head 64–70 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
Verified
Quick answer: A Belarus residence permit photo must be 40 × 50 mm. Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. Head occupies 64–70% of photo height (32–35 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 40 × 50 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 64–70% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 32–35 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| 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 | 40 × 50 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 4 × 5 cm |
| Inches | 1.57 × 1.97″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 472 × 591 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 945 × 1181 px |
Belarus residence permit photos are set by annex 3 to Resolution No. 366 of 5 December 2008: a 40×50mm print template, a head height of 32 to 35 mm chin-to-crown — from the chin to the end of the hairline — and a free margin of 2 to 3 mm above the head. The background is an even light tone under front-top-side lighting, the pose strictly full face; the regulation names no background colour and no maximum photo age.
No headwear, no uniform and no dark (sun)glasses, except for people with a visual impairment. Issued through the MVD Belarus (Ministry of Internal Affairs) Department of Citizenship and Migration.
The 40×50mm print is trimmed to 35×45mm by the citizenship and migration unit itself — applicants submit the larger size, not the smaller.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Belarus residence permit applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected: some follow from the rules Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus publishes, the rest are the usual document-photo requirements. The table shows what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photo 35×45mm (not the required 40×50mm) | Reprint at the larger Belarus standard size |
| Background not an even light tone (dark, patterned or uneven) | Re-shoot against an even light backdrop |
| Top-of-head margin outside the 2 to 3 mm the annex sets | Re-crop so the free margin above the head is 2 to 3 mm |
| Black-and-white photo | Re-shoot in color |
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: 64–70 % of the photo height (32–35 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 40 × 50 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″ | 6 (3 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 28 (4 × 7) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
| Authority | Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus |
|---|---|
| Source | Resolution No. 366 of 5 December 2008, annex 3 — technical requirements for photographs |
| Verified |
Questions
The Belarus residence permit photo must be 40 × 50 mm. The head must occupy 64–70% of the photo height. Submit the photo with your application file or online portal as required by the immigration authority.
Residence permit photos often have stricter recency requirements than passport photos because the permit is tied to an active legal status. Submit a photo taken within the last three months where possible, even if the authority allows up to six months.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. The wall behind you must be evenly lit with no shadows. Patterns typically trigger automated pre-screening rejection at the immigration submission portal.
Usually no. Even when dimensions match, residence permit applications require a fresh photo that reflects your current appearance at the time of application. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause.
If hair, beard, weight or facial features have changed noticeably, take a new photo. The immigration reviewer compares the photo to your current appearance during the in-person submission or biometric appointment.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Belarus immigration authority rejects the photo and you supply the official rejection notice.
40 × 50 mm = 4 × 5 cm = 1.57 × 1.97 inches. At 300 dpi that is 472 × 591 pixels; at 600 dpi, 945 × 1181 pixels.
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.
Yes. The same 40 × 50 mm format and head size apply to: driver's license, ID card, passport.