Taiwan visa photos under the Bureau of Consular Affairs
Taiwan’s visa photo standard is set and enforced by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The same 35 by 45 mm specification covers visitor visas, resident visas, and the Employment Gold Card, and a closely related digital version is used by the National Immigration Agency for Exit and Entry Permits issued to Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland Chinese passport holders.
Unlike most major destinations, Taiwan does not contract with VFS Global, BLS, or TLS. Print applications go directly to a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO or TECRO), which requires two identical printed photos attached to the BOCA application form. Digital uploads flow through separate BOCA, NDC, and NIA portals, each with its own file size cap.
BOCA reviewers are strict, and a non-compliant photo means the application is returned or held until a replacement is provided. The most common rejection triggers are ears partly hidden by hair, coloured or circle contact lenses, and supplying a US 2 by 2 inch print in place of the Taiwanese 2-inch (2吋) format.
What Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs requires in a visa photo
BOCA enforces a strict biometric standard across visitor, resident, and digital nomad visas. The rules below describe what you, the subject, must do on the day of the photo.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionKeep a neutral face with the mouth closed. Smiling, showing teeth, frowning, or raising the eyebrows is not accepted.
- Eyes openBoth eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera. Red-eye is a rejection trigger and the photo must be retaken rather than corrected.
- Head straightFace the camera squarely with the head and shoulders level. BOCA does not allow the head to tilt to one side, lean forward, or tip backward.
- Shoulders squareBoth shoulders must be visible and parallel to the camera. Three-quarter or profile poses are rejected.
Hair & ears
- Both ears visibleBOCA requires both ears to be fully visible in the photo. Long hair must be tucked behind the ears, and this rule is enforced more strictly in Taiwan than in most jurisdictions.
- Eyebrows uncoveredHair, bangs, and fringes must not cover the eyebrows or any part of the eyes. Covered eyebrows are a common reason for rejection.
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the cheeks or obscure the outline of the face. Both edges of the face must be clearly visible.
Eyewear & lenses
- EyeglassesGlasses are accepted only if the frames do not cover any part of the eye and the lenses are clear with no glare or reflection. Heavy or thick frames are discouraged.
- Tinted lensesTinted or sunglass lenses are not permitted. The only exception is for applicants who are visually impaired and must wear tinted prescription eyewear.
- Cosmetic contact lensesColoured contact lenses and circle (iris-enlarging) lenses are an instant rejection. Taiwan was one of the first authorities to ban these because they interfere with biometric matching.
Headwear
- Hats and capsHeadwear is not allowed. Hats, caps, hoods, and headbands must be removed before the photo is taken.
- Religious or medical head coveringsCoverings worn for religious or documented medical reasons are permitted, provided the full face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face remain clearly visible.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- Earrings and piercingsLarge earrings or facial piercings that cast shadows on the face or obscure features are routinely rejected. Small, flat studs are generally tolerated.
- MakeupCosmetics must keep the applicant’s appearance natural. Heavy contouring, dramatic eye makeup, or anything that alters the perceived shape of the face is not accepted.
- True likenessScars, moles, and birthmarks must remain visible. The photo must represent the applicant’s current appearance, including any significant recent changes.
Clothing
- Contrast with backgroundClothing must contrast with the white background. White, cream, or very pale tops are prohibited because they blend into the backdrop and cause rejection.
- No uniformsMilitary, police, and other uniforms are not accepted. Camouflage patterns are also prohibited.
- Everyday attireWear ordinary day-to-day clothing. The neckline and tops of the shoulders should be visible in the final frame.
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 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 19 mm and 24 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 quirks of the Taiwan visa channel catch applicants out more than the standard rules.
No VAC network
Taiwan does not contract with VFS Global, BLS, or TLS Contact for visa intake. Applications are submitted directly to a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO or TECRO) in person or by mail, and two identical printed photos are attached to the BOCA application form.
The ’2-inch’ translation trap
In Taiwanese consular usage, ’2-inch’ (2吋) means 35 by 45 mm, not the American 2 by 2 inch (51 by 51 mm) format. Submitting a US-format square photo will fail BOCA’s head-height ratio check and be rejected.
Multiple online portals
Taiwan operates three separate digital channels with different rules. The BOCA eVisa form is text-only, the National Immigration Agency portal for Hong Kong, Macau, and PRC entry permits caps uploads at 512 KB, and the Employment Gold Card portal accepts up to 5 MB. Check which one applies to your nationality and visa type before applying.
Six-month recency
BOCA will not accept a photo taken more than six months before submission. A fresh photo is also required if the applicant’s appearance has changed significantly since the last one, regardless of date.
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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.