head 50–60 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceImmigration Department of Malaysia and Malaysian missions abroad (High Commission in Ottawa)
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Malaysia visa photo size is 35 × 50 mm. Strictly white background. Head occupies 50–60% of photo height (25–30 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 50 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 50–60% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 25–30 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Strictly white background. Make photo background white — Malaysia 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 on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; for paper submission, dark clothing is recommended. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 50 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.97″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 591 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1181 px |
Malaysian visa photographs are not the usual 35 × 45 mm: the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa asks for one passport-sized photograph on a white background, standard size 35 mm × 50 mm, handed in with form IMM 47, the letter from the employer, proof of funds, the itinerary and the fee. The Immigration Department of Malaysia gives the same size on its Expatriate Services Division (ESD) photo specification — 35 mm wide by 50 mm high, the head 30–35 mm from chin to crown, about 5 mm above the head and 5–10 mm below the chin, full face, front view, eyes open, neutral expression, no head covering except for religious reasons with the face fully visible, a plain white background (plain white or plain blue for a VDR application) without border or frame, a clear and sharp image, and a file of no more than 25 KB for the ESD upload; «non-compliant photos will lead to rejection of your application».
The e-visa portal (MyVISA) draws its pages with JavaScript, so its own photo page could not be read.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Malaysia 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 Immigration Department of Malaysia and Malaysian missions abroad (High Commission in Ottawa) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo cut at 35 × 45 mm instead of 35 × 50 mm | Crop to 35 mm wide by 50 mm high. |
| A background that is not plain white, or a border or frame around the photo | Use a plain white background and no border. |
| A head outside 30–35 mm, or margins far from 5 mm above and 5–10 mm below | Keep the head 30–35 mm from chin to crown with about 5 mm above and 5–10 mm below. |
| A blurred, tilted, distant or tiny image; eyes closed; a non-neutral expression | Use a sharp, front-facing photo with open eyes and a neutral expression. |
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: 50–60 % of the photo height (25–30 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 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″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 32 (4 × 8) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Malaysian visa is applied for at the Malaysian embassy or high commission that covers you (for example Ottawa, with form IMM 47, one photograph, the fee and supporting documents), or through the eVISA system of the Immigration Department.
The Malaysian mission that covers your country, on kln.gov.my
One passport-sized photograph, white background, 35 × 50 mm.
Authority page| Authority | Immigration Department of Malaysia and Malaysian missions abroad (High Commission in Ottawa) |
|---|---|
| Source | Malaysian international passport photo specification |
| Verified |
Questions
One passport-sized photograph on a white background, standard size 35 mm × 50 mm (Ottawa). The Immigration Department's specification adds a head of 30–35 mm from chin to crown, full face, eyes open, neutral expression, no border or frame, and no head covering except for religious reasons.
35 mm wide by 50 mm high (3.5 × 5.0 cm), not the common 35 × 45 mm.
White. The Immigration Department also accepts plain blue for the VDR route of its ESD system; the Ottawa High Commission names white only.
One passport-sized photograph on the Ottawa High Commission lists.
The recommended size for the Malaysia visa photo is 35 × 50 mm. The head occupies 50–60% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Strictly white background. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture or off-white shade 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 Malaysia 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.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. 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.
35 × 50 mm = 3.5 × 5 cm = 1.38 × 1.97 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 591 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 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 35 × 50 mm format and head size apply to: passport.