Myanmar Passport Photo

Myanmar Passport Photo -- Ministry of Immigration Requirements

Myanmar's passport operations are managed by the Ministry of Immigration and Population (လူဝင်မှုကြီးကြပ်ရေးနှင့် ပြည်သူ့အင်အားဝန်ကြီးဌာန), commonly known by its abbreviation MoIP. The primary passport issuance office is at the Passport Issuing Office in Yangon's Mayangone Township, with additional offices in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Myanmar began issuing ICAO-compliant Machine Readable Passports in the mid-2010s, and the photo standards align with international biometric requirements.

Given the country's evolving administrative situation, passport processing timelines and office availability can change. The MoIP website provides the most current information on procedures and requirements.

Photo Specifications from MoIP

Physical dimensions:

• 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height: 28 to 35 mm from chin to crown
• Face centered horizontally with even margins

Background:

• White only -- pure white, not off-white or cream
• Uniform and shadow-free
• No visible wall texture, objects, or patterns behind the subject

Expression and pose:

• ပုံမှန်မျက်နှာ (neutral face), no smiling or frowning
• Both eyes open, mouth closed
• Face looking directly at the camera, perfectly straight
• Full face visible from hairline to chin, including both ears

Glasses:

• Not recommended for passport photos
• If worn, lenses must be completely clear with no glare, reflections, or tinting
• Thick frames that touch the eyebrow line or block any part of the iris will trigger rejection
• The safest option is to remove all eyewear

Head coverings:

• Gaung baung (ခေါင်းပေါင်း, traditional Myanmar headdress for men) is not typically permitted in passport photos
• Religious head coverings may be permitted on a case-by-case basis with the face fully visible
• No hats, caps, or decorative headwear

Print quality:

• Glossy photo paper
• High resolution, sharp, and properly exposed
• No tears, creases, staple marks, or bending

Recency: Must be taken within the last 6 months and accurately represent current appearance.

Myanmar Document Photo Sizes

Yangon Passport Office Process

The main Passport Issuing Office in Mayangone Township, Yangon, is where most Myanmar citizens in the Yangon Region apply. Understanding the process helps you prepare:

Queue system: The office operates on a numbered queue basis. Arrive early (before 8:00 AM) as queues build rapidly. Photo inspection happens at the document check counter before you enter the biometric capture room.

Photo rejection at the counter: Officers examine your photos under bright light. If rejected, you must leave the queue, get new photos, and re-enter. This can cost several hours depending on queue length.

Biometric capture: MoIP captures a separate biometric photo at the office using their standardized camera system with calibrated white background and lighting. This photo goes onto the passport. The photos you bring are for the application file.

Processing time: Standard processing has historically been 4-6 weeks. Expedited service (when available) reduces this to 1-2 weeks for an additional fee. These timelines are subject to change based on current administrative capacity.

Photo Studios in Major Cities

Yangon:

• Studios near the Mayangone Passport Office -- 3,000-5,000 MMK for a set of printed photos. Multiple studios on Insein Road near the passport office specialize in passport photography.
• Downtown Yangon (near Sule Pagoda / Bogyoke Market area) -- 2,000-5,000 MMK. Established studios on Mahabandoola Road and 37th Street handle various document photo sizes.
• Photo studios in major shopping areas (Junction City, Myanmar Plaza vicinity) -- 5,000-8,000 MMK, slightly higher prices but air-conditioned and comfortable.

Mandalay:

• Studios near the Mandalay Passport Office on 66th Street -- 2,000-4,000 MMK.
• Studios around Zay Cho Market -- 2,000-3,000 MMK.

Nay Pyi Taw:

• Studios near the MoIP headquarters -- 3,000-5,000 MMK. Fewer options than Yangon or Mandalay but adequate.

What to confirm at any studio: Explicitly ask for 35 x 45 mm photos on a white background. Some studios default to the CSC/NRC size (38x51mm) or use an off-white/cream background. Check the prints before leaving.

Taking Your Photo at Home

Home photography in Myanmar requires practical adjustments for typical housing conditions:

Background: Many Myanmar homes have teak or colored walls. Use a white cotton longyi (လုံချည်) or white bedsheet hung flat against a wall. Ensure the fabric is wrinkle-free and covers the full frame behind your head and upper body.

Lighting challenges: Load-shedding (ပါဝါပြတ်) occurs in many parts of Myanmar. If photographing during a power outage, use natural daylight from a window. Face the window directly. Avoid shooting in rooms with only small windows, as the dim, directional light creates unacceptable shadows.

During normal power: Two fluorescent tube lights or LED panels placed at 45-degree angles on either side of your face produce even lighting. Myanmar's common circular fluorescent ceiling lights (alone) create shadows under the eyes and nose that passport officers will reject.

Camera distance and setup: Position the camera at face height, 1.2-1.5 meters away. Use a smartphone rear camera for the best resolution. Take multiple shots and select the one with the most uniform background and lighting.

Printing: If preparing a photo at home, print at a digital photo shop (ဓာတ်ပုံဆိုင်). Shops on Insein Road in Yangon and in most township market areas print passport photos for 500-1,500 MMK if you bring the file on a USB drive or send via Viber.

CSC and NRC Photos -- Different Requirements

Myanmar's Citizenship Scrutiny Card (နိုင်ငံသားစိစစ်ရေးကတ်ပြား, CSC) and National Registration Card (NRC) use a different photo format than the passport:

• Size: 38 x 51 mm (slightly wider and taller than the passport photo)
• Background: white
• Same expression and pose rules as passport photos
• If you need both passport and CSC/NRC photos, tell the studio to prepare both sizes in one session

Do not attempt to trim 38x51mm CSC photos to 35x45mm for passport use. The aspect ratios differ, and your head will be incorrectly positioned in the crop.

Common Rejection Reasons

Officers at the Passport Issuing Office inspect photos carefully. The most reported rejection causes:

1. Background not pure white -- Off-white, cream, and light gray are all rejected. The office uses a white reference card for comparison.
2. Wrong photo size -- CSC/NRC dimensions (38x51mm) submitted instead of passport dimensions (35x45mm).
3. Shadows -- On the face (especially under the chin and nose) or on the background behind the head.
4. Glasses -- While technically allowed if clear, most officers prefer photos without glasses and may reject photos with any visible lens reflection.
5. Photo quality -- Blurry images, underexposure, overexposure, or visible printer artifacts.

Baby and Child Passport Photos (ကလေး နိုင်ငံကူး ဓာတ်ပုံ)

MoIP issues passports for Myanmar children of all ages. The Passport Issuing Office in Mayangone handles infant applications regularly, and nearby studios on Insein Road have equipment for photographing babies.

Infants under 12 months (မွေးကင်းစ ကလေး): Lay the baby face-up on a plain white sheet (a white cotton longyi works well as a backdrop) and photograph from directly above. MoIP accepts partially closed eyes for newborns under 6 months. No pacifiers, toys, or patterned blankets visible. The baby must be the only subject in the photo -- parent hands supporting the head must be hidden under the white fabric. Studios on Insein Road charge the same 3,000-5,000 MMK for infant photos and have flat padded surfaces for positioning babies.

Children aged 1 to 5: Both eyes open, neutral expression (ပုံမှန်မျက်နှာ), facing the camera. The child sits in a small chair with a white backdrop. Officers at the Passport Issuing Office retake biometric captures for restless toddlers. For printed photos, multiple attempts are standard -- studios expect this and do not charge extra for retakes.

Children aged 6 and above: Full adult specifications apply, including the 35x45mm format (not the 38x51mm CSC/NRC size).

Power outage contingency: If photographing an infant at home during a power cut (ပါဝါပြတ်), position the baby on a white sheet near a large window for natural daylight. Morning light between 7-9 AM provides the most even illumination. Avoid midday sun, which creates harsh directional shadows through windows. Take at least 20 rapid shots and select the frame where the baby's face is calmest and most evenly lit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply for a Myanmar passport online? A: MoIP has made some aspects of the application available through their portal for pre-registration, but biometric enrollment (fingerprints, iris, and photo capture) must be done in person at a passport office. You must bring printed photos for the application file.

Q: I am a Myanmar citizen living abroad. Where do I apply? A: Myanmar embassies and consulates process passport applications. Photo requirements are the same (35x45mm, white background). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a directory of consular missions that handle passport services abroad. Processing times at embassies vary significantly -- some process within 2-4 weeks while others may take longer. Contact your nearest embassy for current timelines.

Q: What is the difference between passport and CSC photo sizes? A: Passport photos are 35 x 45 mm. CSC/NRC photos are 38 x 51 mm. These are not interchangeable. If you need both, get both sizes printed at the studio in one session.

Q: How many photos do I need for a passport application? A: Bring at least 3 identical photos. Some offices request 2, others request 3. Having extras prevents issues if one photo is damaged during handling or an officer requests an additional copy.

Q: Are the gaung baung or other traditional headwear allowed? A: Traditional Myanmar headwear like the gaung baung is generally not permitted in passport photos. The passport photo must show the full head from hairline to chin without obstructing headwear. Religious head coverings may be considered case by case.