El Salvador Work Permit Photo: Official Size & Requirements

A compliant photograph is one of the non-negotiable requirements in every El Salvador work authorization (permiso de trabajo) application, whether filed through the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) or the Ministry of Labor. Because work authorization in El Salvador is granted as part of an applicant's migratory or residency status — not as a standalone employment document — the photo standard aligns with those used across all DGME identity documents. Getting the photo right on the first submission keeps your application moving without costly delays or repeat visits to the immigration office.

El Salvador's work permit photo follows the national biometric identity standard — the same format as the cédula de identidad personal. The required size is 35×45 mm (827×1063 px at 600 dpi), which is noticeably taller than the US 2×2-inch format (51×51 mm) that applicants familiar with American documents sometimes submit by mistake. The background must be pure white (#FFFFFF): off-white, cream, and light grey are all rejected because DGME's document scanners are calibrated to a true white field. The image must be in full colour — black-and-white or sepia prints are not accepted under any circumstances.

• Dimensions: 35×45 mm (827×1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, patterns, or gradients
• Face coverage: face must fill 60–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral and relaxed — mouth closed, no smiling
• Glasses: not permitted, including prescription and tinted glasses
• Headwear: only daily-worn religious coverings (hijab, kippah, etc.) are allowed
• Head position: centred, looking directly at the camera, no tilting or rotation
• Lighting: even and diffuse — no harsh shadows on face or background
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months

Common reasons photos are rejected in El Salvador:

• Wrong dimensions — a US 2×2-inch photo submitted in place of the required 35×45 mm format
• Background is off-white, light grey, or shows a visible shadow cast behind the head
• Glasses visible in the image, including thin-frame prescription glasses
• Face occupies less than 60% of the frame height — typically caused by cropping a group photo or a distant outdoor shot

Upload a clear, forward-facing photo you already have. The service automatically crops it to the exact 35×45 mm DGME standard, corrects the background to true white, and verifies face coverage — all before you pay anything. You receive a free watermarked preview to confirm the result looks right. If the finished file is rejected at the DGME window or by Ministry of Labor staff, we redo it free of charge or issue a full refund. You pay only when you are satisfied with the preview.