head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (Department of Consular Affairs)
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Moldova visa 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 |
In every document list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova for a visa — airport transit, transit, short-stay and long-stay visas of every kind — the same line appears: «a recent mat, colour photo 35 mm × 45 mm» (for diplomatic and service visas «a recent colour photo 35 mm × 45 mm»). It is listed beside the passport «valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of leaving the territory of the Republic of Moldova» and issued within the past ten years, the consular fee (20 euro plus additional fees for an airport transit visa), and the documents of the purpose of the stay — an invitation of the General Inspectorate for Migration where required, a reservation, proof of means. The page publishes no head size, background colour or expression rules, and a separate «Visa online (e-visa)» service is linked from the consular pages.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Moldova 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (Department of Consular Affairs) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo that is not recent, not in colour, or not matte | A recent matte colour photograph. |
| A photo that is not 35 mm × 45 mm | A photograph of 35 mm × 45 mm. |
| A glossy print, where the page lists a matte one | A matte print. |
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 Moldovan visa is applied for at a Moldovan diplomatic mission or consulate (or online through the e-visa service) with the documents of the visa type, including the photograph.
mfa.gov.md — consular services, visa regime for foreigners
A recent matte colour photograph of 35 × 45 mm with the passport and the documents of the purpose of stay.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (Department of Consular Affairs) |
|---|---|
| Source | Types of visas and requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
The Ministry lists «a recent mat, colour photo 35 mm × 45 mm» for every visa type.
Matte: the Ministry's lists say «mat, colour photo».
A passport issued in the past 10 years and valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of leaving Moldova.
The recommended size for the Moldova 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 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 Moldova 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.