Republic of Congo Residence Card Photo — Exact Size & Format

A correctly prepared photo is one of the most common reasons a carte de séjour application is delayed or returned in the Republic of Congo. The national standard calls for a 35×45 mm biometric portrait on a plain white background, with the face filling 70–80 % of the frame height. Uploading a photo to our service produces a file cropped and sized to those exact dimensions — ready to include with your residence-permit file on the first attempt.

The Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) issues the carte de séjour to foreign residents through the Direction Générale de la Documentation et de l'Immigration (DGDI). A distinctive feature of this process is that applicants submit their own self-supplied photos directly with the paper file — there is no on-site biometric capture at the immigration office. This makes the quality of your submitted photo critical: a slightly grey background, a shadow across the face, or an incorrect print size is enough to invalidate the entire submission and require a re-appointment. Because Congo follows the same 35×45 mm portrait format used across Francophone Central Africa, the rules will feel familiar if you have previously applied for a residence permit in Cameroon or Gabon, but the requirement for a pure white (#FFFFFF) background — not off-white, ivory, or light grey — is strictly enforced.

• Print size: 35 × 45 mm (digital equivalent: 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, no gradients, no patterns
• Face coverage: face height must fill 70–80 % of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, relaxed, mouth closed
• Eyes: open, clearly visible, looking directly into the camera
• Glasses: not permitted under any circumstances
• Head covering: only permitted for documented religious observance; must not obscure the face or hairline
• Photo recency: taken within the last six months; your current appearance must match
• Lighting: even, no shadows on face or background

Common reasons photos are rejected for the Congo carte de séjour:

• Off-white or cream background: the DGDI standard is strict — only pure white is accepted; photos taken against a wall or with auto-enhanced backgrounds are frequently flagged
• Incorrect print dimensions: photos printed at passport size (50×70 mm) or trimmed imprecisely are rejected at document intake
• Glasses worn: eyeglasses of any kind — including thin frames or clear lenses — are not allowed; this is a common oversight for first-time applicants
• Shadow across background or face: caused by overhead lighting or standing too close to a wall; results in an automatic rejection even if all other criteria are met

To get your photo, upload any clear, well-lit portrait — the service automatically crops it to the official 35×45 mm standard, corrects the background to pure white, and checks that the face fills the required 70–80 % of the frame. Before you pay, you receive a free watermarked preview so you can confirm the result looks right. If your photo is ever rejected by the immigration office, it will be redone at no charge or fully refunded — you only pay for a file you are satisfied with.