head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Israel — Israeli embassies; VFS Global as the visa application centre
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Israel visa photo size is 50 × 50 mm. Plain white background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 50 × 50 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain white background. Make photo background white — Israel visa → |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. 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 | 50 × 50 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 5 × 5 cm |
| Inches | 1.97 × 1.97″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 591 × 591 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 1181 × 1181 px |
An Israeli visa photograph is square: the Embassy of Israel in Berlin asks for two recent duplicate passport photos, in colour, against a white background, with a full front view of the face, measuring 5 × 5 cm, and VFS Global, which takes Israel visa applications in South Africa, writes the same — «recent colour passport photos, against a white background, unobstructed face, 5 × 5 cm». That is not the usual 35 × 45 mm: the print is a 50 mm square, so a photo cut for a European document will not fit.
The applicant appears in person at the Israeli mission of the country of residence, standard processing is 7 working days at the VFS centre in South Africa, and travellers who do not need a visa fill in the ETA-IL online since 1 January 2025. No page read gives a head size or a maximum age beyond «recent».
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Israel visa photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel — Israeli embassies; VFS Global as the visa application centre publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that is not 5 × 5 cm, or only one where two are asked | Print two identical 5 × 5 cm photographs. |
| A background that is not white, or a black-and-white photo | Use a recent colour photograph on a plain white background. |
| A face turned, covered or obstructed | Show a full front view of the face with nothing covering it. |
How to take it
Background: plain white
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 50 × 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 | 20 (4 × 5) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
An Israeli visa is applied for in person at the Israeli embassy or consulate of your country of residence, or at the VFS Global visa application centre where Israel uses one, with the form, the passport, the two photographs and proof of insurance.
The visa page of the Israeli mission of your country of residence on embassies.gov.il
Two recent colour photos, 5 × 5 cm, white background.
Authority pageThe VFS Global Israel centre of your country
Two recent colour passport photos, 5 × 5 cm, white background, unobstructed face.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel — Israeli embassies; VFS Global as the visa application centre |
|---|---|
| Source | Israel entry visa photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
Two recent duplicate colour passport photos, 5 × 5 cm, against a white background, with a full front view of the face and the face unobstructed.
5 × 5 cm — a square, about 51 × 51 mm — on both the Berlin embassy and VFS Global South Africa pages, not the usual 35 × 45 mm.
Two recent photographs on the Berlin embassy list and the VFS South Africa list.
White, in colour, with the face unobstructed.
The recommended size for the Israel visa photo is 50 × 50 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
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 Israel 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.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. If you keep them on, tilt them slightly downwards by lifting the arms a little above your ears: this usually moves reflections of a window or lamp off the lenses.
50 × 50 mm = 5 × 5 cm = 1.97 × 1.97 inches. At 300 dpi that is 591 × 591 pixels; at 600 dpi, 1181 × 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.