Brazillian Visa Application Full Guide

Photo Requirements for Brazilian Visa

Understanding and meeting the Brazilian visa photo rules is essential to avoid delays or rejection of your application; this guide distills every photo requirement, how to prepare and validate your image, and practical steps to comply with the rules exactly as stated by the official guidance.

Required photo size and color format

Your visa photo must be 35 by 45 millimeters and in color — prepare the image to these exact dimensions before printing or uploading to the application portal.

Background: plain, light, and white

The background must be plain white (a plain light background is acceptable) with no objects, other people, or shadows behind you to ensure full contrast between the subject and the background.

Head and shoulders framing

The photo must show a close-up of your head and partial shoulders so the head is centered in the frame and clearly visible from forehead edge to bottom of chin.

Face size proportion in the photo

Make sure the face (from the top edge of the forehead to the bottom of the chin) occupies 70–80% of the photo — use cropping tools to check that the face fills the frame within that range.

Expression, gaze, and focus

Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression; the head should be centered, eyes open, and the image must be in sharp focus with clear, natural skin tone and no blur.

Lighting and contrast requirements

Use uniform lighting with adequate brightness and contrast so there are no shadows on the face or background; the photo must show natural skin tones with no over- or under-exposure.

No obstructions, marks, or image defects

Photos must be free of ink marks, creases, lines, red-eye, or any artifacts that obscure facial features or reduce clarity.

Glasses and eye visibility

Prescription glasses are allowed only if they are clear, thin-framed, do not obscure the eyes, and have no flash reflection — ensure the eyes remain fully visible and not covered by glare.

Head coverings, hair and facial ornaments

Head coverings, hair, head-dress, or facial ornaments must not obscure the face; if you wear a head covering for religious reasons it still must leave the full face visible and unobstructed.

Digital submission vs. printed photo for consulate

For e-Visa applicants upload a passport-style photo when applying online via the official e-Visa portal (brazil.vfsevisa.com); for consular applications print and affix a recent passport-sized photo to the Visa Request Form Receipt (RER).

Using Visafoto or professional services

You can use Visafoto to convert a smartphone image to a compliant Brazilian visa photo, get a ready-to-print template, and benefit from a high success rate guaranteed by professional formatting.

Practical step-by-step: how to take the photo

Take a straight-on photo with a neutral expression against any background (if using Visafoto) or a white background if you plan to crop yourself; ensure head and partial shoulders are visible, eyes open, and no hair or accessories obscure the face.

Practical step-by-step: how to crop and measure

Crop the image to 35x45 mm and adjust the framing so the face occupies 70–80% of the height; many photo apps or Visafoto will help enforce exact size and proportion automatically.

Practical step-by-step: how to check compliance before submitting

Before uploading or printing, verify: 35×45 mm size, color image, plain white background, face 70–80% of photo, head centered, neutral expression, eyes open and visible, no shadows, no red-eye, and no marks or creases.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid common errors like using a colored or patterned background, wearing dark sunglasses, having hair over the eyes, uncentered head, incorrect face proportion, flash reflections on glasses, or visible photo damage such as creases.

What to do if your photo is rejected

If a photo is rejected, retake it following the exact listed rules (35x45 mm, white background, face 70–80%, neutral expression, no shadows, clear glasses), or use a professional tool like Visafoto to correct background and sizing before reuploading or reprinting.

Final checklist for e‑Visa and consular applicants

Before final submission: ensure the digital file or printed copy meets size, color, background, framing, face proportion, expression, lighting, glasses rules, and has no marks — then upload to the e-Visa portal or affix to the RER for consular appointments.