Photos are a requirement for various official applications. One of the common occasions where one might need a photo is during the application of passport and visa. There are various types of photos that you might need depending on the application you intend to make. For most South Africa visas, a passport sized photo is required. The photos could either be digital or physical depending on the country’s regulations and mode of application used. When applying for South African Passport / Visa / travel documents, you need passport sized photos. The number of photos needed depend on the citizenship of the applicant. Additional photos might be needed for foreigners seeking a South African Visa.

Visa / Passport photo requirements

Passport photographs required for Passport / Visa / travel documents must meet the following requirements.

• Allowable size- sizing of the photograph is essential when submitting applications for Passport / Visa / travel documents. The required size for the photo should be 45mm in height and 35mm wide. The applicant's face appearing on the photograph should cover at least 29mm in height; this is inclusive of the hair.
  The specificity of photo sizes makes it hard for one to use phone cameras. It is therefore advisable that one uses a professional photographer to get the right photograph.
• Appropriate angle- The angle with which the passport photo is taken determines whether an application is disqualified or approved.
  In the photograph, the applicant is required to face right into the camera. Side photographs or tilted angles are not allowed as they do not give a clear view of the applicant's facial features.
• Contents of the photograph- Only one applicant should be in the photo with minimum additional objects. Accessories such as glasses, caps, or piercings are not allowed as they alter how a person looks.
  Glasses reflect light hiding the actual look of the applicant's eyes in the passport. When making an application for kids, passport photographs should be taken from above to eliminate chances of a third party supporting appearing in the photo. Clear backgrounds; usually plain white, are required to maximize visibility of the applicant's features.
• Age of the photograph- When applying for a South Africa Visa, the passport photo submitted should have been taken within 6 months prior to submission of the application. The time limit prevents chances of getting changes in the facial features of the applicant making it hard to approve the photo.
  For physical application, the applicant submits the passport photos to an assessor who approves and signs it upon verification that the applicant is as they appear on the photograph. The assessor must prove that the photograph is not digitally manipulated in any way.

Passport photo specifications depend on whether you are applying for Passport / Visa / travel documents online or submitting a physical application. The specifics of each mode of application are discussed as follows.

South African Visa (e-Visa) Requirements.

With the incorporation of an electronic visa system in South Africa, it is significant to comprehend the necessities involved during applications. Of such requirements, is the recommended specifications of the South Africa visa image. Everyone who intends to apply for a visa is required to enlighten themselves with the prescribed number and size of photos to complete an application. Acquiring a South Africa tourist e-Visa necessitates having a passport with two blank pages from an e-Visa- qualified state with over 30 days validity and a bona fide payment card. The two blank pages are necessary to allow stamping of the passport across the border.

Electronic applications require submission of digital passport sized photos. While the sizing and content of the photographs are as described above, there are several factors that make online applications different from physical ones. The photographs submitted should be of a 600 pixels resolution. This allows for clarity when the photo is printed for use by the authorities when necessary.

With electronic application, only one passport photograph is submitted. This is because the photo can be reprinted and duplicated for various purposes when processing your Passport / Visa / travel documents.

Requirements for physical applications

For a visa photo, there are several requirements applicable to all visa types. The image should be coloured and on a plain white or light grey backdrop with no digital manipulation. Furthermore, the image should show an applicant’s entire visage and shoulders in a centred position with the face accommodating 70-80% of the size. The photo should be shot without shadowing and within 6 months before application submission.

Additionally, smiling, facing away, wearing headgear or glasses, and inclusion of third objects or persons in the image is prohibited. Dealing with children mandates shooting photos from above. This mandate is to eliminate the third party from being included in the passport photo while supporting the baby.

The photo size is 35 x 45mm with a print resolution of more than 600dpi. A high-quality paper printing is recommended for photos with an appended signature by a counter attester to show the approval of the holder. Two identical passport-sized photos are submitted during the application of all South African visas.

As a necessity, it is mandatory to adhere to all passport photo specifications and sizes. Most applications are rejected due to the nonconformity of the preset guidelines.

Other Requirements

A certified yellow fever vaccination card, evidence of financial wellbeing and an established return or onward ticket for travel are key documents to provide on entry to South Africa. Proof of financial capabilities is important to ensure that an individual can meet the standards of living of the state. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are mandatory for persons travelling from South America or the Yellow fever belt of Africa.

It is also a requirement for the visa-eligible with other intentions none other than business or tourism to register for another visa type. In such scenarios, applicants are required to provide further documentation including their current passport image