Mali Work Permit Photo — Official 35×45 mm Requirements

A compliant photograph is a mandatory part of every Mali work permit — autorisation de travail or permis de travail — application submitted to the Malian immigration authorities. Mali follows the ICAO 35×45 mm passport-photo standard with a plain white background, the same format used across most francophone West African nations. Applicants are typically required to supply two recent, identical prints alongside the completed dossier, so a single non-compliant photo can stall an entire application.

One detail that catches many applicants off guard: Mali's standard demands a pure white (#FFFFFF) background — not light grey, not off-white, not cream. Consumer photo booths and studios that use a generic passport template often photograph against a light-grey or ivory backdrop, which is visibly wrong under the Malian specification and frequently leads to rejection. There must be no shadows, gradients, or colour tints anywhere behind the head. The photo must also have been taken within the past six months; reusing a photograph from a previous visa or permit application is not acceptable, even if it otherwise meets every technical requirement.

• Dimensions: 35×45 mm (digital: 827×1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: Pure white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, tints, or patterns
• Face coverage: Face must fill 71–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes fully open, gaze directed straight at the camera
• Glasses: Permitted only if both eyes are fully visible with no glare and no tinted lenses
• Head covering: Allowed for religious reasons only; the entire face must remain unobscured
• Recency: Taken within the previous six months
• Print quality: Colour, uniformly lit, no pixelation, creases, or marks

Common reasons photos are rejected for Mali work permit applications:

• Off-white or grey background: Studio portraits shot against a light-grey backdrop are the single most frequent rejection cause — the Malian standard requires pure white, not near-white.
• Face outside the 71–80% frame range: A face that is too small (common with wide-angle selfies) or too large (close-up portraits) will not be accepted regardless of other qualities.
• Shadows on the face or background: Even faint shadows cast by poor studio lighting — behind the head or across one cheek — are grounds for rejection.
• Photo older than six months: Reusing a photo from a prior application is routine but incorrect; the image must reflect current appearance.

To get a photo that meets every point of the Mali work permit specification, upload a clear, well-lit portrait. The photo is automatically cropped to the exact 35×45 mm official dimensions, the background is corrected to pure white, and face framing is verified to fall within the 71–80% range. You receive a free watermarked preview before any payment — review it, confirm it looks right, then download the print-ready file only when you are satisfied. If the finished photo is ever rejected by the Malian immigration authorities, we redo it free of charge or issue a full refund. You pay only for the final file, and only when it meets the standard.