Bahamas Work Permit Photo: Exact Size, Background & Requirements

A Bahamas work permit photo that meets the exact standard of the Bahamas Department of Immigration is the first step to a smooth application. The Department applies the national passport photograph format: a square 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) image on a plain white background. Applicants are expected to supply their own compliant prints — typically two copies per application — which means the full responsibility for meeting every technical requirement rests with you before the paperwork is submitted.

Unlike most English-speaking Caribbean countries that use a rectangular 35×45 mm passport photo, the Bahamas mandates a square 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) format, equivalent to 1205×1205 pixels for digital submission. Both sides are equal in length, so a standard portrait shot or a conventional rectangular passport photo will not fit unless it is precisely centre-cropped to a true square. This is the single most common technical mistake on Bahamas immigration applications, and one that delays processing while the applicant obtains a replacement set. Because the Department accepts self-supplied photographs, there is no obligation to visit an approved studio — the compliance check is entirely yours to pass.

Official photo requirements:

• Dimensions: 51×51 mm / 2×2 inches (1205×1205 px for digital files)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, gradients, or patterns
• Face coverage: face must occupy 50–69% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral and relaxed, mouth closed
• Eyes: open, clearly visible, looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted under any circumstances
• Headwear: permitted for religious reasons only; must not obscure the face or hairline
• Recency: photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
• Print quality: photo-quality paper required for physical copies

Common reasons photos are rejected in the Bahamas:

• Shadow on the background — even a faint grey cast behind the head fails the white-background check at the immigration counter.
• Wrong dimensions — submitting a rectangular 35×45 mm photo instead of the required 51×51 mm square is one of the most frequent causes of rejection in Bahamas immigration applications.
• Glasses — the Department does not permit any eyewear, including thin wire frames or photochromic lenses that appear clear indoors.
• Incorrect face proportion — a face occupying less than 50% or more than 69% of the frame height will be flagged; both a head that sits too far from the camera and one that is cropped too tightly are grounds for rejection.

Upload a clear, front-facing photo and it is automatically sized to the exact 51×51 mm (1205×1205 px) square, with the face centred within the required 50–69% range and the background set to verified white — no manual editing required. A free watermarked preview is ready before any payment is taken: review it against the checklist above and pay only when you are satisfied. If the Bahamas Department of Immigration rejects your printed photo, we will redo it free of charge or issue a full refund — no questions asked.