Gabon Residence Card Photo — Exact Requirements for Carte de Séjour

Submitting the right photo to the Direction Générale de la Documentation et de l'Immigration (DGDI) is one of the simplest ways to avoid delays on your Gabon residence permit application. The DGDI applies the national 35×45 mm white-background ID photo standard, and a photo that deviates from it — even slightly — can mean your dossier is returned before it is even reviewed. Preparing a fully compliant image from the start keeps the process moving.

Gabon's carte de séjour is issued exclusively through the DGDI, the government body responsible for all immigration documentation in the country. Unlike some permit systems that allow biometric capture at the counter to replace a supplied photo, the DGDI process typically requires applicants to arrive with printed ID photos already meeting the national standard. Biometric data (fingerprints) is collected on-site separately, so your photo must stand on its own as a faithful, recent likeness. Because the DGDI serves applicants from across a wide range of nationalities, officials apply the specification strictly and uniformly — there is little room for interpretation at the window.

• Size: 35×45 mm (digital equivalent: 827×1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no off-white, cream, or grey
• Face coverage: face must fill 70–80% of the frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted — remove all eyewear
• Headwear: not permitted except for documented religious reasons; head must be fully visible
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Print quality: sharp focus, even lighting, no shadows on the face or background

• Common reasons photos are rejected at the DGDI:
• Off-white or grey background — the DGDI standard calls for pure white; ivory or light-grey backgrounds frequently cause rejection
• Face too small in the frame — a common error when using a standard portrait crop; the face must occupy 70–80% of the photo height
• Glasses present — any eyewear, including thin-framed or clear lenses, is not accepted under the current national standard
• Photo older than 6 months — DGDI officers compare the photo to the applicant in person; an outdated image that no longer matches your current appearance will be refused

To make sure your photo meets every point of the DGDI standard before your appointment, upload a clear, well-lit selfie or portrait. Your image is automatically cropped and adjusted to the exact 35×45 mm white-background specification — no guesswork, no manual editing. You receive a free watermarked preview before any payment so you can confirm the result looks right. Pay only when you are satisfied with the final file. And if the printed photo is ever rejected at the DGDI counter, we will redo it at no charge or issue a full refund. One correct photo, submitted once.