head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Verified
Quick answer: A Bulgaria visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background. |
| Pose | Full face, large, sharp, and centred in the frame. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | No dark glasses; eyes must be clearly visible. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states the visa photograph in one line of its visa page: a full-colour photograph 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm against a light-coloured background — the same applies to a child entered in the passport — a full-face photo with a clear, large enough face which takes up 70–80 % of the photo. The page lists what is ineligible: photos with dark glasses, non-professional photos, and photos cut out of amateur photos.
That makes it a standard 35 × 45 mm Schengen-style print, taken by a professional, on a light (not necessarily white) background, with the face large in the frame. The page gives no age limit and no file size, and the line on the eyes is garbled, so it is not repeated here.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Bulgaria visa photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo with dark glasses | Take the dark glasses off so the eyes are visible. |
| A non-professional photo, or one cut out of an amateur photo | Have the photograph taken by a professional photographer. |
| A size other than 3.5 × 4.5 cm, black-and-white, or a face smaller than 70 % of the photo | Print a colour 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo with the face filling 70–80 %. |
| A dark or patterned background | Use a plain light-coloured background. |
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 35 × 45 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 | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Bulgarian visa is applied for at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate (or its visa centre) that covers your country, with the form, the passport and its copy, the photograph, the insurance and the other documents.
The visa page of the Bulgarian mission that covers you on mfa.bg
One full-colour 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo on a light background, face 70–80 %.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Source | Visa for Bulgaria |
| Verified |
Questions
A full-colour photograph of 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm against a light-coloured background, full face with the face taking up 70–80 % of the photo, taken professionally, without dark glasses and not cut out of an amateur photo.
3.5 cm × 4.5 cm (35 × 45 mm), and the same for a child entered in the passport.
Not dark glasses: the MFA lists photos with dark glasses as ineligible, so taking glasses off is the safest.
No: non-professional photos and photos cut out of amateur photos are ineligible; have the photograph taken professionally.
The Bulgaria visa photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 70–80% of the photo height.
Plain light background. The wall should be evenly lit, with no shadow around the head and no pattern. You don’t need a studio backdrop: the tool sets the right background colour.
Consulates usually ask for a photo taken within the last six months, sometimes within three. Take a new one that looks like you today.
Often yes, but not always: tourist, student, work and transit visas can have different size or background rules. Compare the requirements of each Bulgaria visa — if they match, one photo will do.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the consulate’s rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 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 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: EU blue card, EU long-term residence permit, ID card, national visa (Type D), residence card for family member of an EU citizen, residence permit.