head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceIdentità Malta (Central Visa Unit) and VFS Global as the Malta visa application centre
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Malta visa photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain white 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 white background. Make photo background white — Malta visa → |
| 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 |
Two bodies describe the Malta visa photograph. The Central Visa Unit of Identità Malta asks for one passport-size photograph in colour, taken against a white background, with the face clearly visible.
The VFS Global Malta centre (for example in Morocco) gives the numbers: two un-mounted colour photographs of 35 mm × 45 mm, taken within the last six months, the head centred, the head from the top of the hair to the chin about 30 mm and the face about 70–80 % of the photo area, in a full-face front view, with only a white or light background — dark, busy or patterned backgrounds are not accepted. The head, with face and hair, shows from the crown to the tip of the chin and from hairline to hairline; ears should preferably be exposed; sunglasses and other wear that detracts from the face are not acceptable unless needed for medical reasons; a traditional facemask or veil that does not allow identification is not acceptable.
VFS adds that if the photographs do not meet these requirements, the application will be considered incomplete.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Malta 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 Identità Malta (Central Visa Unit) and VFS Global as the Malta visa application centre publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A black-and-white photo, or a background that is not white or light, dark, busy or patterned | Use a colour photograph on a plain white or light background. |
| A photo older than six months, or the wrong number of copies for your centre | Take new photographs within six months and bring the number your centre lists. |
| A size other than 35 × 45 mm, or a head not centred or not about 30 mm | Print 35 × 45 mm with the head centred and about 30 mm from hair to chin. |
| Sunglasses or wear that detracts from the face, a facemask or a veil that prevents identification | Keep the face clear; ears preferably exposed. |
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 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 Maltese visa is applied for through the Maltese embassy or the VFS Global Malta visa application centre of your country (Schengen and D-national visas), or, for a national visa handled by the Central Visa Unit, with the form signed by the applicant, the passport and the photograph.
The VFS Global Malta centre of your country
Two un-mounted 35 × 45 mm colour photographs, white or light background, within six months.
Authority pageidentita.gov.mt — Central Visa Unit, national visa
One passport-size colour photograph on white; passport valid at least 10 months.
Authority page| Authority | Identità Malta (Central Visa Unit) and VFS Global as the Malta visa application centre |
|---|---|
| Source | Central Visa Unit — national visa: visa application |
| Verified |
Questions
A colour photograph on a white (VFS: white or light) background, 35 × 45 mm, taken within the last six months, in a full-face front view with the head centred, about 30 mm from hair to chin and the face about 70–80 % of the photo, ears preferably exposed, no sunglasses; Identità asks for one photograph, the VFS page for Morocco for two un-mounted ones.
35 mm × 45 mm with the head centred, about 30 mm from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin (VFS Global Malta).
One on the Identità Central Visa Unit page, two on the VFS Global Malta page for Morocco. Count them on the list of your centre.
White (Identità) or white or light (VFS); dark, busy or patterned backgrounds are not accepted.
The recommended size for the Malta visa photo is 35 × 45 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 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 Malta 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.
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: national visa (Type D).