Senegal Residence Card Photo — Official Requirements &

A residence card (carte de séjour or carte d'étranger) in Senegal is issued to foreign nationals by the Direction des Affaires des Étrangers (DAF), the directorate under the Ministry of Interior responsible for residency documentation. The photo submitted with your application must conform to the ICAO biometric standard that Senegal applies uniformly across all national identity documents. A correctly prepared 35×45 mm image on a pure white background is not optional — it is a precondition for the file being accepted at the prefecture counter.

The DAF is known for strict document verification at the point of submission. Because Senegal's biometric requirements align with international ICAO norms, the tolerances are narrow. One measurement that trips up many applicants is the face-to-frame ratio: your face must fill between 70% and 80% of the total frame height, leaving even margins on all sides. A photo that looks like a standard passport photo but places the face outside this range will be refused before the file is even reviewed. The background rule is equally precise — the DAF requires a uniform #FFFFFF white, meaning any shadow cast on the background, even a faint one from poor lighting, is grounds for rejection. Photos must also have been taken within the last six months; an older image will be refused regardless of how technically correct it otherwise appears.

• Photo size: 35×45 mm (827×1063 px)
• Background: pure white (#FFFFFF) — no off-white, cream, grey, or shadows
• Face coverage: 70–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no smile
• Eyes: open, clearly visible, looking directly into the camera
• Glasses: permitted only if both eyes are fully visible with no tinted lenses and no glare or reflections on the glass
• Headwear: not permitted except for documented religious reasons; the full face must remain visible
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months

Common reasons photos are rejected at Senegalese prefectures:

• Shadow or uneven background — the DAF requires a strict, uniform #FFFFFF white; any gradient from poor lighting is cause for refusal
• Incorrect face-to-frame ratio — the face falling outside the 70–80% height band is among the top rejection causes; this is easy to miss when printing at home
• Tinted or reflective glasses — even lightly tinted everyday lenses do not meet the ICAO standard; glare on clear lenses is equally problematic
• Photo older than 6 months — the DAF will not process an application with an outdated photo, regardless of image quality

Take a well-lit shot in front of a plain wall, then upload it. The service automatically crops the image to the exact 35×45 mm DAF-compliant format, corrects the background to pure white, and positions your face within the required 70–80% ratio. You receive a free watermarked preview before any payment — review the result and only pay for the final file when you are satisfied. If the photo is rejected by the issuing authority, it will be redone at no charge or refunded in full.