head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMalawi High Commission in London and Malawi Consulate General in South Africa — Department of Immigration of Malawi
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Malawi passport photo size is 35 × 45 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 | 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 | 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 |
For a Malawian passport renewed at the Malawi High Commission in London the requirements list «two passport photos with clear white background (size 4.5 × 3.5 cm)» with the old passport, marriage, divorce or death certificates for married women who change their names, and the birth certificate and national identity card for those born outside Malawi; the fee is £65 in cash. A lost passport takes a police report, «two passport-size photos with clear white background» and copies of the lost or previous passports (£70), and a minor under 10 two photos on a clear white background (£60). Everyone books an appointment in advance and comes in person — passports are processed on Tuesdays only, and all applications are sent to Malawi for processing, so the High Commission advises applying at least 180 days before the need. The Consulate General in South Africa asks for «two passport-size photographs (coloured on a white background)» with the old passport and the form in black ink, applicants in person, and says all passports take 2–3 months. Neither page gives a head, expression or glasses rule.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Malawi passport applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Malawi High Commission in London and Malawi Consulate General in South Africa — Department of Immigration of Malawi publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Fewer than two photographs, or photographs without a clear white background | Two passport photographs on a clear white background. |
| A print that is not 4.5 × 3.5 cm (London) | A 4.5 × 3.5 cm print. |
| Applying without an appointment or not in person | An appointment booked in advance and an in-person visit. |
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 Malawian passport is applied for in person by appointment at a Malawi mission (London, Sandton and others) with two photographs on a white background; all applications are sent to Malawi for processing.
malawihighcommission.co.uk — appointments 020 7421 6010
Two passport photos with a clear white background, 4.5 × 3.5 cm.
Authority page| Authority | Malawi High Commission in London and Malawi Consulate General in South Africa — Department of Immigration of Malawi |
|---|---|
| Source | ICAO biometric portrait baseline |
| Verified |
Questions
The High Commission in London asks for two passport photos of 4.5 × 3.5 cm with a clear white background; the consulate in South Africa asks for two coloured photographs on a white background.
The passport is processed in Malawi: the High Commission recommends applying at least 180 days ahead, and the consulate in South Africa says 2–3 months.
No — the High Commission in London requires an appointment booked in advance and an in-person visit; passports are processed on Tuesdays only.
The recommended size for the Malawi passport photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height.
Plain light background without textures or noticeable gradients. No gradients, textures, shadows or objects behind the subject are permitted. The tool removes background shadows automatically, but starting with a flat, evenly lit wall gives the best result.
Yes. Stand in front of a flat, plain wall in good natural light, face the light source and use the rear camera of your phone with a 3-second timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and compliance check against the Malawi biometric standard.
Most passport authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. Do not reuse an older portrait even if your appearance has not changed.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is rejected by the Malawi authority and you supply the official rejection notice. See the refund policy page for the exact process.
Clear glasses only, no reflections; sunglasses prohibited. In practice, the biometric scanner at submission points flags even minor lens glare that looks fine to the naked eye. Removing glasses before shooting is the only option that eliminates the risk entirely.
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: visa.