Vietnam Visa Photo Rules: A Quick Guide for Travelers

Every Vietnam visa application—whether online, on arrival, or at the embassy—requires a valid photo that strictly follows the official Vietnam visa photo requirements. Incorrect photos are the cause of nearly 30% of visa processing delays, often leading to costly rejections or last-minute retakes. A proper photo shows your full face, with a neutral facial expression, on a white background, without hats or glasses.

For e-visa, digital files must meet exact Vietnam visa photo size and format specs; for visa on arrival, printed copies are mandatory. Submitting the right photo the first time saves time, money, and your trip. Let's explore with Vietpower Travel in the following post!

1. Do You Need a Photo for All Vietnam Visa Types?

Yes, every traveler applying for a Vietnam visa must provide a photo—but the format depends on the visa type.

• e-Visa (online): You must upload a digital portrait photo and a digital passport bio page image. Both files must meet the official Vietnam evisa photo requirements.
• Visa on Arrival: Prepare two printed identical photos for submission upon landing.
• Visa at Embassy: Bring physical passport photos attached to your visa application form.

There’s no shortcut here. You always need a compliant photo, whether you apply for a Vietnam visa online or offline.

Discover more posts on the same topic and ensure a smooth start to your Vietnam adventure. Explore our Vietnam visa category for guidance, updates, and useful resources for your trip.

2. Vietnam e-Visa Photo Requirements [Digital Upload]

Portrait Photo Requirements

This is the most common source of rejection—so let’s get it right.

• Photo size: Must be exactly 4 x 6 cm or 2 x 2 inches.
• File format: JPG only, with a maximum size of 1024 KB.
• Photo background: Use a plain white or light-colored background with no patterns or shadows.
• Face visibility:
  • Show full face from head to shoulders.
  • Face forward directly, no tilting.
  • Eyes open, no red-eye effect.
  • No smiling—just a neutral facial expression.
  • No sunglasses, hats, or headwear unless required for religious or medical reasons.

The photo must be recent (taken within the last six months) and must not be digitally altered. Blurry, filtered, or cropped images will be rejected under strict Vietnam visa photo guidelines.

Tip: Use a clean white wall, daylight (no flash), and a tripod or stable surface for best results. Avoid shadows, harsh lighting, or fancy clothes—plain works best.

Passport Bio Page Photo

This second digital photo verifies your passport information and is just as important.

• Must show entire passport bio page clearly, including all edges and machine-readable zone.
• No fingers, clips, reflections, or blur.
• Photo format: JPG, maximum 2048 KB.
• Must be high-resolution and legible.

Failure to meet the Vietnam passport photo requirements will result in delays or a system rejection. Always double-check the file before uploading to the e-visa portal.

Explore more posts within this topic and uncover more of what Vietnam has to offer:

• How To Check Prior Visa Status Before Travel
• Guide: Checking Your Vietnam Visa Status
• How To Get a Vietnam Visa Approval Letter Before Travel

3. Vietnam Visa on Arrival Photo Requirements

Planning to collect your visa stamp at the airport? Then you’ll need two printed passport photos with the following specs:

• Photo size: 4 x 6 cm or 2 x 2 inches.
• Number of copies: Two identical photos.
• Print material: Use only photo-quality paper. Home-printed copies are often rejected.
• Recency: Photos must be taken within the last six months.
• Background: Bright, plain (preferably white), with no shadows or objects.
• Attire:
  • No uniforms or decorative clothing.
  • Religious garments are permitted if they don’t obscure facial features.
  • No dark glasses or tinted lenses unless medically required.

A Vietnam visa application at the airport without proper photos could mean delays or service fees. Play it safe and prepare ahead.

4. Common Mistakes Travelers Make (and How to Fix Them)

Understanding the Vietnam visa photograph requirements means avoiding these all-too-common errors:

Wearing Glasses: Even clear glasses can cause glare or shadow. Unless medically necessary, remove them.

Uploading a Selfie or Cropped Image: Passport photos must be properly composed and centered. Use a tool that enforces Vietnam visa photo dimensions.

Using Low-Resolution or Filtered Photos: Blurry, overly bright, or filtered images won’t pass the Vietnam visa photo specs. Stick to standard color, unedited files.

Printing at Home on Normal Paper: For visa on arrival, use a professional photo lab to ensure proper photo size and quality.

Fixes:

• Use online cropping tools that support Vietnam photo standards.
• Visit a local photo studio that provides passport photos for travel documents.
• Review all specs before uploading—especially aspect ratio, lighting, file size, and photo background.

Let’s explore more posts on this topic to discover even more about Vietnam:

• How To Get A Vietnam Invitation Letter Fast?
• How To Fill Out Your Vietnam Arrival Card
• Get Your Vietnam Visa Fast With VFS Global Vietnam Visa

5. Special Cases and Exceptions

For babies and infants, the key is to ensure a clear, unobstructed image. The child must be facing the camera, eyes open (as much as possible), with a plain white background. No toys, no hands from parents, no shadows. Lay the baby on a white sheet or place them in a baby chair with a solid background—this technique is often used by visa centers worldwide.

Religious headwear is permitted under the Vietnam visa photograph requirements, but it must not cover or cast shadow on the face. The full facial contour must remain visible—forehead to chin, ear to ear.

In cases of glasses for medical reasons, only clear prescription lenses are allowed. Frames must not block the eyes, and the photo must be free from glare or reflection. Tinted or decorative eyewear is not accepted under any circumstances, as stated in the official Vietnam visa photo specs.

Every exception still follows one rule: the full face must be visible, with a neutral facial expression and a standard photo background.

6. Quick Checklist Before You Submit

Before you hit “upload” or head to the airport, ask yourself:

• Is your file format JPG and within the correct file size (1024KB for portraits, 2048KB for passport bio)?
• Have you double-checked the Vietnam visa photo size: 4 x 6 cm or 2 x 2 inches?
• Is your photo background light-colored, uniform, and shadow-free?
• Is your full face clearly shown, eyes open, and expression neutral?
• Was your photo taken within the last 6 months?

This checklist ensures your application aligns with Vietnam evisa photo requirements and avoids rejections due to technical errors. Remember: digital systems scan for exact pixel data and formatting before a human ever reviews your form.

7. Sample Vietnam Visa Photos (Visual Gallery)

While this guide can’t show images here, let’s walk you through what’s acceptable and what fails under current Vietnam visa photo guidelines.

Approved Photo:

• Subject faces forward, chin aligned.
• Eyes fully visible.
• No glasses, no headgear.
• Clean, white background.
• Standard resolution and correct Vietnam visa picture size.

Rejected Photo Examples:

• Subject is smiling or tilting their head.
• Glasses create glare over the eyes.
• Background includes patterns or shadows.
• Photo is pixelated or low-resolution.
• File size exceeds limits or in wrong format (e.g., PNG or PDF).

Understanding Vietnam visa photo dimensions visually is often what makes the difference between approval in 3 days or a failed submission.

8. Where to Get Your Vietnam Visa Photo Taken

Here’s where travelers often ask: should I use a photo booth or visit a studio?

• Professional photo studio: Best option. Staff are familiar with visa photo requirements, lighting, and framing.
• Photo booths: Work if adjustable, but double-check dimensions before printing.
• Online services: Use tools like IDPhoto4You, or Snapfish for digital passport photos.
• In the US/UK: Walgreens, CVS, PhotoMe, or Boots usually offer Vietnam passport photo size options—just ask for “Vietnam-specific requirements.”

Wherever you go, confirm that the technician knows the Vietnam visa photo guidelines—not just generic passport rules. This subtle detail can make or break your application.

9. Final Tips from Vietnam Travel Experts

We reached out to visa consultants and border officers to gather their top advice. Here’s what they said:

“The most common mistake is submitting a compressed image or portrait photo cropped from a smartphone selfie. The second most common? Wearing glasses or using an outdated image.” – Nguyen T., Border Control Specialist at Noi Bai Airport

Here’s what we recommend before you apply for a Vietnam visa:

• Use daylight and a plain white wall.
• Do not edit the photo or use beautifying filters.
• Have someone else take the picture at eye level.
• Always review the final file name, format, and vietnam visa photo specs before uploading.

Small details = big consequences.

10. Ready to Apply? Start Your Vietnam Visa with Confidence

You’re now equipped with everything needed to confidently complete your Vietnam visa application—whether it’s an eVisa or visa on arrival. Skip the hassle and start your Vietnam adventure with ease. Vietpower Travel offers professional visa support along with expertly designed tours to make your travel smooth and worry-free. Apply, pack, and explore we’ll handle the rest.