head 70–80 %
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SourceMinistry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania
Verified
Quick answer: A Albania visa photo must be 36 × 47 mm. Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 36 × 47 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. |
| Pose | Strictly full face, head without rotation or tilt, shoulders level. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, shoulders visible, without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 36 × 47 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.6 × 4.7 cm |
| Inches | 1.42 × 1.85″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 425 × 555 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 850 × 1110 px |
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania asks for one photograph with the visa application, not older than six months from the date of application, for both the short-stay C visa and the long-stay D visa. The two language versions of its visa page do not say the same: the Albanian text gives a size, «47mm-36mm», and the English text says only «a passport sized photo».
The form is completed online and then printed and signed, the documents are uploaded online and, after the application is accepted, deposited at the Albanian consular office, honorary consulate or an agency contracted by the ministry. The pages name no background colour, no head size and no rule on glasses, so the 47 × 36 mm print is the one figure to follow, a portrait photo that, unlike the usual 35 × 45 mm, is a little taller.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Albania visa applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo older than six months from the date of application | Take a new photograph within six months of the application. |
| A print that does not follow the 47 mm × 36 mm figure of the Albanian text | Print 47 mm × 36 mm unless your mission tells you another size. |
| More or fewer photographs than the single one asked | Hand in one photograph, plus any extra your mission asks for. |
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 70–80 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 36 × 47 mm.
Clear lenses only, no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 32 (4 × 8) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
An Albanian visa is applied for online (form completed, printed and signed, documents uploaded), and after acceptance the documents and the photograph are deposited at the Albanian consular office, honorary consulate or contracted agency.
The visa application page of the Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
One photo, 47 mm-36 mm in the Albanian text, not older than six months.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania |
|---|---|
| Source | Aplikim për vizë — dokumentacioni që paraqet aplikuesi (Visa application) |
| Verified |
Questions
One passport-sized photo no older than six months from the date of application; the Albanian text of the ministry page gives the size as 47 mm-36 mm.
47 mm-36 mm according to the Albanian version of the ministry page; the English version says only «passport sized». Ask your mission if in doubt.
One.
Not older than six months from the date of application.
The Albania visa photo must be 36 × 47 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Follow the requirements for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Albania visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
36 × 47 mm = 3.6 × 4.7 cm = 1.42 × 1.85 inches. At 300 dpi that is 425 × 555 pixels; at 600 dpi, 850 × 1110 pixels.
1 identical photographs, 36 × 47 mm each, taken within the last 6 months.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.