Panama Passport Photo — Official Size, Background & Requirements

A passport issued by the Autoridad de Pasaportes de Panamá (APAP) can be ready within 24 hours — but only if your appointment goes smoothly from the start. The photo standard is precise: 35×45 mm (827×1063 px), plain white background, neutral expression, and no eyeglasses. Having a compliant reference image before you walk through the door means you know exactly what to expect and are fully prepared.

Panama's passport process has a distinctive feature worth understanding: the photograph is captured digitally on-site at an APAP office (or by an authorised photographer with a secure upload) during the actual application appointment — it is not a photo you print and bring along to submit. This means the APAP technician controls the final capture. That said, understanding the exact standard matters: many offices ask applicants to demonstrate they have prepared correctly, and knowing the requirements lets you arrange your appearance — hair, posture, clothing, expression — precisely as the standard demands before you arrive. A ready compliant image is also directly reusable for visas, residency applications, and other official purposes that do accept photo submissions.

• Dimensions: 35 × 45 mm (digital equivalent: 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no shadows, no gradients
• Head height: approximately 34.5 mm; face must fill 70–80% of the frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted under any circumstances
• Headwear: permitted only for documented religious reasons; the full face must remain visible
• Shoulders: must be visible and covered by clothing
• Recency: the image should reflect your current appearance (taken within the last 6 months)

• Common reasons photos are rejected at APAP appointments:
• Off-white or cream background — APAP requires a pure white (#FFFFFF) background; any warm tone or shadow will cause a retake
• Glasses present — even prescription glasses or transitional lenses that appear clear indoors are not accepted; remove them entirely
• Head too small in the frame — the face must occupy 70–80% of the frame height; a head that sits too low or too small is the most common framing error
• Visible headwear without religious documentation — hats, caps, and fashion scarves are refused; only religiously required coverings with the face fully visible are allowed

Our online tool automatically crops and formats your photo to the exact APAP standard — correct dimensions, white background, and proper face framing in one step. Upload your picture, check the free watermarked preview to confirm everything looks right, and download the print-ready file only when you are satisfied. Walk into your APAP appointment knowing your appearance and proportions meet the official specification precisely, and keep the same compliant image ready for any other document or visa application that accepts submitted photos.