Senegal Passport Photo

Senegalese Passport Photo -- Direction de la Police des Etrangers Standards

Senegal's passport issuance falls under the Direction de la Police des Etrangers et des Titres de Voyage (DPETV), a division within the Ministry of the Interior (Ministere de l'Interieur). The DPETV processes applications at its headquarters in Dakar near the Place de l'Independence, as well as at regional police commissariats in Saint-Louis, Thies, Ziguinchor, Kaolack, and other major cities. Senegal introduced ECOWAS biometric passports in 2016, and the photo specifications were significantly tightened at that time to comply with ICAO 9303 biometric standards.

Senegalese passport demand spikes heavily during the dry season (November-February) and ahead of the annual Magal de Touba pilgrimage, creating multi-week backlogs. Applicants who arrive with non-compliant photos add unnecessary delay to an already stretched system. The official government services portal is at servicepublic.gouv.sn. With a large Senegalese diaspora in France (over 300,000 people), Italian consulates, and increasingly in Spain and the United States, consular passport processing -- coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- represents a growing share of total applications.

Technical Specifications

Photo dimensions:

• 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI)
• Head height from chin to crown: 30-35 mm
• Face centered in the frame with balanced margins
• Printed on photographic paper with a smooth matte or semi-matte finish

Background:

• White (fond blanc) -- solid, uniform, and uninterrupted
• No shadows cast on the background from the subject's head or body
• No visible wall texture, patterns, or objects

Expression and pose:

• Expression neutre -- neutral face with mouth closed, both eyes open
• Direct frontal orientation facing the camera
• No head tilt or rotation in any direction
• Ears visible on both sides where hair permits

Senegal-Specific Photo Rules

Head coverings and religious wear: Senegal, as a predominantly Muslim country, permits hijab and other religious head coverings in passport photos. The face from the bottom of the chin to the hairline must remain fully visible. The covering must not cast shadows across the forehead, cheeks, or jaw. No separate religious declaration is required -- DPETV officers accept religious head coverings as standard. Men wearing kufis or traditional West African caps (bonnet) must remove them unless worn for documented religious reasons.

Glasses policy: Prescription glasses are technically permitted, but DPETV strongly discourages wearing them. Lenses must be free of any tint, and absolutely no reflection or glare can appear on the lenses. Thick frames that partially obstruct the eyes cause immediate rejection. Removing glasses before the photo session eliminates this risk entirely.

Traditional dress: Grand boubous, caftans, and other traditional Senegalese garments are perfectly acceptable in passport photos. The only restriction is avoiding white or very pale-colored tops that blend with the white background, making it difficult for the biometric system to detect the shoulder boundary.

Skin complexion considerations: Studios in Senegal are experienced with lighting for darker skin tones. The photo must clearly show facial features with adequate contrast against the white background. Under-exposed or washed-out photos are rejected.

ECOWAS Biometric Passport and the Carte Nationale d'Identite

Senegal issues the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) biometric passport, which provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to all 15 ECOWAS member states. The biometric passport contains a chip storing the holder's facial data and fingerprints, captured at the DPETV office during the in-person appointment. The photo you submit with your application is printed on the passport's data page and encoded into the chip.

Senegal also issues the Carte Nationale d'Identite Biometrique (CNIB), which uses the same 35 x 45 mm photo specification. Many Senegalese apply for both documents simultaneously, especially before the CNIB's five-year validity expires. A single studio visit produces photos usable for both the passport and the CNIB.

ECOWAS travel card note: For travel within the ECOWAS zone, some Senegalese travelers use the ECOWAS Travel Certificate as a supplementary document. While this card has its own photo, the dimensions and background requirements mirror the passport standard.

Lighting for Darker Skin Tones

Studios in Senegal are generally well-equipped for photographing darker skin tones against white backgrounds, but not all studios are equal. The key challenge is balancing adequate face illumination against the bright white background without overexposing the skin or creating harsh contrast. Professional studios use dual soft-box lighting or ring lights specifically calibrated for document photography. If shooting at home, face a window providing natural diffused daylight -- avoid direct sunlight, which creates hard shadows. The finished photo must show clear differentiation between skin, hair, and the white background across the full tonal range.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Senegal

Studios in Dakar: Photo studios (studios photo or photographes) are densely concentrated in the Plateau district near the DPETV office, along Avenue Lamine Gueye and Rue Carnot. Studios in the Medina, Grand Dakar, and Parcelles Assainies neighborhoods also handle high volumes of passport photo work. A standard set of 4-6 photos costs 1,500-3,000 XOF. Request "photo d'identite pour passeport" or "photo biometrique" to get the correct format.

Regional city studios: Thies, Saint-Louis, Kaolack, Ziguinchor, and Tambacounda all have photo studios serving their regional commissariats. Prices outside Dakar are slightly lower -- typically 1,000-2,500 XOF per set. Studios near commissariat buildings are the most reliable choices, as they stay current with any specification changes.

Marche Sandaga and informal photographers: Street photographers and small kiosks in and around Marche Sandaga in Dakar offer very low-cost passport photos (500-1,000 XOF). Quality is inconsistent -- lighting, background whiteness, and print quality all vary. For a document as important as a passport, a professional studio is worth the modest additional cost.

Printing services: Digital printing shops in Dakar's Plateau and Point E areas can print passport photos from a USB drive for 500-1,000 XOF per sheet. Specify the 35 x 45 mm format and white background cropping.

Baby and Child Photos

Senegalese minors' passports are valid for 5 years. Children traveling within the ECOWAS zone may use a parent's passport in some cases, but a separate child passport is required for travel outside West Africa. Studios in Dakar that serve the DPETV office regularly photograph infants and children and have the equipment and patience to capture compliant images. DPETV child photo rules:

• The child must appear alone in the photo -- no parent, family member, or caregiver visible
• For infants, lay the baby on a clean white cloth and shoot from directly above
• Eyes open is the standard, but DPETV shows flexibility for newborns under 3 months -- clearly closed eyes are accepted if the full face is visible
• No jewelry, headbands, bonnets, or pacifiers visible
• Children aged 5 and above must follow full adult specifications
• The face must fill the appropriate proportion of the frame -- the most common rejection for child photos is the face appearing too small

Common Rejection Reasons

DPETV offices in Dakar report frequent rejections for:

1. Background not uniformly white -- grey or off-white backgrounds from wall coloring or poor studio lighting are the top rejection cause
2. Head covering shadow -- hijab or other coverings casting even faint shadows across the forehead or cheekbones
3. Glasses glare -- flash or studio light reflected in lenses, particularly from overhead light sources
4. Photo dimensions incorrect -- studios occasionally print at 3 x 4 cm or other non-standard sizes
5. Low resolution or poor print quality -- grainy images from phone cameras in low light, or faded prints from aging printers
6. Expression not neutral -- smiling is the most common expression issue, followed by squinting from bright studio lights
7. Face not centered -- the face drifts to one side or the other, particularly in photos taken without tripod stabilization
8. Photo too old -- the 6-month recency rule is enforced, and applicants who have changed appearance significantly must submit new photos
9. Red-eye -- camera flash producing red-eye effects that interfere with biometric iris detection

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many photos do I need for a Senegalese passport application? A: The DPETV requires 4 identical photos. Bring 6 to account for any that are damaged during handling or deemed non-compliant.

Q: Can I wear my grand boubou in the passport photo? A: Yes. Traditional Senegalese dress is fully permitted. Avoid white garments that blend with the background -- choose a darker or colored boubou for better contrast.

Q: I am applying from France -- are the photo requirements the same? A: Yes. Senegalese consulates in France, the United States, and elsewhere enforce identical photo specifications. French photo booths (Photomaton) and studio chains (Photo Identite) can produce compliant photos -- specify 35 x 45 mm with a white background.

Q: Is there an online application for the Senegalese passport? A: Senegal has been gradually digitizing its passport application process. Some steps can be initiated through the servicepublic.gouv.sn portal, but applicants must still visit the DPETV or a consulate in person with physical photos for biometric data capture.

Q: My baby is wearing a traditional gris-gris bracelet. Does it need to be removed? A: Wrist jewelry is not visible in a properly cropped passport photo, so a bracelet will not cause issues. However, any head or facial adornment -- including forehead beads or decorative headbands -- must be removed.

Q: What is the current passport application fee in Senegal? A: As of 2025, the ECOWAS biometric passport costs 50,000 XOF for standard processing (approximately 6-8 weeks) at the DPETV office in Dakar. Express options may be available at higher fees depending on current processing capacity.

Q: Can I use a photo booth (Photomaton) in France for my Senegalese passport application at the consulate? A: Yes. French Photomaton booths produce 35 x 45 mm photos with white backgrounds that meet the Senegalese specification. Select the "photo d'identite" option and ensure no filters or beauty effects are applied.

Q: I have tribal scarification on my face. Is this acceptable? A: Yes. Facial scarification and traditional markings are part of your identity and are fully accepted. The photo must clearly show your facial features -- ensure good lighting so the markings and underlying features are both distinguishable.