Honduras Passport Photo

Honduras Passport Photo -- Meeting the Instituto Nacional de Migracion Standard

Honduras uses the 51x51mm (2x2 inch) photo format -- the same square dimensions required by the United States -- rather than the 35x45mm format common across most of Latin America. This catches many Honduran applicants off guard, especially those who assume the size matches neighboring Guatemala or El Salvador. The Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) administers passport issuance and enforces photo compliance at its offices across the country, with the main processing center at Centro Civico Gubernamental in Tegucigalpa.

Since Honduras launched its biometric e-passport in 2017, the INM has enforced stricter photo validation. Applications filed at the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores y Cooperacion Internacional (SRECI) website require a digital photo upload that passes an automated sizing check before the appointment confirmation generates.

Technical Specifications

Photo dimensions:

• 51 x 51 mm / 2 x 2 inches (602 x 602 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height: 25-35 mm from chin to the top of the skull
• Eye line position: between 28mm and 35mm from the bottom edge of the photo
• The photo is square -- this is critical, as rectangular photos are rejected automatically

Print and digital requirements:

• 300 DPI minimum resolution
• Digital upload format: JPEG, 600 x 600 pixels minimum, 240 KB maximum file size
• Color photo, no black-and-white or sepia tones
• Matte or semi-matte paper for printed copies

Background:

• Plain white with no texture, pattern, or shadow
• No gradient or color wash -- pure, flat white
• The background must extend uniformly to all four edges of the frame

Expression and position:

• Neutral expression with mouth closed
• Both eyes fully open, directed straight at the camera
• Head centered in the frame with no tilt or rotation
• Full face visible -- forehead to chin, both ears exposed

Honduras-Specific Rules

Glasses: The INM prohibits all eyeglasses in passport photos. This includes prescription glasses, sunglasses, and transitional lenses. Unlike some countries that allow clear non-reflective frames, Honduras applies a blanket ban. Contact lenses are acceptable if they are corrective and do not alter iris color.

Head coverings: Only permitted for documented religious reasons. The applicant must submit a written declaration. The covering cannot obscure any facial features and must not cast shadows across the face. Turbans, hijabs, and yarmulkes are accepted with proper documentation.

Facial hair: Beards and mustaches are fine as long as they represent the applicant's everyday appearance. Applicants should not grow or shave facial hair between the photo session and the biometric capture at the INM office, as discrepancies may trigger additional identity verification steps.

Military and police personnel: Uniformed photos are not accepted. All applicants, including military and Policia Nacional members, must wear civilian clothing.

Digital retouching and filters: The INM prohibits any digital manipulation of passport photos. Skin smoothing, teeth whitening, eye enlargement, and filter effects from phone camera apps are all grounds for rejection. The biometric capture system at the INM office compares the submitted photo against the live facial scan, and retouched photos create detectable mismatches.

Clothing: Avoid white or very light-coloured clothing, as it merges with the required white background. The INM recommends wearing a dark shirt or blouse to provide clear contrast at the shoulder line.

Recency: Photos must be no older than 3 months -- significantly more recent than the 6-month or 12-month windows used by most other countries. This strict requirement reflects the INM's emphasis on photos matching the applicant's current appearance at the biometric enrollment session.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Honduras

Tegucigalpa: Photo studios around Boulevard Morazan, Mall Multiplaza, and near the Centro Civico Gubernamental charge 80-150 HNL for 4 passport-sized prints. Studios near the INM office specifically advertise "fotos tamano pasaporte 2x2" and are calibrated for the square format. Estudio Fotografico and Foto Rapida chains are reliable options.

San Pedro Sula: Studios near the INM regional office on 1ra Calle, Barrio Guamilito charge 70-130 HNL for 4 prints. The shopping centers CityMall and Multiplaza have kiosk photo services in the 100-150 HNL range.

Other cities: In La Ceiba, Comayagua, and Choluteca, look for estudios fotograficos near the central market or municipal building. Expect to pay 50-100 HNL. Some papelerias (stationery shops) with digital cameras offer passport photo services at lower prices, but verify the 2x2 inch format is available -- many default to 35x45mm.

Pharmacies and internet cafes: Farmacias Kielsa and Farmacias del Ahorro locations sometimes offer basic photo printing, but they do not typically take the photo for you. Internet cafes near INM offices may offer photo + print bundles for 60-90 HNL.

DIY at home: If photographing at home, use a clean white bedsheet as a backdrop and stand at least 1.5 meters from the camera. The 51x51mm square format requires careful framing -- position the camera at face height and leave balanced space on all sides. Use our tool to validate the square dimensions and white background before printing. Print on matte photo paper at a local print shop for best results.

Baby and Child Photos

The INM requires compliant photos for all applicants from birth:

• Newborns should be laid on a flat white surface and photographed from above. No visible hands, blankets, or carrier seats.
• For children under 2, the INM accepts photos where eyes are not fully open, but makes no guarantee of waiving the requirement -- they review each case individually.
• Children aged 2-5 must have both eyes open. The square 51x51mm framing can be tricky with small heads -- ensure the child's face is centered and fills approximately 50-70% of the vertical frame height.
• Children 6 and older must meet full adult specifications including ear visibility and the glasses ban.
• All minor passport applications require both parents' consent. The photo itself needs only the child.

Consular Applications and Diaspora Considerations

With an estimated 1 million Hondurans living in the United States alone, consular passport processing represents a major share of INM's workload. Honduran consulates listed on the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores website in Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Washington DC, and other US cities process passport applications using the same 51x51mm photo format. Since this matches the US passport photo size, applicants can use any US pharmacy or photo service (CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Walmart) for their photos -- a significant convenience. However, the INM's 3-month recency requirement and the glasses ban still apply. Many US pharmacies do not enforce the no-glasses rule during the photo session, so Honduran applicants must be proactive about removing eyewear.

Consular appointment availability varies by city and season. During peak periods, wait times for appointments at the Houston and Los Angeles consulates can stretch to several weeks. Having compliant photos ready before your appointment eliminates one potential source of delay.

Common Rejection Reasons

Based on reports from INM offices and consular posts, the most frequent causes of photo rejection are:

1. Wrong dimensions -- submitting a 35x45mm photo instead of the required 51x51mm square format. This is the single most common error for Honduran passport applicants.
2. Glasses in the photo -- the ban is frequently overlooked by applicants and even some photo studios unfamiliar with the current INM rules
3. Background shadow or off-white tint -- especially common with home-taken photos where wall color reads as cream or grey on camera
4. Head too small in the frame -- the square format requires careful positioning; standing too far from the camera leaves excessive white space around the head
5. Photo older than 3 months -- Honduras requires more recent photos than many countries, and applicants sometimes re-use photos from a previous application cycle

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Honduras use 51x51mm instead of 35x45mm like other Central American countries? A: Honduras adopted the 2x2 inch (51x51mm) square format to align with US standards, likely reflecting the large Honduran diaspora in the United States and the practical benefit of having compatible photo dimensions for US visa applications.

Q: How much does a Honduran passport cost? A: The standard biometric passport costs approximately 1,800-2,200 HNL depending on processing speed. Express processing carries an additional fee. The photo cost (80-150 HNL at a studio) is separate.

Q: Can I use my US visa photo for my Honduran passport? A: If the photo meets all INM specifications -- 51x51mm, white background, no glasses, neutral expression, taken within the last 3 months -- then yes, the dimensions are compatible. However, the 3-month recency requirement means most previously-used visa photos will be too old.

Q: Do I need to bring printed photos to my INM appointment, or is the digital upload enough? A: Bring two printed copies on matte paper in addition to having the digital upload completed. The INM office also captures a live biometric photo during your appointment, but the printed photos go into your physical file.

Q: My child's ears are covered by hair -- will the photo be rejected? A: Very likely. The INM enforces ear visibility for all applicants aged 2 and older. Pin, clip, or tuck hair behind both ears before taking the photo.

Q: Can I get passport photos at the INM office itself? A: The INM offices in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula do not offer internal photo services, but independent photo vendors operate immediately outside both locations. Expect to pay 100-150 HNL for on-the-spot service.

Q: Can I wear contact lenses in my Honduran passport photo? A: Corrective contact lenses that do not change your iris colour are permitted. Coloured, cosmetic, or patterned contact lenses are not allowed -- your natural eye colour must be clearly visible in the photo.