Mozambique Residence Card (DIRE) Photo — Exact Requirements & Instant Preparation

A compliant photo is one of the first things DICA (Direção de Identificação Civil e Arquivo) checks when processing your Documento de Identificação e Residência para Estrangeiro (DIRE). Submit a photo that meets the exact standard and your application moves forward without delay; submit one that does not and it comes straight back. Our service automatically crops, resizes and calibrates your photo to the precise dimensions DICA requires — so the only thing you need to do is take a decent selfie.

The DIRE is Mozambique's official residence permit for foreign nationals, administered by DICA under the Ministry of Interior. Unlike some countries that supply their own biometric images at the office, Mozambique applicants are expected to arrive with passport-type photos already prepared. In practice, DICA accepts the international standard of 35×45 mm on a plain white background — the same format used for Mozambican passports. There is no laminated, tinted or coloured backdrop permitted; pure white (#FFFFFF) is the only correct choice, and photos with grey, off-white or studio-gradient backgrounds are routinely turned away at the counter.

• Print size: 35 × 45 mm (digital equivalent: 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: solid white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, gradients or patterns
• Face coverage: face height must fill 71–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible
• Glasses: permitted only if eyes are fully visible with no glare, reflection or tinted lenses
• Head coverings: not permitted except for documented religious observance; the full face must remain unobscured
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months, accurately reflecting your current appearance
• Photo quality: sharp focus, even lighting, no pixelation or compression artefacts

Common reasons photos are rejected at DICA offices in Mozambique:

• Non-white background — off-white, light grey or any studio colour other than pure white is the single most frequent rejection cause
• Face too small in the frame — a common result of using a full-body or waist-up selfie without cropping; the face must occupy 71–80% of the frame height
• Glasses with glare or tint — reflections from studio lighting are enough to trigger a rejection even when the frames themselves are acceptable
• Photo older than 6 months or appearance has changed — officers compare the photo to the applicant in person; significant changes in hair, weight or facial hair can cause a query

To get your DIRE photo ready, simply upload any clear, front-facing photo. The service automatically applies the exact 35×45 mm crop, corrects the background to pure white and checks that your face proportion falls within the required range. Before you pay anything, you receive a free watermarked preview so you can confirm the result. If you are satisfied, download the full-resolution file ready to print. And if DICA rejects your photo for any technical reason, we redo it at no extra cost — or refund you in full. You pay only for a photo that meets the standard.