🇿🇦 South Africa Passport Photo Requirements (2026 Guide)

Photo Dimensions

South African passport photos must be 35 mm wide x 45 mm tall (1.38 x 1.77 inches), following the standard ICAO format. For digital applications through the Department of Home Affairs, use 413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI.

Background Requirements

The background must be pure white. The Department of Home Affairs requires a completely clean, uniform white background. No shadows, patterns, or colour variations are permitted.

Face and Expression

A neutral expression with closed mouth is required. Both eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera. The face must be centred and clearly visible, with the head straight and not tilted. Both ears should be visible where possible.

Glasses

Glasses are not allowed in South African passport photos. All eyewear must be removed, including prescription glasses and sunglasses. This ensures clear biometric capture of the eye area.

Head Coverings

Head coverings are not allowed unless worn for religious or medical reasons. If worn, the full face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead. The covering must not cast shadows.

Photo Recency

Photos must have been taken within the last 6 months. The Department of Home Affairs captures biometric photos at their offices, but you may also submit compliant photos taken at an approved studio.

South African Passport Fee Schedule

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) publishes fees in South African Rand for applications inside the country and in USD-equivalent for applications at embassies abroad. Fees are paid via EFT or at the DHA branch after your biometric capture.

Fees last verified April 2026. Confirm current rates at dha.gov.za before paying.

Where to Apply in South Africa

South Africa has one of the most convenient application systems in Africa because renewals can be completed at participating bank branches, not just DHA offices.

Department of Home Affairs Offices

• Gauteng: Pretoria (Waltloo, Centurion, Akasia), Johannesburg (Harrison Street, Randburg, Edenvale, Roodepoort), Sandton, Soweto, Alberton
• Western Cape: Cape Town (Barrack Street), Bellville, Wynberg, Mitchells Plain, Somerset West
• KwaZulu-Natal: Durban (Umgeni Road), Pinetown, Umlazi, Pietermaritzburg
• Eastern Cape: Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), East London, Mthatha
• Other provinces: Bloemfontein (Free State), Polokwane (Limpopo), Nelspruit (Mpumalanga), Kimberley (Northern Cape), Mmabatho (North West)

Participating Bank Branches (Renewals Only)

For Smart ID cards and passport renewals, selected bank branches offer DHA live-capture through the "eHome Affairs" partnership. You book your slot online and complete the biometric capture at the bank. Participating banks include:

• Absa: Pretoria Menlyn, Cape Town Centre, Sandton City, Gateway Umhlanga, and others
• FNB: Lynnwood Bridge, Sandton, V&A Waterfront, Gateway, Menlyn Maine
• Nedbank: Sandton, Menlyn, Rivonia, Constantia
• Standard Bank: Sandton, Rosebank, Menlyn Park, Canal Walk

Bank branches are usually faster than DHA offices, with shorter queues and evening appointments. You must be an existing customer of the bank to book in most cases.

Applying at South African Missions Abroad

If you are a South African citizen living outside South Africa, applications go through the nearest SA High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate-General. Major missions include:

• United Kingdom: High Commission in London (Trafalgar Square)
• United States: Embassy in Washington, DC; Consulates in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago
• Australia: High Commission in Canberra; Consulate-General in Sydney
• Canada: High Commission in Ottawa; Consulate-General in Toronto
• UAE: Embassy in Abu Dhabi
• Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand: Missions in capital cities

Missions abroad send applications to Pretoria for biometric processing and passport printing, then ship the finished document back. This adds significant time versus applying in South Africa.

Processing Times

Peak application season is November–January (holiday travel) and April–June (overseas study applications). Processing times can extend during these windows and during system-wide IT outages, which DHA publishes on its website.

How South Africa Compares to the UK

Top Reasons South African Passport Photos Get Rejected

Home Affairs offices that do live biometric capture generally re-shoot on the spot, but for embassy applications and emergency travel certs where you submit your own prints, these are the most common failure modes:

1. Off-white or grey background. South African DHA is stricter than the UK about background — only pure white (RGB 255,255,255 or very close to it) passes. Any tint fails.
2. Wearing glasses. All eyewear must be removed, including thin wire frames and clear prescription lenses. No exceptions for medical reasons.
3. Shadow on face or behind head. Poor lighting creates shadows that the DHA biometric system flags as background irregularities.
4. Smiling or showing teeth. Neutral expression only. A subtle closed-mouth smile may pass; visible teeth or a broad smile will not.
5. Head tilted or turned. Face must squarely face the camera. Even a small tilt will cause rejection.
6. Head height outside 25–35 mm range. The distance from chin to crown must fall within this range. Crops that are too tight or too wide will fail.
7. Uneven lighting on the face. One side of the face brighter than the other (common with window light from the side) will be rejected.
8. Photo too old. Photos must be taken within 6 months. Significant appearance changes between photo and live comparison will trigger rejection.
9. Low resolution or compression artefacts. Minimum 413 x 531 pixels. Heavy JPEG compression or phone-screenshot-of-a-photo submissions will fail.
10. Red-eye or glare. Direct flash from the front can cause red-eye or white-out on the pupils. Use diffused light or natural light instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear a head covering for religious reasons?

Yes, religious and medical head coverings are permitted. The full face must be clearly visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, both cheek edges must show, and the covering must not cast any shadow on the face.

Should I renew at a DHA office or a participating bank?

If you already bank with Absa, FNB, Nedbank, or Standard Bank, the bank route is usually faster — shorter queues, evening slots, and processing is typically 2–3 days quicker. DHA offices are the only option for first-time passports and non-bank customers.

Can I take my own photo at home?

Yes, provided it meets the full spec: 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI), pure white background, neutral expression, no glasses, even lighting, and head height between 25–35 mm. A tool that auto-crops to the exact specification is strongly recommended — most phone cameras produce wider photos that will be cropped incorrectly.

Does DHA accept digital photos uploaded online?

DHA live-capture captures your biometric photo on-site for renewals and first-time applications inside South Africa, so printed prints are not required. For applications at embassies abroad, you must typically submit two printed copies of a compliant photo.

What happens if my photo is rejected at the DHA office?

At DHA live-capture offices and participating bank branches, the biometric photo is taken on-site, so rejection is handled immediately with a re-shoot at no extra cost. For submitted prints (emergency travel, embassy applications), rejection means you must supply a new photo before processing continues.

Is the photo requirement different for a Smart ID vs. a passport?

The capture standard is the same (35 x 45 mm, white background, neutral expression), but Smart ID photos are taken exclusively on-site at DHA live-capture offices or partner banks — you cannot submit your own photo for a Smart ID.

Can children under 16 use the same specification?

Yes, the 35 x 45 mm spec applies to all ages. For very young children and infants, DHA is more flexible on the neutral expression and eyes-open rules. Children under 16 receive a 5-year child passport (rather than the 10-year adult version) at the reduced fee.

Common Mistakes

• Wearing glasses: All eyewear must be removed for South African passport photos.
• Off-white or grey background: Only pure white is accepted. Studios sometimes use light grey — verify before accepting.
• Shadows on face: Even slight shadows caused by overhead or side lighting will lead to rejection.
• Wrong expression: Only neutral expressions are accepted. No smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows.
• Low resolution: Digital photos must be sharp and well-exposed. Blurry or pixelated photos will be rejected at the Home Affairs office.