head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceConsular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Colombia — Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME)
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Costa Rica visa photo size is 51 × 51 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 | 51 × 51 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 | 51 × 51 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 5.1 × 5.1 cm |
| Inches | 2 × 2″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 602 × 602 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 1205 × 1205 px |
For a Costa Rican visa applied for at the consular section of the Costa Rican embassy in Colombia — a visa authorised by the Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) or a multiple-entry visa — the requirement sheets ask for «one colour photograph of the face, 5 cm × 5 cm, on a white background, passport size», «glued in the corresponding space on the first page of the visa application form». The authorised visa also takes the form printed on two letter-size sheets (not stapled, signed in black ink in the centre of the box), the original passport valid at least three months from the planned entry and a copy of its main page, a flight itinerary or reservation (the tickets need not be bought), and two original bank receipts for USD 50.00 paid in Colombian pesos; it is valid for 60 days from the day of the appointment, a period the consulate cannot change. The multiple-entry visa is granted for one year only for work reasons and only through companies registered with the DGME, and the DGME's answer can take more than six months. The sheets give no head, expression or glasses rule; they are written for Colombian citizens.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Costa Rica 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 Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Colombia — Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photograph that is not in colour or not on a white background | A colour photograph on a white background. |
| A print that is not 5 cm × 5 cm | A 5 × 5 cm print of the face. |
| A photograph attached loose or stapled instead of glued on the first page of the form | The photograph glued in the space on the first page of the form. |
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 51 × 51 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″ | 4 (2 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 20 (4 × 5) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Costa Rican visa is applied for at an appointment at the consular section (here the embassy in Colombia) with the printed form, one glued 5 cm × 5 cm colour photograph, the passport and the bank receipts; a multiple-entry visa goes through the DGME in San José.
embajadadecostarica.org — Bogotá D.C.
One colour face photo, 5 × 5 cm, white background, glued on the first page of the form.
Authority page| Authority | Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Colombia — Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) |
|---|---|
| Source | ICAO biometric portrait baseline |
| Verified |
Questions
One colour photograph of the face, 5 cm × 5 cm, on a white background, passport size, glued on the first page of the visa application form.
For 60 days counted from the day of the appointment, a period the consulate says it cannot change.
It is granted for one year only for work reasons and only to people who apply through companies registered with the DGME; the answer can take more than six months.
The recommended size for the Costa Rica visa photo is 51 × 51 mm. The head occupies 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 Costa Rica 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.
51 × 51 mm = 5.1 × 5.1 cm = 2 × 2 inches. At 300 dpi that is 602 × 602 pixels; at 600 dpi, 1205 × 1205 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 51 × 51 mm format and head size apply to: passport.