Somalia Visa Photo: Official 35×45 mm Requirements & Compliant Photo in Minutes

A Somalia visa or eTA photo that satisfies the official standard is the first checkpoint between you and your application approval. Somalia's electronic Travel Authorization portal (etas.gov.so) and conventional visa applications both follow the internationally recognized ICAO standard: a 35×45 mm (827×1063 px) color photograph on a pure white background, with the face occupying 70–80% of the frame height. Submit a photo that meets every point on that list and the image clears the document-review stage without delay.

What makes the Somalia visa photo distinct from many other destinations is its direct alignment with the passport photo standard — the same ICAO template governs both documents. For the eVisa and eTA applied through etas.gov.so, the photo is submitted as a digital upload rather than a physical print, but the technical requirements do not relax: the file must represent a recent color image taken against a plain white background, with neutral expression and no eyewear. Religious head coverings are explicitly permitted, provided the full face from forehead to chin and both sides of the face remain clearly visible. Do not confuse the digital submission format with loosened content rules — the review system applies the same checks whether the photo arrives as a JPEG upload or a paper print.

• Size: 35×45 mm (digital equivalent: 827×1063 px at 300 dpi)
• Background: pure white (#FFFFFF) — no off-white, cream, or light grey
• Face coverage: head height must fill 70–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: not permitted under any circumstances
• Headwear: prohibited except for religious reasons; face must remain fully visible
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months; current appearance must match
• Lighting: even, no shadows on the face or background; no red-eye

• Common reasons Somalia visa photos are rejected:
• Background is off-white, cream, or light grey rather than pure white — a frequent mistake when photos are taken at home against a wall
• Head is too small in the frame, falling below the 70% minimum — a typical result of using a passport-photo crop from another country's standard
• Spectacles of any kind are present, including thin-frame or transparent lenses; the rule makes no exceptions for medical eyewear
• Shadows cast across the face or background from overhead lighting — especially common in selfie-style photos or shots taken indoors without a dedicated setup

Upload any clear, recent photo of yourself and it is automatically adjusted to the exact 35×45 mm white-background ICAO standard required for a Somalia visa or eTA — correct cropping, background, and proportions in one step. Before any payment, you receive a free watermarked preview so you can confirm the result looks right. Pay only for the final, full-resolution file. If the photo is ever rejected by the issuing authority, it will be redone at no charge or refunded in full — whichever you prefer.