VAC
Tuvalu operates no online visa portal and uses no visa application centre. Applications go by email to the Principal Immigration Officer, by post or in person to a Tuvaluan diplomatic mission, or in person at Immigration HQ in Funafuti.
Two physical prints required
The Immigration Regulations 2014 require two passport-sized prints of the applicant’s head and shoulders. Submit both copies undamaged, with no creases, tears, or staple marks across the face.
Multiple print sizes accepted
Tuvaluan law anchors passport-size at roughly 2 × 1½ inches, but missions in Suva, Wellington, Taipei, and New York also accept the international 35 × 45 mm size and the US-style 2 × 2 inch size in practice.
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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.