Timor-Leste Passport Photo — Exact Size & Requirements

A Timor-Leste passport photo that is accepted on first submission must meet the biometric ICAO standard enforced by the Ministry of Justice / Immigration Service of Timor-Leste. Since the country introduced ICAO-compliant biometric passports in 2017, photo requirements follow the international biometric framework: precise dimensions, a strictly white background, and a neutral, forward-facing expression. Getting any of these details wrong means your application is returned — so it pays to prepare the photo correctly before you submit.

One detail that surprises many applicants: Timor-Leste requires two recent, identical colour photographs submitted together with the paper application. Both prints must be from the same session and match exactly — any visible difference between the two (lighting, crop, print shade) is grounds for rejection. The photos must have been taken within the last six months; an older photo, even a flattering one, will not be accepted. The background must be plain white or very light — patterned, grey, or off-white backgrounds are not permitted under the ICAO biometric specification.

• Size: 35 × 45 mm (digital equivalent 827 × 1063 px)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) or uniformly light — no patterns, shadows, or gradients
• Face coverage: the face must fill 70–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible
• Glasses: not permitted — frames and lenses must be removed
• Headwear: not permitted except for documented religious reasons, and must not obscure the face
• Recency: taken within the last six months
• Quantity: two identical colour prints required for the paper application

• Common reasons photos are rejected in Timor-Leste:
• The two submitted prints are visibly different in crop or colour — even a minor printing difference causes rejection
• Background appears grey, cream, or has a visible shadow behind the head — must be pure white
• Glasses worn in the photo — prescription or fashion, both are disallowed under the current biometric rules
• Face fills less than 70% or more than 80% of frame height — an overly zoomed-in or zoomed-out shot fails the biometric check

To get your photo ready: upload a clear, well-lit picture of yourself against any plain background. Your photo is automatically cropped, sized, and colour-corrected to the exact 35 × 45 mm official standard — including correct face coverage and a clean white background. You receive a free watermarked preview to check the result before any payment. Pay only when you are satisfied. If the Immigration Service rejects your photo for any technical reason, we redo it at no cost or issue a full refund. That is the acceptance guarantee — no risk, no guesswork.