Tanzania visa photos and the Tanzania Immigration Services Department
The Tanzania visa photo standard is set by the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The same 35×45 mm specification applies across every visa class, whether the application is ordinary, multiple-entry, transit, business, student, or referral. There are no category-specific variations, so a single compliant photo works for the entire visa system.
Most applicants submit through the official eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz, which handles intake directly without any third-party visa application centre. Tanzania does not use VFS, BLS, or TLScontact for inbound visas. Legacy walk-in and mail-in submissions still run through Tanzanian missions abroad, and the embassy in Washington D.C. uses a 51×51 mm (2×2 in) print instead of the standard 35×45 mm. Visa-on-Arrival travellers at Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar are captured by webcam at the counter, although a printed photo is a useful fallback.
Enforcement is strict. A non-compliant photo will be rejected by the eVisa portal or returned by the reviewing officer, which delays the application and can force a fresh submission. Common triggers include glare on glasses, smiling or open-mouth expressions, hair covering the eyes, and non-uniform backgrounds. Meeting the published rules the first time is the fastest route through the queue.
What Tanzania Immigration Services expects in the photo
The Tanzania Immigration Services Department applies a single photo standard across every visa class. The rules below cover how the applicant must appear in the final image.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe mouth must be closed and the expression neutral. Smiling and visible teeth are grounds for rejection.
- Eyes open and forwardBoth eyes must be open, fully visible, and looking straight at the lens. No squinting and no red-eye.
- Head straight to cameraThe head must face the lens directly with no tilt or turn. The face must sit square in the frame.
Eyewear & lenses
- Prescription glassesEyeglasses are permitted only for applicants who wear them daily, and only if the frames do not obscure the eyes and the lenses produce no glare. Tanzania Immigration recommends removing them where possible, since glare is a frequent rejection reason.
- Tinted lenses and sunglassesTinted lenses, photochromic lenses, and sunglasses are not accepted. The eyes must be plainly visible through clear lenses.
Hair & face
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes or cover the edges of the face. Long fringes and bangs should be pinned back so the full face is visible from chin to forehead.
- EarsEars do not have to be exposed, but keeping hair clear of the face perimeter is preferred.
Headwear
- Religious or medical onlyHead coverings are prohibited except when worn for religious or medical reasons. When worn, the covering must leave the full face visible from the chin to the top of the forehead and from one side of the face to the other.
- Hats and capsSecular hats, caps, and hoods are not permitted in the photo.
Jewelry & cosmetics
- Subtle jewelrySmall, non-reflective jewelry is acceptable. Reflective pieces and items that obscure any part of the face are not.
- Natural cosmeticsCosmetics should be natural. Heavy contouring or makeup that alters facial features will be flagged.
Clothing
- Civilian attireEveryday civilian clothing is required. Uniforms are not accepted, with the exception of daily religious attire.
- Avoid white topsLight-coloured clothing that blends into the white background should be avoided so the shoulders and neckline remain defined.
Photo recency
- Taken within six monthsThe photo must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect the applicant’s current appearance. A new photo is required after significant changes such as surgery, major weight change, or new facial tattoos or piercings.
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 72–79% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 20 mm and 25 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 Tanzanian visa channel are worth flagging before you submit.
eVisa portal upload cap
The eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz enforces a roughly 300 KB ceiling on photo uploads, even though the written guidelines mention 500 KB. Files above the practical cap can fail to upload without a clear error message.
No third-party visa centres
Tanzania does not route inbound visas through VFS, BLS, or TLScontact. Applications go directly through the government eVisa portal, or, for diplomatic and legacy cases, through a Tanzanian mission abroad.
Washington DC embassy size variant
The Tanzanian Embassy in Washington DC accepts the US 2 x 2 inch (51 x 51 mm) print for walk-in and mail-in submissions. All other overseas missions use the standard 35 x 45 mm print.
Visa on Arrival capture
Visa on Arrival at Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and the major land borders uses an on-site webcam at the immigration counter. A printed 35 x 45 mm photo is not required, but carrying one as a fallback is sensible in case of system outages.
Take your Tanzania 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.