Vietnam Passport Photo

Vietnam Passport Photo -- The 40x60mm Exception

Vietnam is one of the few countries in the world that does not follow the standard 35x45mm ICAO passport photo format. Vietnamese passports require a 40x60mm photograph -- taller and wider than what most countries accept. If you bring standard-sized photos to the Cục Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh (Immigration Department) offices, they will be refused on the spot with no exceptions. This size difference also means that passport photo services outside Vietnam almost never have the correct template, making it critical to verify dimensions before printing.

The Immigration Department publishes photo requirements on the official portal, which also handles e-Visa applications (Thị thực điện tử) and online passport renewal for Vietnamese citizens abroad.

Chính Xác -- Exact Photo Specifications

Physical dimensions:

• 40 x 60 mm (472 x 709 pixels at 300 DPI) -- non-negotiable
• Head height: approximately 35 to 40 mm from chin to top of head
• Face centered horizontally with equal space on both sides
• Small margin above the head (approximately 5-8 mm)

Background:

• Hộ chiếu (passport): white background, pure and uniform
• Căn cước công dân (citizen ID card, replacing old CMND): solid blue background (light sky blue, not navy)
• Giấy phép lái xe (driver's license): white background

Expression and pose:

• Mặt thẳng (face straight ahead), neutral expression
• Mouth closed, both eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• No smiling -- Vietnamese passport officers are strict about this
• Full face visible from hairline to chin, ears visible

Glasses:

• Not permitted in passport photos since 2020
• Not permitted in citizen ID card photos
• Previously acceptable for older-generation passports but no longer

Head coverings:

• Not permitted for most applicants
• Exception for religious reasons (must show full face from forehead to chin, ear to ear)

Recency: Taken within the past 6 months, reflecting current appearance. Vietnamese passport offices will refuse photos if the applicant's appearance has changed noticeably (new hairstyle, significant weight change, etc.).

Vietnam Document Photo Sizes

Chụp Ảnh Tại Nhà -- Taking Your Photo at Home

Vietnam's 40x60mm format requires extra care when framing at home, because the taller aspect ratio (2:3) means your head positioning is different from the nearly-square format used by most countries.

Why the aspect ratio matters: In a 35x45mm photo, your head fills roughly 70-80% of the frame vertically. In Vietnam's 40x60mm, that same head needs to fill about 60-70% of a taller frame, leaving more space above and below. If you frame it like a standard passport photo, your head will be too large in the crop.

Camera distance: Stand about 1.8 meters from the camera -- farther than the 1.2 meters recommended for standard formats. This extra distance accounts for the taller crop area and prevents barrel distortion from smartphone lenses.

Background for passport vs. ID: If you are taking a passport photo, use a white wall or sheet. For the new Căn cước công dân (citizen identity card), you need a blue background. Buying a meter of light blue fabric from a chợ vải (fabric market) is the cheapest solution -- about 15,000-25,000 VND per meter at Chợ Bến Thành or Chợ Đồng Xuân.

Lighting: Vietnam's tropical sunlight is intense and directional. Shooting outdoors creates harsh shadows. The best approach is a well-lit indoor room with a large window providing diffused daylight. Avoid shooting between 10 AM and 2 PM when indoor light through windows is still too directional.

Where to Get Passport Photos in Vietnam

• Tiệm chụp ảnh near immigration offices -- 30,000-50,000 VND (approximately $1.20-2.00 USD) for a set of photos. Every Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh (provincial immigration office) has clusters of photo studios within walking distance. In Hà Nội, the studios on Trần Bình Trọng street near the immigration office at 44-46 Trần Phú are reliable and fast (10-15 minutes including printing).
• Thế Giới Di Động / FPT Shop -- Some electronics chain locations offer photo printing services. Prices vary by location, typically 40,000-60,000 VND.
• Online submission via xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn -- For e-Visa and online passport applications, you upload the digital photo directly. The system validates dimensions automatically. Format must be JPEG, minimum 472 x 709 pixels.
• Bưu điện (Post Office) -- Vietnam Post offices in major cities offer passport photo services for 25,000-40,000 VND. The Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn (Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office) on Công xã Paris square is a popular option for tourists needing visa photos.

The Chip Passport Transition

Vietnam began issuing hộ chiếu gắn chip (chip-embedded passports) with burgundy covers in 2023, replacing the older blue-cover passports. The chip passport stores a digital version of your photo along with biometric data. Key differences for photo requirements:

• The digital photo stored on the chip is captured at the immigration office during your appointment using their equipment -- you cannot supply it yourself
• The printed photos you bring are still used for the application file and must meet the 40x60mm white-background standard
• Chip passports are valid for 10 years (adults) and 5 years (under 14)
• Applications for chip passports can only be processed at provincial-level Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh offices, not at commune-level police stations

Common Rejection Reasons

Vietnamese immigration officers reject photos strictly and on the spot. There is no appeal -- you must return with new photos. The most frequent issues:

1. Wrong dimensions -- Bringing 35x45mm photos instead of 40x60mm. This is the single most common error for Việt kiều (overseas Vietnamese) applying at embassies abroad, where local photo services default to the international size.
2. Blue background on passport photos -- Blue is for Căn cước công dân only. Passport photos must have a white background.
3. Glasses worn -- Vietnam banned glasses in passport photos. Applicants with older passports that show glasses are sometimes confused, but the current rule is absolute.
4. Shadows on background -- Even slight shadows cause rejection. Vietnamese photo studios use ring lights or dual softboxes specifically to eliminate this.
5. Facial expression -- Any hint of a smile, even a closed-mouth subtle smile, will be refused.

Baby and Child Passport Photos (Ảnh Hộ Chiếu Trẻ Em)

Vietnam's Immigration Department issues hộ chiếu (passports) for children of all ages. The 40x60mm format applies to minors, creating the same dimension challenges as for adults.

Trẻ sơ sinh (infants under 12 months): Lay the baby face-up on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above. The 40x60mm tall format requires extra space below the baby's chin -- frame the shot to include the chest area, not just the face. Closed or partially closed eyes are accepted for newborns under 6 months. No núm vú giả (pacifier), đồ chơi (toys), or yếm (bib) visible. The baby must be the only subject in the frame. Stand approximately 1.5 meters above the baby for the correct focal distance.

Trẻ em từ 1 đến 5 tuổi: Both eyes open, neutral expression (không cười -- no smiling), facing the camera. Seat the child on a small chair with a white backdrop. A parent may support the child from behind but must be entirely hidden. Photo studios near the Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City photograph young children daily and charge the same 30,000-50,000 VND as adult sessions.

Trẻ em từ 6 tuổi trở lên: Full adult specifications apply, including the glasses ban and pure white background.

Blue vs white background -- children's documents: Vietnamese passport photos (hộ chiếu) for children require a white background. The new Căn cước công dân (citizen ID card) uses a blue background. Do not confuse the two. If you need both documents for your child, have the studio take two sets in one session -- one on white, one on blue. The dimensions also differ: 40x60mm for passport, 30x40mm for ID card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Vietnam's passport photo size 40x60mm instead of the standard 35x45mm? A: Vietnam established its passport photo standard before widely adopting ICAO specifications and has maintained the 40x60mm format through successive passport generations, including the new chip passport. The size is codified in Vietnamese immigration law and there are no current plans to change it.

Q: Can I use a photo from my Căn cước công dân application for my passport? A: No. Căn cước công dân photos are 30x40mm on a blue background. Passport photos are 40x60mm on a white background. They are completely incompatible.

Q: I am applying for a Vietnam e-Visa. What photo format does the website accept? A: The xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn e-Visa portal accepts JPEG images with a minimum size of 472 x 709 pixels (equivalent to 40x60mm at 300 DPI). White background, no glasses, neutral expression. The system performs automated dimension checking on upload.

Q: How many printed photos do I need for a passport application? A: The standard requirement is 2 identical photos for a new passport application and 2 for a renewal. Bring 4 to be safe -- some offices request extras for their records, and it costs almost nothing at local studios.

Q: Can I get passport photos taken at the immigration office itself? A: Most Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh offices do not have in-house photo services. However, there are always tiệm chụp ảnh (photo studios) immediately outside or across the street from every immigration office in Vietnam. They know the exact specifications.